Prenatal Vitamin Research Articles

Modifiable Nutritional Biomarkers in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Vitamin D, B12, and Homocysteine Exposure Spanning Prenatal Development Through Late Adolescence.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been associated with disruptions in one-carbon metabolism and vitamin D pathways. Nutritional exposures-particularly vitamin D, vitamin B12, and homocysteine-may influence neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, a comprehensive, lifespan-spanning synthesis of these modifiable nutritional biomarkers has not been conducted. This systematic review and stratified meta-analysis critically synthesized data on vitamin D, vitamin B12, and homocysteine to elucidate their relationships with ASD risk and symptomatology. Our central question was: How do levels of vitamin D, vitamin B12, and homocysteine-measured before and after birth-affect the risk, severity, and potential treatment outcomes for ASD? We conducted a PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) compliant systematic review and stratified meta-analysis (2015-2025) of 35 studies (11 randomized controlled trials, 24 observational), examining prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal biomarker levels. Eligibility criteria were defined using the PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, and Study Design) framework to ensure scientific rigor and clinical relevance, including studies involving human participants aged 0-18 years with a formal Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis or prenatal exposures potentially linked to later ASD onset, while excluding animal studies, adult-only ASD populations, and studies lacking ASD cohorts or biomarker data. The search strategy, developed according to PRISMA, and Cochrane best practices, encompassed five major databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ProQuest) alongside manual searches of key references, grey literature, and clinical trial registries to ensure comprehensive retrieval of both published and unpublished studies. Study quality was assessed using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCTs (RoB2) and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies; certainty of evidence was graded via GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Random-effects meta-analyses were stratified by biomarker and study design. Heterogeneity, small-study effects, and publication bias were evaluated using Cochran's Q, I2, Egger's test, and trim-and-fill. Prenatal vitamin D deficiency was associated with approximately two-fold increased odds of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in offspring (pooled OR ≈ 2.0; p < 0.05), while excessively elevated maternal B12 concentrations, often co-occurring with folate excess, were similarly linked to increased ASD risk. Meta-analytic comparisons revealed significantly lower circulating vitamin D (SMD ≈ -1.0; p < 0.001) and B12 levels (SMD ≈ -0.7; p < 0.001), alongside elevated homocysteine (SMD ≈ 0.7; p < 0.001), in children with ASD versus neurotypical controls. Early-life vitamin D/B12 insufficiency and elevated homocysteine are important, modifiable correlates of ASD risk and severity. Adequate maternal and child nutritional status could have risk-reducing and symptom-mitigating effects, although causality remains to be confirmed. This evidence supports tailored nutritional interventions as a component of ASD risk reduction and management strategies, within the bounds of overall developmental healthcare. The article processing charges (APC) were supported by "Dunărea de Jos" University of Galati, Romania. No external funding was received for the execution of the research. The review was not prospectively registered in PROSPERO or any other systematic review registry.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in the Offspring of Women with Vitamin D Deficiency and Women Who Received Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient, involved in various biological processes including calcium homeostasis, bone health, immune function, and brain development. Vitamin D from the mother crosses the placenta during pregnancy, directly impacting the neurodevelopment of the fetus. Vitamin D insufficiency is a substantial global health problem, influencing almost 47.9% of individuals, with especially high predominance rates among pregnant women. Background/Objectives: Preclinical studies suggest that maternal vitamin D deficiency results in significant alterations in the development of the offspring's brain. Nonetheless, randomized clinical trials in humans have produced conflicting results on the beneficial effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on neurodevelopmental outcomes. This review aims to evaluate the association of maternal prenatal vitamin D levels and vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy with offspring neurodevelopment. Methods: This study thoroughly reviewed the literature and searched throughout PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Studies assessing maternal vitamin D levels, supplementation, and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes were included based on predefined eligibility criteria. Results: Among 9686 screened studies, only 20 met the inclusion criteria, representing 18,283 mother-child pairs. A small, non-significant trend suggested a positive association between higher maternal vitamin D levels and offspring cognitive, language, motor, and social-emotional development. The strongest associations were observed in cognitive performance and language acquisition, though inconsistencies emerged across studies. Cord blood vitamin D levels showed no consistent effects on neurodevelopment. Maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy demonstrated no reliable benefits for offspring neurodevelopment, with results varying by study design and participant characteristics. Conclusions: Large-scale, multicenter randomized trials, with standardized neurodevelopmental assessments at multiple ages are needed to define the effects of vitamin D deficiency and supplementation during pregnancy on offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes. Future research should investigate the confounding factors contributing to inconsistencies, including supplementation protocols, genetic variations, and assessment methodologies. Clarifying these aspects will enhance the understanding of maternal vitamin D's role in fetal neurodevelopment and aid in refining prenatal supplementation guidelines.

