Prenatal one carbon metabolism and in utero programming of growth and adiposity in the offspringPrenatal one carbon metabolism and in utero programming of growth and adiposity in the offspring

Identifier:  TDX:2486

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2486

Authors:  Solé Navais, Pol

Abstract:
One carbon metabolism positively influences health in early and late stages of life (e.g. folic acid fortification reduced neural tube defect prevalence, homocysteine in adults and possiblystroke mortality). Whether the effects of in utero one carbon metabolism affect postnatal growth is unknown. Harmful effects of elevated folate status have been reported. We evaluated the interactions between prenatal folate and cobalamin and their effects during pregnancy and on offspring growth and adiposity at mid-childhood. 563 women from the Reus-Tarragona Birth Cohort were followed-up throughout pregnancy and 162 of their offspring until mid-childhood, when growth and adiposity were measured. Folate status did not modify the association between inadequate cobalamin and its metabolic or haematological indicators. Early pregnancy inadequate RBC folate, cobalamin or tHcy were associated with lower offspring height. Inadequate holoTC was also associated with higher offspring BMI. Maternal MTHFR 677C>T and TCN2 776C>T genetic variants were associated with higher and lower offspring BMI and height from birth to mid-childhood, respectively. Child MTRR 66A>G was associated with lower linear and ponderal growth. This endorses the safety of elevated folate status, and supports a role for prenatal one carbon metabolism on postnatal growth and adiposity.