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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Maternal folic acid use during pregnancy, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism, and child's lung
H T den Dekker1,2,3, V W V Jaddoe1,3,4, I K Reiss5
1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Maternal folic acid supplementation during pregnancy may impact childhood lung function, with effects varying based on methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene variants. Vitamin B12 levels at birth also showed associations with lung function in children with MTHFR wild-type.
Area of Science:
- Environmental and Genetic Influences on Health
- Perinatal Nutrition and Child Development
- Respiratory Medicine and Epidemiology
Background:
- Maternal folic acid intake during pregnancy is hypothesized to influence offspring respiratory health.
- This influence may be modulated by the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T (MTHFR-C677T) polymorphism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal folic acid supplementation and folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine levels during pregnancy with childhood lung function and asthma.
- To explore potential gene-environment interactions involving MTHFR-C677T carriership.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study of 5653 children was conducted.
- Maternal folic acid supplement use was self-reported via questionnaires.
- Plasma concentrations of folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine were measured in early pregnancy and at birth.
- Childhood lung function (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75, FEF75) and asthma were assessed at age 10 years.
Main Results:
- Maternal folic acid use was linked to higher childhood FEV1 and FVC, but lower FEV1/FVC.
- Among MTHFR-C677T variant carriers, early folic acid use correlated with reduced FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75.
- In children with MTHFR-C677T wild-type, elevated cord blood vitamin B12 was associated with lower FEV1 and FVC.
- Folate and homocysteine levels did not show consistent associations with lung function or asthma.
Conclusions:
- Preconceptional folic acid use and higher neonatal vitamin B12 may negatively impact childhood lung function, contingent on MTHFR-C677T genotype.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the clinical significance of these findings.
Background:
Folic acid supplement use during pregnancy might affect childhood respiratory health, potentially mediated by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism C677T (MTHFR-C677T) carriership.
Objectives:
We examined the associations of maternal folic acid supplement use and folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine concentrations during pregnancy with childhood lung function and asthma.
Methods:
This study was embedded in a population-based prospective cohort study among 5653 children. Folic acid supplement use was assessed by questionnaires. Folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine plasma concentrations were measured in early pregnancy and at birth. At age 10 years, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1 /FVC, forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% (FEF25-75 ), at 75% of FVC (FEF75 ), and asthma were examined.
Results:
Maternal folic acid supplement use during pregnancy was associated with higher childhood FEV1 and FVC and with a lower FEV1 /FVC, compared with no folic acid supplement use. Among mothers carrying MTHFR-C677T variants, preconceptional start of folic acid supplement use was associated with lower FEV1 /FVC (-0.17 [-0.32, -0.02]) and FEF25-75 (-0.24 [-0.40, -0.07]). Among children carrying MTHFR-C677T wild-type, a higher vitamin B12 level at birth was associated with a lower FEV1 (-0.07 [-0.12, -0.01]) and FVC (-0.09 [-0.15, -0.04]). Folate and homocysteine concentrations were not consistently associated with lower childhood lung function or asthma.
Conclusions:
Preconceptional start of maternal folic acid supplement use and higher vitamin B12 concentrations at birth might adversely affect childhood lung function depending on MTHFR-C677T carriership. The clinical implications need to be evaluated.
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