The Effect of Maternal Antioxidant Vitamin Supplementation on Maternal and Cord Blood Adiponectin Concentrations.

Adiponectin is a hormone that modulates glucose regulation and fatty acid oxidation. Low adiponectin concentration has been associated with increased insulin resistance. Studies show a beneficial effect of vitamin E supplementation on insulin sensitivity. We aimed to investigate the association of prenatal antioxidant supplementation with increased adiponectin concentrations in pregnant participants and their newborn infants.Secondary analysis of a randomized control trial of prenatal vitamin C and E supplementation to prevent preeclampsia in low-risk nulliparous participants. Plasma of participants at time of randomization (9-16 weeks gestation) and delivery, and neonatal cord blood were analyzed by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for adiponectin concentration. Multivariable analysis was adjusted for confounders.A total of 198 (98 vitamin, 100 placebo) maternal-neonatal dyad samples were analyzed. Maternal and neonatal characteristics were similar between the vitamin and placebo groups, with the exception of race/ethnicity, with Whites more common in the placebo group (80 vs. 66.3%, p = 0.02). In bivariable analyses, adiponectin concentrations at delivery were higher in the vitamin group compared with the placebo group (29.4 vs. 27.5 µg/mL, p = 0.04), whereas cord blood adiponectin concentrations were similar (26.6 . vs. 27.4 µg/mL, p = 0.47) between the two groups. There was a significant interaction between treatment group and maternal baseline adiponectin level on the adiponectin concentrations at delivery (p = 0.04) and cord blood adiponectin (p < 0.05). For participants whose baseline adiponectin concentrations were in the highest tertile, vitamin supplementation was associated with higher adiponectin concentrations at delivery. However, for participants whose baseline adiponectin concentration were in the lowest tertile, vitamin supplementation was associated with lower cord blood adiponectin concentrations.For participants with high baseline adiponectin concentration, vitamin C and E supplementation is associated with higher adiponectin concentration at delivery. Conversely, vitamin supplementation is associated with lower cord adiponectin concentration among participants with low baseline adiponectin concentration. · Vitamin E is an antioxidant with metabolic properties.. · Adiponectin is a cytokine with metabolic properties.. · Vitamin E is associated with higher pregnancy adiponectin.. · Vitamin E is associated with lower neonatal adiponectin.. · Vitamin E correlated with positive pregnancy and neonatal adiponectin trends..

Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Deficiency (Phenylketonuria) in a Pregnant Patient

