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Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
Published on: May 22, 2013
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Vitamin D Levels During Pregnancy Are Associated With Offspring Telomere Length: A Longitudinal Mother-Child Study
Kwun Kiu Wong1, Feifei Cheng1, Di Mao2
1Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|May 19, 2022
Summary
Maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy may influence offspring
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Pediatrics
- Genetics and Aging
Background:
- Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a biomarker for biological aging and is linked to metabolic diseases.
- Maternal vitamin D deficiency is associated with adverse health outcomes in offspring.
- Understanding the prenatal influences on LTL is crucial for long-term health prediction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and offspring's leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in early childhood.
- To explore the relationship between specific vitamin D metabolites and childhood LTL.
Main Methods:
- An observational, longitudinal cohort study of 853 mother-child pairs.
- Measurement of offspring LTL using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
- Quantification of maternal and cord blood vitamin D metabolites (25(OH)D2, 25(OH)D3, 3-epi-25(OH)D3) via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Main Results:
- Childhood LTL was shorter in boys than girls and negatively associated with BMI and HOMA-IR.
- Childhood LTL positively correlated with total maternal 25(OH)D and maternal 3-epi-25(OH)D3 levels during gestation.
- Cord blood 3-epi-25(OH)D3 also showed a positive association with childhood LTL after adjustments.
Conclusions:
- In utero exposure to vitamin D metabolites, specifically 25(OH)D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3, may influence childhood leukocyte telomere length.
- These findings suggest a potential link between maternal vitamin D status and biological aging in offspring.
- Highlights the importance of adequate maternal vitamin D for child development and long-term health.
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