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St-Laurent A, Plante AS, Lemieux S, Robitaille J, MacFarlane AJ, Morisset AS. Higher Than Recommended Folic Acid Intakes is Associated with High Folate Status Throughout Pregnancy in a Prospective French-Canadian Cohort. J Nutr 2023; 153:1347-1358. [PMID: 36848988 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Folate and vitamin B12 status during pregnancy are important for maternal and neonatal health. Maternal intake and prepregnancy body mass index (ppBMI) can influence biomarker status. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to, throughout pregnancy; 1) assess folate and B12 status including serum total folate, plasma total vitamin B12, and homocysteine (tHcy); 2) examine how these biomarkers are associated with intakes of folate and B12 and with ppBMI; and 3) determine predictors of serum total folate and plasma total vitamin B12. METHODS In each trimester (T1, T2, and T3), food and supplement intakes of 79 French-Canadian pregnant individuals were assessed by 3 dietary recalls (R24W) and a supplement use questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were collected. Serum total folate and plasma total vitamin B12 and tHcy were assessed by immunoassay (Siemens ADVIA Centaur XP). RESULTS Participants were 32.1 ± 3.7 y and had a mean ppBMI of 25.7 ± 5.8 kg/m2. Serum total folate concentrations were high (>45.3 nmol/L, T1: 75.4 ± 55.1, T2: 69.1 ± 44.8, T3: 72.1 ± 52.1, P = 0.48). Mean plasma total vitamin B12 concentrations were >220 pmol/L (T1: 428 ± 175, T2: 321 ± 116, T3: 336 ± 128, P < 0.0001). Mean tHcy concentrations were <11 μmol/L across trimesters. Most participants (79.6%-86.1%) had a total folic acid intake above the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL, >1000 μg/d). Supplement use accounted for 71.9%-76.1% and 35.3%-41.8% of total folic acid and vitamin B12 intakes, respectively. The ppBMI was not correlated with serum total folate (P > 0.1) but was weakly correlated with and predicted lower plasma total vitamin B12 in T3 (r = -0.23, P = 0.04; r2 = 0.08, standardized beta [sβ] = -0.24, P = 0.01). Higher folic acid intakes from supplements predicted higher serum total folate (T1: r2 = 0.05, sβ = 0.15, P = 0.04, T2: r2 = 0.28, sβ = 0.56, P = 0.01, T3: r2 = 0.19, sβ = 0.44, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Most pregnant individuals had elevated serum total folate concentrations, reflecting total folic acid intakes above the UL driven by supplement use. Vitamin B12 concentrations were generally adequate and differed by ppBMI and pregnancy stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey St-Laurent
- School of Nutrition, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada; Endocrinology and Nephrology Unit, CHU of Quebec-Laval University Research Center, Quebec City, Canada; NUTRISS Research Center, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Anne-Sophie Plante
- School of Nutrition, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada; Endocrinology and Nephrology Unit, CHU of Quebec-Laval University Research Center, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Simone Lemieux
- School of Nutrition, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada; NUTRISS Research Center, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Julie Robitaille
- School of Nutrition, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada; Endocrinology and Nephrology Unit, CHU of Quebec-Laval University Research Center, Quebec City, Canada; NUTRISS Research Center, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Amanda J MacFarlane
- Nutrition Research Division, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Evidence Center, Texas A&M University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Anne-Sophie Morisset
- School of Nutrition, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada; Endocrinology and Nephrology Unit, CHU of Quebec-Laval University Research Center, Quebec City, Canada; NUTRISS Research Center, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada.
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OUP accepted manuscript. Nutr Rev 2022; 80:1985-2001. [DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuac015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Wilson R, O'Connor D. Maternal folic acid and multivitamin supplementation: International clinical evidence with considerations for the prevention of folate-sensitive birth defects. Prev Med Rep 2021; 24:101617. [PMID: 34976673 PMCID: PMC8684027 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
More evidence is available for maternal intake, absorption, distribution, tissue specific concentrations, and pregnancy outcomes with folic acid (fortification/supplementation) during preconception - first trimester. This Quality Improvement prevention review used expert guidelines/opinions, systematic reviews, randomized control trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational case control/case series studies, published in English, from 1990 to August 2021. Optimization for an oral maternal folic acid supplementation is difficult because it relies on folic acid dose, type of folate supplement, bio-availability of the folate from foods, timing of supplementation initiation, maternal metabolism/genetic factors, and many other factors. There is continued use of high dose pre-food fortification 'RCT evidenced-based' folic acid supplementation for NTD recurrence pregnancy prevention. Innovation requires preconception and pregnancy use of 'carbon one nutrient' supplements (folic acid, vitamin B12, B6, choline), using the appropriate evidence, need to be considered. The consideration and adoption of directed personalized approaches for maternal complex risk could use serum folate testing for supplementation dosing choice. Routine daily folic acid dosing for low-risk women should consider a multivitamin with 0.4 mg of folic acid starting 3 months prior to conception until completion of breastfeeding. Routine folic acid dosing or preconception measurement of maternal serum folate (after 4-6 weeks of folate supplementation) could be considered for maternal complex risk group with genetic/medical/surgical co-morbidities. These new approaches for folic acid oral supplementation are required to optimize benefit (decreasing folate sensitive congenital anomalies; childhood morbidity) and minimizing potential maternal and childhood risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- R.D. Wilson
- Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary, FMC NT 435, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - D.L. O'Connor