Purpose: (1) To describe a case of a pregnant patient diagnosed at birth with phenylketonuria (PKU). (2) To review literature pertaining to management, treatment options, and outcomes of pregnancy in a patient with PKU. Methods: A 27-year-old G2P0101 female presented to the clinic for a new obstetrics visit. She has a history of phenylketonuria diagnosed at birth, which is managed with regular laboratory phenylalanine and tyrosine levels. Medications include daily oral tyrosine and pegvaliase-pqpz (Palynziq) 40 mg injected subcutaneously daily. She is also taking a prenatal vitamin and labetalol 600 mg daily for chronic hypertension. She had one previous pregnancy that ended at 36 weeks’ gestation via normal spontaneous vaginal delivery and was monitored closely by maternal-fetal medicine. That pregnancy was also complicated by chronic hypertension and preeclampsia. She was followed by an obstetrician, maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and geneticist throughout her first pregnancy. On initial examination, her blood pressure was within normal limits. A transvaginal ultrasound confirmed an intrauterine pregnancy with a normal-appearing yolk sac with measurements and dating consistent with her last menstrual period. The patient was advised to have phenylalanine and tyrosine levels monitored weekly. Labetalol was changed to 300 mg twice per day. She was prescribed aspirin 81 mg daily due to her previous history of preeclampsia. She was advised to follow up with a maternal-fetal medicine physician regularly due to her phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency (PAH) and monitoring for possible embryopathy and to continue care with the geneticist. The phenylalanine level at this visit was 3.1185 mg/dL, which is within the current ACOG recommendation of 2-6 mg/dL. At subsequent visits, she remained asymptomatic and adherent to the treatment plan, and her blood pressure was within normal limits. At 10 weeks gestation, the phenylalanine level was 4.026 mg/dL but at 15 weeks the phenylalanine level was 0.0495 mg/dL. The patient transferred obstetrical care to the community where the MFM was located. Her phenylalanine levels remain highly volatile yet delivery is anticipated to be nonproblematic. Results: Managing PKU in pregnancy is an uncommon occurrence even though this rare autosomal condition affects 1 in 14,000 to 19,000 people in the United States. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) updated their Committee Opinion in 2020 regarding treatment of pregnant patients with phenylketonuria, stating that pre-pregnancy consultation with maternal-fetal medicine and a geneticist is strongly advised, as well as maintaining phenylalanine levels at less than 6 mg/dL at least three months before delivery. Throughout pregnancy and abnormal phenylalanine level between 2-6 mg/dL decreases the risk of embryopathy, including but not limited to developmental delay, microcephaly, growth delay, seizures, and cardiac deformities. Consultation for pre-pregnancy genetic screening of the partner is recommended as all infants born to woman with diagnosed PKU will be, at a minimum, obligate carriers. Treatment options include dietary modification with a low-protein diet supplemented with phenylalanine-free medical food. Sapropterin, a synthetic tetrahydrobiopterin which increases conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine, or pegvaliase, a pegylated phenylalanine ammonia lyase that converts phenylalanine to ammonia and trans-cinnamic acid are currently recommended. There is limited data available on the safety of either sapropterin or pegvaliase use in pregnancy, however, ACOG agrees that sapropterin supplementation may be appropriate in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Other treatment regimens, including pegvaliase, should be considered carefully with the appropriate consultation of a metabolic geneticist or other experienced provider. Conclusions: This case presents a pregnant patient with known PKU currently being managed on pegvaliase injections. PKU management in pregnancy presents unique challenges as it is rarely encountered and requires management by a provider team of specialists whose goal is to maintain appropriate phenylalanine levels to decrease embryopathy. This patient has been maintained within the recommended tyrosine limits and has not had any known adverse effects nor did her first child.

Pharmacokinetic modeling of prenatal vitamin D exposure and the impact on offspring asthma and pulmonary function.

Pharmacokinetic modeling of prenatal vitamin D exposure and the impact on offspring asthma and pulmonary function.

Prenatal vitamin utilization and its determinants among pregnant women in south Gondar zone: multicenter cross-sectional study.

Prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements are commonly advised as clinical practice standard of care. In spite of Ethiopian government focus on maternal nutrition programmes targeting pregnant and lactating women, Micronutrient deficiencies are still quite common and are regarded as a serious public health issue and also little is known regarding utilization and barriers to prenatal vitamin use during pregnancy. This study aimed to assess utilization and associated factors of prenatal vitamins among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public hospitals in the south Gondar zone, 2024. Multi center crossectional study design was conducted among 416 pregnant women from March 1 to May 30, 2024. Systematic sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data was collected using Interviewer administered questionnaire. After data, SPSS version 26 software was used for analysis. Factors associated with utilization of prenatal vitamins were identified using bi-variable and multi variable logistic regression models. Statistical significance was declared at 95%CI and p-value < 0.05. In this study, we found that 87.5% (95% CI: 84.31, 90.34) of pregnant women did not use prenatal vitamins. Women not having formal education (AOR = 2.72, 95%CI: 1.44-5.15), being unplanned pregnancy (AOR = 2.58, 95%CI: 1.76-3.78), husband being decision maker in health care (AOR = 1.71, 95%CI:1.09-2.68), having poor knowledge (AOR = 3.27, 95%CI: 1.44-7.42) and unfavorable attitude (AOR = 3.63, 95%CI: 1.61-8.18) on prenatal vitamins were significantly associated with non-users of prenatal vitamins. The proportion of non-users of prenatal vitamin were higher. Educational level of women, pregnancy plan, decision on health care, knowledge and attitude on prenatal vitamins had statistically significant with utilization of prenatal vitamins. Developing and implementing targeted educational programs to increase awareness about the importance and benefits of prenatal vitamins and encouraging women to take an active role in their healthcare decisions is recommended to improve the utilization of prenatal vitamins.

Clinical Pregnancy and Miscarriage Rates in relation to Vitamin D Supplementation among women with Hyper Androgenic PCOS: A prospective study.

Pregnant mothers frequently have vitamin D deficiency, which has potential consequences for the health of their unborn children. Prenatal vitamin D administration raises maternal and foetal 25(OH)D levels. This study aims to assess the effects of 25(OH)D supplementation on clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates in women diagnosed with hyperandrogenic polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This prospective study was conducted on 200 patients with hyperandrogenic PCOS who attended an outpatient infertility clinic at Menoufia University Hospital from March 2021 until March 2022. Participants were divided into two groups-(A) women who received a therapeutic dose of 25(OH)D supplements (n=100) and (B) women who did not receive 25(OH)D supplements (n=100). The duration needed to reach follicles that were ≥18 mm was significantly higher in group B (16.74 ± 2.57) compared with group A (13.40 ± 2.12). Midluteal progesterone was significantly higher in group A (19.63 ± 2.12) compared with group B (17.74 ± 2.36, P<0.001). Our results indicate that women with adequate 25(OH)D levels are far more likely to experience clinical pregnancies than those with 25(OH)D deficiency. More research is necessary to determine whether vitamin D supplementation can be a simple and economical solution to increase pregnancy rates. Our study population had a significant 25(OH)D deficit or insufficiency prevalence. Determining 25(OH)D levels as part of a routine infertility assessment may be advantageous.

A Pilot Evaluation of the Adequacy of Prenatal Vitamins to Cover Dietary Deficits During Pregnancy and Lactation.

The objectives of this pilot survey were (1) to compare dietary intakes during three survey windows (25-28 weeks gestation, 28-32 weeks gestation and ≥ 3 months postpartum) with the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements' (NIH:ODS) established recommendations for pregnant and lactating women, and (2) to evaluate the general adequacy of commonly used prenatal vitamins (PVs) to cover the identified deficits in dietary intake. In this longitudinal pilot survey, 39 healthy consented women, aged 18-50 years with singleton pregnancies and pre-pregnancy BMI < 30.0 kg/m2 were included. Items from self-reported dietary intakes during three survey windows were converted to nutritional content using Fooducate (LLC), a public database. Three-day mean intakes per survey window per subject were compared with NIH:ODS recommendations to determine dietary deficits. Eight commonly utilised PVs (identified via web searches of common prenatal vitamins and their availability in local stores) were evaluated for adequacy in correcting each dietary deficit. Nutrients that were ≥ 30% higher than the recommended RDA/AI were carbohydrates, sodium, vitamin A, and vitamin C in the first survey window; carbohydrates, sodium, and vitamin A in the second survey window; and sodium and iron in the third survey window. Nutrients that were ≥ 30% lower than the RDA/AI were potassium, vitamin D, and iron in the first survey window; potassium, vitamin D, and iron during the second survey window; and dietary fibre, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin D in the third survey window. None of the evaluated PVs corrected all deficits, but two were close to the goal and only one corrected all vitamin D deficits. Women who are or are planning to become pregnant should be educated on dietary recommendations during pregnancy and lactation, ideally such that supplements become unnecessary. However, it remains good practice to carefully consider prenatal vitamin content before selection.

