Effect of Diet on Maze Learning in Second-Generation Rats. Folic Acid Deficiency

Whitley, James R.; O’Dell, Boyd L.; Hogan, A. G.

doi:10.1093/jn/45.1.153

Cited by 27 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…However, blood folate levels are elevated in the newborn such that there must be placental folate transport against the concentration gradient (56) . Although there is evidence that in animals a folate deficiency has detrimental consequences (59,60) the topic has been little considered in human subjects. There is a report that infants born to a mother with a severe folate deficiency during pregnancy showed delayed development (61) and that folic acid supplementation during pregnancy reduced the incidence of immaturity (62) .…”

Section: Folatementioning

confidence: 99%

Vitamins and neural and cognitive developmental outcomes in children

Benton

2011

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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The role of vitamin status in the development of the brain and the subsequent functioning of the brain was considered. There are data with a range of vitamins, from animal studies and human studies in developing countries, suggesting that a clinical deficiency during the critical period when the brain is developing causes permanent damage. To date there is, however, with the exception of cases of clinical deficiency such as those that might be associated with a vegan diet, little evidence that variations in the diet of those living in industrialised countries have a lasting developmental influence. Similarly, later in life clinical deficiencies of various vitamins disrupt cognition although there is to date limited evidence that variations in the intake of single vitamins in industrialised societies influence functioning. It may well be, however, unreasonable to expect that vitamins examined in isolation will be associated with differences in cognitive functioning. The output of the brain reflects millions of metabolic processes, each potentially susceptible to any of a range of vitamins. A diet poor in one respect is likely to be poor in other respects as well. As such, the preliminary reports in double-blind placebo-controlled trials that aspects of cognition and behaviour respond to supplementation with multi-micronutrients may indicate the way forward.

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Section: Folatementioning

confidence: 99%

Vitamins and neural and cognitive developmental outcomes in children

Benton

2011

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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“…Folate is recognized among key nutrients required for the formation and development of fetal brain [10] owing to its involvement in the proliferation and growth of neuronal cells and the synthesis of neurotransmitters [11]. Experimental evidence from in vivo studies shows that there is active placental transport of folate and elevated total folate concentrations are found in the brain during early fetal development [12, 13], while prenatal folate deficiency was shown in animal models to decrease progenitor cell proliferation, increase apoptosis, and provoke structural changes in the brain [14, 15]. Observational studies in humans have linked self-reported FA supplement use in the first trimester of pregnancy with better cognitive performance [6–9] and specifically with improved vocabulary and verbal skills [8] in children.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of continued folic acid supplementation beyond the first trimester of pregnancy on cognitive performance in the child: a follow-up study from a randomized controlled trial (FASSTT Offspring Trial)

McNulty

Rollins

Cassidy

et al. 2019

BMC Med

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BackgroundPericonceptional folic acid prevents neural tube defects (NTDs), but it is uncertain whether there are benefits for offspring neurodevelopment arising from continued maternal folic acid supplementation beyond the first trimester. We investigated the effect of folic acid supplementation during trimesters 2 and 3 of pregnancy on cognitive performance in the child.MethodsWe followed up the children of mothers who had participated in a randomized controlled trial in 2006/2007 of Folic Acid Supplementation during the Second and Third Trimesters (FASSTT) and received 400 μg/d folic acid or placebo from the 14th gestational week until the end of pregnancy. Cognitive performance of children at 7 years was evaluated using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III) and at 3 years using the Bayley’s Scale of Infant and Toddler Development (BSITD-III).ResultsFrom a total of 119 potential mother-child pairs, 70 children completed the assessment at age 7 years, and 39 at age 3 years. At 7 years, the children of folic acid treated mothers scored significantly higher than the placebo group in word reasoning: mean 13.3 (95% CI 12.4–14.2) versus 11.9 (95% CI 11.0–12.8); p = 0.027; at 3 years, they scored significantly higher in cognition: 10.3 (95% CI 9.3–11.3) versus 9.5 (95% CI 8.8–10.2); p = 0.040. At both time points, greater proportions of children from folic acid treated mothers compared with placebo had cognitive scores above the median values of 10 (girls and boys) for the BSITD-III, and 24.5 (girls) and 21.5 (boys) for the WPPSI-III tests. When compared with a nationally representative sample of British children at 7 years, WPPSI-III test scores were higher in children from folic acid treated mothers for verbal IQ (p < 0.001), performance IQ (p = 0.035), general language (p = 0.002), and full scale IQ (p = 0.001), whereas comparison of the placebo group with British children showed smaller differences in scores for verbal IQ (p = 0.034) and full scale IQ (p = 0.017) and no differences for performance IQ or general language.ConclusionsContinued folic acid supplementation in pregnancy beyond the early period recommended to prevent NTD may have beneficial effects on child cognitive development. Further randomized trials in pregnancy with follow-up in childhood are warranted.Trial registrationISRCTN ISRCTN19917787. Registered 15 May 2013.

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“…Studies in rodents have shown that maternal folate deficiency is associated with structural brain abnormalities 8 and poor postnatal learning ability in offspring. 9 In India, where the majority of the population is vegetarian, 10 there is a high prevalence of B12 deficiency and folate status is adequate. 11 We now report the effect of B12 and folate nutrition during pregnancy on child B12 and folate status and motor, mental and social development at 2 y.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vitamin B12 and folate during pregnancy and offspring motor, mental and social development at 2 years of age

Bhate

Joshi

Ladkat

et al. 2011

J Devel Orig Health Dis

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Insufficiency of vitamin B12 (B12) and folate during pregnancy can result in low concentrations in the fetus and have adverse effects on brain development. We investigated the relationship between maternal B12 and folate nutrition during pregnancy and offspring motor, mental and social development at two years of age (2 y). Mothers (n = 123) and their offspring (62 girls, 61 boys) from rural and middle-class urban communities in and around Pune city were followed through pregnancy up to 2 y. Maternal B12 and folate concentrations were measured at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation. At 2 y, the Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants was used to determine motor and mental developmental quotients and the Vineland Social Maturity Scale for the social developmental quotient. Overall, 62% of the mothers had low B12 levels (<150 pmol/l) and one mother was folate deficient during pregnancy. Maternal B12 at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation was associated with offspring B12 at 2 y (r = 0.29, r = 0.32, P < 0.001), but folate was not associated with offspring folate. At 2 y, motor development was associated with maternal folate at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation. Mental and social development quotients were associated positively with head circumference and negatively with birth weight. In addition, pregnancy B12 and folate were positively associated with mental and social development quotients. Maternal B12 and folate during intrauterine life may favorably influence brain development and function. Pregnancy provides a window of opportunity to enhance fetal psychomotor (motor and mental) development.

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Effect of Diet on Maze Learning in Second-Generation Rats. Folic Acid Deficiency

Cited by 27 publications

References 8 publications

Vitamins and neural and cognitive developmental outcomes in children

Vitamins and neural and cognitive developmental outcomes in children

Effect of continued folic acid supplementation beyond the first trimester of pregnancy on cognitive performance in the child: a follow-up study from a randomized controlled trial (FASSTT Offspring Trial)

Vitamin B12 and folate during pregnancy and offspring motor, mental and social development at 2 years of age

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