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Cochrane KM, Mayer C, Devlin AM, Elango R, Hutcheon JA, Karakochuk CD. Is natural (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid as effective as synthetic folic acid in increasing serum and red blood cell folate concentrations during pregnancy? A proof-of-concept pilot study. Trials 2020; 21:380. [PMID: 32370802 PMCID: PMC7201521 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04320-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background North American health authorities recommend 0.4 mg/day folic acid before conception and throughout pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate that must be reduced by dihydrofolate reductase and then further metabolized. Recent evidence suggests that the maximal capacity for this process is limited and unmetabolized folic acid has been detected in the circulation. The biological effects of unmetabolized folic acid are unknown. A natural form of folate, (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (Metafolin®), may be a superior alternative because it does not need to be reduced in the small intestine. Metafolin® is currently used in some prenatal multivitamins; however, it has yet to be evaluated during pregnancy. Methods/design This double-blind, randomized trial will recruit 60 pregnant women aged 19–42 years. The women will receive either 0.6 mg/day folic acid or an equimolar dose (0.625 mg/day) of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid for 16 weeks. The trial will be initiated at 8–21 weeks’ gestation (after neural tube closure) to reduce the risk of harm should (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid prove less effective. All women will also receive a prenatal multivitamin (not containing folate) to ensure adequacy of other nutrients. Baseline and endline blood samples will be collected to assess primary outcome measures, including serum folate, red blood cell folate and unmetabolized folic acid. The extent to which the change in primary outcomes from baseline to endline differs between treatment groups, controlling for baseline level, will be estimated using linear regression. Participants will have the option to continue supplementing until 1 week postpartum to provide a breastmilk and blood sample. Exploratory analyses will be completed to evaluate breastmilk and postpartum blood folate concentrations. Discussion This proof-of-concept trial is needed to obtain estimates of the effect of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid compared to folic acid on circulating biomarkers of folate status during pregnancy. These estimates will inform the design of a definitive trial which will be powered to assess whether (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid is as effective as folic acid in raising blood folate concentrations during pregnancy. Ultimately, these findings will inform folate supplementation policies for pregnant women. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT04022135. Registered on 14 July 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey M Cochrane
- Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Chantal Mayer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Angela M Devlin
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada
| | - Rajavel Elango
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jennifer A Hutcheon
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Crystal D Karakochuk
- Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada. .,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
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Moore CJ, Perreault M, Mottola MF, Atkinson SA. Diet in Early Pregnancy: Focus on Folate, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, and Choline. CAN J DIET PRACT RES 2019; 81:58-65. [PMID: 31512510 DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2019-025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Prenatal multivitamins are recommended in pregnancy. This study assessed food and supplement intakes of folate, vitamin B12 (B12), vitamin D, and choline in pregnant women living in Southern Ontario in comparison with current recommendations. Methods: Women recruited to the Be Healthy in Pregnancy RCT (NCT01693510) completed 3-day diet/supplement records at 12-17 weeks gestation. Intakes of folate, B12, vitamin D, and choline were quantified and compared with recommendations for pregnant women. Results: Folate intake (median (min, max)) was 1963 μg/day dietary folate equivalents (153, 10 846); 90% of women met the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) but 77% exceeded the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) (n = 232). B12 intake was 12.1 μg/day (0.3, 2336); 96% of women met the EAR with 7% exceeding the EAR 100-fold (n = 232). Vitamin D intake was 564 IU/day (0.0, 11 062); 83% met the EAR, whereas 1.7% exceeded the UL (n = 232). Choline intake was 338 mg/day (120, 1016); only 18% met the Adequate Intake and none exceeded the UL (n = 158). Conclusion: To meet the nutrient requirements of pregnancy many women rely on prenatal vitamins. Reformulating prenatal multivitamin supplements to provide doses of vitamins within recommendations to complement a balanced healthy diet would ensure appropriate micronutrient intakes for pregnant women.
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Irwin RE, Thursby SJ, Ondičová M, Pentieva K, McNulty H, Richmond RC, Caffrey A, Lees-Murdock DJ, McLaughlin M, Cassidy T, Suderman M, Relton CL, Walsh CP. A randomized controlled trial of folic acid intervention in pregnancy highlights a putative methylation-regulated control element at ZFP57. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:31. [PMID: 30777123 PMCID: PMC6380035 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0618-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal blood folate concentrations during pregnancy have been previously linked with DNA methylation patterns, but this has been done predominantly through observational studies. We showed recently in an epigenetic analysis of the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) of folic acid supplementation specifically in the second and third trimesters (the EpiFASSTT trial) that methylation at some imprinted genes was altered in cord blood samples in response to treatment. Here, we report on epigenome-wide screening using the Illumina EPIC array (~ 850,000 sites) in these same samples (n = 86). RESULTS The top-ranked differentially methylated promoter region (DMR) showed a gain in methylation with folic acid (FA) and was located upstream of the imprint regulator ZFP57. Differences in methylation in cord blood between placebo and folic acid treatment groups at this DMR were verified using pyrosequencing. The DMR also gains methylation in maternal blood in response to FA supplementation. We also found evidence of differential methylation at this region in an independent RCT cohort, the AFAST trial. By altering methylation at this region in two model systems in vitro, we further demonstrated that it was associated with ZFP57 transcription levels. CONCLUSIONS These results strengthen the link between folic acid supplementation during later pregnancy and epigenetic changes and identify a novel mechanism for regulation of ZFP57. This trial was registered 15 May 2013 at www.isrctn.com as ISRCTN19917787.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachelle E. Irwin
- Genomic Medicine Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
| | - Sara-Jayne Thursby
- Genomic Medicine Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
| | - Miroslava Ondičová
- Genomic Medicine Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
| | - Kristina Pentieva
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Helene McNulty
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Rebecca C. Richmond
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Aoife Caffrey
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Diane J. Lees-Murdock
- Genomic Medicine Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
| | | | - Tony Cassidy
- Psychology Institute, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Matthew Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Caroline L. Relton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Colum P. Walsh
- Genomic Medicine Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
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