Paleopathological analysis of prenatal and postnatal vitamin D deficiency using teeth as tool

Paleopathological analysis of prenatal and postnatal vitamin D deficiency using teeth as tool

Vitamin B12 intake during pregnancy linked to child speech development and intelligence quotient.

Nutrient deficiencies during pregnancy may affect offspring development. We aim to examine the association between prenatal vitamin B12 intake and children's cognitive development. A total of 5151 mother-child pairs from the Czech part of ELSPAC study were included in the analysis. Dietary information was obtained during pregnancy using food frequency questionnaire. Parents reported on their child's speech and language development at 18months, 3, 5 and 7years. Intelligence quotient (IQ) was measured at 8years in subcohort of 854 children. Children of mothers with higher vitamin B12 intake demonstrated higher scores in language (B=0.20, 95% CI 0.06, 0.34) and talking and understanding (B=2.39, 95% CI 0.97, 3.80) in a fully adjusted model at 18months. Additionally, they were more likely to get maximum points in the intelligibility test at age 3 (OR=1.05, 95% CI 1.01, 1.09) in unadjusted model, however, not in fully adjusted model. We found a positive effect of higher vitamin B12 intake on verbal IQ (B=1.08, 95% CI 0.09, 2.08). We identified consistent associations between prenatal vitamin B12 intake and children's cognitive development. The results suggest that inadequate vitamin B12 during pregnancy may negatively affect children's cognitive development, particularly in speech and language.

Efficacy in prenatal vitamin B12 supplementation preventing vitamin B12 deficiency in exclusively breastfed infants

Efficacy in prenatal vitamin B12 supplementation preventing vitamin B12 deficiency in exclusively breastfed infants

Increased adverse pregnancy outcomes among decreased assisted reproductions during the COVID-19 pandemic: insights from a birth cohort study in Southwest China

ObjectivesWe elucidate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on assisted reproductive technology (ART) services and birth outcomes and establish an evidence-based framework to maintain the high quality of ART healthcare services and ensure continuous improvement of birth outcomes.MethodsA total of 19,170 pregnant women from Sichuan, Guizhou and Chongqing in Southwest China between 2018 and 2021 were included in this study. The log-binomial regression model was employed to analyse the changes in the probability of adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), Apgar score < 7 at 1 min and congenital anomalies (CAs) and their relationship with ART before and after the pandemic. In this analysis, confounding factors such as family annual income, maternal ethnicity, delivery age, subjective prenatal health status, vitamin or mineral supplementation during pregnancy and level of prenatal care provided by the hospital were controlled.ResultsART mothers had the highest probability of giving birth to LBW babies (relative risk (RR): 2.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.32–3.41), experiencing PTB (RR: 2.72, 95% CI: 2.78–3.22) and delivering babies with an Apgar score < 7 at 1 min (RR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.05–2.69). Before the pandemic, the ART rate increased from 4.42% in 2018 to 6.71% in 2019 (rate difference of 2.29%, P < 0.001). After the pandemic, the ART rate decreased from 6.71% in 2019 to 6.55% in 2020 (rate difference of − 0.16%, P = 0.752). Compared with the pre-pandemic period, the rate difference for LBW decreased from − 0.21% (P = 0.646) in 2018–2019 to an increase of + 0.89% (P = 0.030) in 2019–2020. Similarly, PTB showed an increase in rate difference from + 0.20% (P = 0.623) before the pandemic to + 0.53% (P = 0.256) afterwards. Apgar score < 7 at 1 min had a negative rate difference of − 0.50% (P = 0.012), which changed to a positive value of + 0.20% (P = 0.340). For CAs, the rate difference increased from + 0.34% (P = 0.089) prior to the outbreak to + 0.59% (P = 0.102) at post-outbreak. In 2018 (pre-pandemic), ART was the most significant predictor of LBW, exhibiting an RR of 3.45 (95% CI: 2.57–4.53). Furthermore, in 2020, its RR was 2.49 (95% CI: 1.78–3.42). Prior to the onset of the pandemic (2018), ART (RR: 3.17, 95% CI: 2.42–4.08) was the most robust predictor of PTB. In 2020, its RR was 2.23 (95% CI: 1.65–2.97).ConclusionART services have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting delays in ART services have had notable implications for maternal birth outcomes.

