Associations of pregnancy folate and choline status with parental cancer risk factors and offspring's stem cell markers

Abstract

Aims of the study were to investigate the associations of pregnant folate and choline status with parental diseases risks and stem cell markers which may involve in metabolic programming for offspring's susceptibility to cancer diseases. Fifty pregnant women were recruited from multiple clinic centers and NTU hospital to participate through the study. Blood samples from the first trimester pregnant women were collected for measurements of serum folate, choline, betaine and B12 levels. Lymphocytic DNAs were extracted for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotyping and for methylated promoter status of sonic hedgehog (SHH), insulin‐like growth factor‐2 (IGF2) and LINE‐1 (long interspersed nucleotide elements). Dietary data were collected by qFFQ and analyzed for nutrient intakes. The data revealed that deficiency rates of total choline (< 50% AI) and folate intake (< EAR) among the pregnant women were 11% and 14%, respectively. MTHFR 677CT/TT genotypes in relative to CC wild type were associated with higher intakes of phosphotidylcholine and total choline, and with lower serum folate (P = 0.049) and betaine (P = 0.023) levels. Historical parental obesity in relative to normal‐weight parents was associated with higher intake levels of folate (P = 0.002) and total choline (P = 0.048), and with significantly lower plasma free choline levels (P = 0.049) in pregnant off springs. Serum choline and folate levels of pregnant offspring were differentially associated with lymphocytic methylation status of SHH, IGF2 and LINE‐1 and their parental cancer risk factors.