The Association between Vitamin D Deficiency and Perinatal Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To conduct a meta-analysis on the connection between vitamin D deficiency and perinatal depression. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and VIP database. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias in articles using the Cochrane collaboration's tool, with analysis performed via RevMan software. After reviewing major databases, 13 studies were included. Three studies assessed prenatal depression and vitamin D levels, showing significantly lower levels in the depression group compared to controls (Standardized Mean Difference [SMD] = -0.41, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] -0.57 to -0.25) with minimal heterogeneity, thus a fixed effects model was used. Another three studies explored postpartum depression and vitamin D, revealing considerable heterogeneity (I 2 = 96%, P < .01), leading to the use of a random effects model; these indicated much lower vitamin D levels in the depression group (SMD = -1.62, 95% CI -2.62 to -0.62). Seven studies examined the link between postpartum depression and vitamin D deficiency, again showing significant heterogeneity (I 2 = 92%, P < .01) and lower vitamin D levels in depressed women (SMD [Standardized Mean Difference] = 2.28, 95% CI 1.60-3.25), with no significant publication bias detected. Reduced vitamin D levels are significantly associated with the incidence of perinatal depression. Pregnant women with reduced vitamin D levels have a relatively higher risk of depression. This signifies that vitamin D levels may figure prominently in maintaining maternal mental health.

The Influence of Prenatal Vitamin use and Community Health Programs on Reducing Teratogenic Medication Exposure and Improving Perinatal Nutrition among African American Adolescents with Limited Access to Healthcare

This review paper examines the critical influence of prenatal vitamin use and community health programs on reducing teratogenic medication exposure and improving perinatal nutrition among African American adolescents with limited access to healthcare. African American adolescents face disproportionate barriers to healthcare access, including socioeconomic challenges and systemic healthcare inequities, which contribute to heightened risks of teratogenic exposure and poor prenatal nutrition. The paper explores the role of prenatal vitamins such as folic acid, iron, and calcium in preventing congenital disabilities and enhancing maternal health. It also highlights the impact of community-based health programs and education initiatives that aim to bridge healthcare gaps for vulnerable populations. By focusing on adolescent pregnancy in African American communities, this review identifies key challenges such as limited healthcare access, inadequate educational resources, and socio-economic constraints. Furthermore, the paper assesses the effectiveness of current health interventions and policies, offering recommendations for improving healthcare access and expanding community programs. The review underscores the necessity for long-term research to address gaps in the intersection of race, adolescent health, and prenatal care, ultimately aiming to inform policy and program development that promotes equitable maternal and fetal health outcomes.

Epigenome-wide meta-analysis of prenatal vitamin D insufficiency and cord blood DNA methylation

ABSTRACT Low maternal vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy have been associated with a range of offspring health outcomes. DNA methylation is one mechanism by which the maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy could impact offspring’s health in later life. We aimed to evaluate whether maternal vitamin D insufficiency during pregnancy was conditionally associated with DNA methylation in the offspring cord blood. Maternal vitamin D insufficiency (plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D ≤ 75 nmol/L) during pregnancy and offspring cord blood DNA methylation, assessed using Illumina Infinium 450k or Illumina EPIC Beadchip, was collected for 3738 mother–child pairs in 7 cohorts as part of the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) consortium. Associations between maternal vitamin D and offspring DNA methylation, adjusted for fetal sex, maternal smoking, maternal age, maternal pre-pregnancy or early pregnancy BMI, maternal education, gestational age at measurement of 25(OH)D, parity, and cell type composition, were estimated using robust linear regression in each cohort, and a fixed-effects meta-analysis was conducted. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency ranged from 44.3% to 78.5% across cohorts. Across 364,678 CpG sites, none were associated with maternal vitamin D insufficiency at an epigenome-wide significant level after correcting for multiple testing using Bonferroni correction or a less conservative Benjamini–Hochberg False Discovery Rate approach (FDR, p > 0.05). In this epigenome-wide association study, we did not find convincing evidence of a conditional association of vitamin D insufficiency with offspring DNA methylation at any measured CpG site.

Associations Between Prenatal Vitamin D and Placental Gene Expression

Associations Between Prenatal Vitamin D and Placental Gene Expression

Preconception and prenatal vitamin D associations with positive behavioral health in Black children.

Low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy are associated with offspring behavioral problems but little is known about pre-pregnancy influences. Additionally, Black American individuals are underrepresented in studies, limiting translational impact. We tested independent and interactive effects of preconception and prenatal vitamin D in Black women in relation to positive behavioral and emotional outcomes in early childhood. Black-identifying participants (N = 156) enrolled in the longitudinal Pittsburgh Girls Study (PGS) provided venous blood samples before and during pregnancy to measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels. Participants completed questionnaires assessing sociodemographic factors, depression severity and life stress, and later reported on child behavioral and emotional problems and prosocial behavior between 2 and 4 years. Mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations were 15.5 ng/ml (s.d. = 7.7) before pregnancy and 18.0 ng/ml (s.d. = 9.2) during pregnancy; below the sufficiency threshold according to commonly used dietary guidelines. After adjusting for covariates, prenatal 25(OH)D was negatively related to behavior problems and positively related to prosocial behavior in children, although the association attenuated for behavior problems after accounting for preconception 25(OH)D, which may reflect patterns of stability. Maternal 25(OH)D was unrelated to child emotional problems, and no synergistic effects of 25(OH)D timing were observed for any child outcome. Findings have relevance for Black women living in the northeast U.S. Results suggest specific associations between maternal vitamin D and positive behaviors in early childhood, regardless of sufficiency levels and suggest potential opportunities for early interventions to support healthy child development.

Relationship between Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status and Early Childhood Caries in Their Children: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Vitamin D deficiency in expectant mothers is very common in India. As a consequence, the possibility of hypoplasia of teeth and resultant propensity for faster progression of early childhood caries (ECC) is expected to be higher in Indian children. This study aimed to determine the relationship between prenatal vitamin D intake of mothers and dental caries experience in their preschool children, and whether vitamin D deficiency in mothers could be a risk factor for tooth decay in their children. This cross-sectional study included 120 mothers of children aged up to 71 months with dental caries attending the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in India. Mothers were surveyed about their prenatal vitamin D intake and their practices regarding vitamin D and sunlight exposure. Children were clinically examined, and their caries status was recorded using the decayed, extracted, filled teeth (deft) index. Data were analyzed descriptively and correlated using an independent t-test. Binary logistic regression was employed to predict the effects of the duration of sun exposure and vitamin D deficiency on dental decay. The correlation of mothers' prenatal vitamin D intake was significantly associated weekly with children's caries experience. Their sun exposure (p = 0.002) and practices adopted (p = 0.0001) regarding vitamin D levels were statistically significant for children's caries status. Improper brushing frequency was also significantly associated with higher deft scores. The association between mothers' prenatal vitamin D intake and health practices related to vitamin D with dental caries was not confirmed. Subjects with vitamin D deficiency and their children had significantly higher odds of developing dental decay. However, our findings suggest that 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency may be a risk factor for developing dental caries in children. Kalra G, Kumar Y, Langpoklakpam C, et al. Relationship between Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status and Early Childhood Caries in Their Children: A Cross-sectional Survey. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(8):860-863.

Prenatal Vitamin D Deficiency and Maternal and Fetal Health Outcomes.

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a significant health issue that could have serious implications for the well-being of women and their offspring. Prenatal vitamins are widely used, but deficiency still occurs frequently in the preconception period, during pregnancy, and in breastfed infants. We analyzed the association between prenatal VDD and maternal and fetal health outcomes by reviewing studies conducted in Europe. The literature was searched for articles published in the last 10 years focusing on preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, low birth weight, asthma, and autism spectrum disorder. We identified a total of 43 review articles, 31 original articles, and two guidelines. During pregnancy, VDD is associated with a higher likelihood of developing gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia. It may also lead to an increase in the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, as well as asthma, and autism spectrum disorder in the offspring. While the official guidelines for vitamin D dosage differ in various countries, health authorities usually recommend a total daily supplement intake of 400-2,000 IU. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the importance of establishing guidelines for vitamin D supplementation as well as the requirement of official standards for the consumption of vitamin D in the prenatal period. Future research should concentrate on developing more unified approaches to vitamin D assessment and establishing preventative measures that can be incorporated into prenatal care programs.

PSI-6 Early life programming of the bovine jejunum function in response to maternal vitamin and mineral supplementation

Abstract Despite the increased appreciation of the involvement of maternal nutrition in fetal development, its effects on jejunum programming remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the impact of maternal vitamin and mineral supplementation throughout gestation on the differential gene expression and underlying biological pathways in the jejunum of neonatal calves. For this, beginning 60 d before breeding and continuing throughout gestation, crossbred Angus heifers (n = 14) were fed either a basal diet (CON; n = 7) or the basal diet plus 113 g•heifer-1•d-1 of VTM supplement (VTM; n = 7). All heifers were gestating female calves, which were euthanized 30 h after birth. Samples of jejunum mucosa were collected, stored at -80°C, then subjected to total RNA isolation and RNA sequencing. After quality control, the reads were mapped using STAR aligner and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using DESeq2. Maternal VTM supplementation did not affect calf organ mass, including jejunum weight. However, high-resolution respirometry analysis revealed greater mitochondrial efficiency in jejunum of calves from VTM supplemented dams. Additionally, we identified 528 DEGs between the VTM and CON calves (P-value ≤ 0.05 and |log2FC| &amp;gt; 0.5). Among them, the genes IGFBP2 and IGFBP6, which are key genes in insulin pathway and involved in regulation of insulin-like growth factors (IGF), IGF transport, and uptake, were upregulated in the VTM group. Additional pathways were identified using ShinyGO, which included the pancreatic secretion pathway, over-represented by genes such as PLCB1, CCK, and SLC26A3. The gene PLCB1 has been associated with feed efficiency, growth, and carcass traits in multiple species. Likewise, the SLC26A3 gene encodes a key intestinal chloride anion exchanger associated with enhanced feed efficiency in cattle. Genes encoding signaling molecules involved with immune response, T cell activation, and defense response were also among the DEGs upregulated in the VTM calves, including the TNFSF18 and TNFRSF4 genes. Our findings suggest that maternal prenatal vitamin and mineral supplementation throughout gestation affects the expression of genes involved in the jejunum function of offspring at a neonatal time point. The long-term consequences of these changes, however, warrant further investigation.