Higher maternal vitamin D concentrations are associated with longer leukocyte telomeres in newborns

Abstract

Gestational vitamin D insufficiency is related with increased risks of various diseases and poor health outcomes later in life. Telomere length at birth or early in life is known to be a predictor of individual health. Both vitamin D and telomere length are related with various health conditions, and vitamin D concentrations are associated with leukocyte telomere lengths in women.We investigated the association between maternal vitamin D concentrations and newborn leukocyte telomere lengths. This cross-sectional study included 106 healthy pregnant women without adverse obstetric outcomes and their offspring. We examined the maternal age, weight before pregnancy, health behaviours, and nutritional intakes, along with each newborn's sex and birthweight, and we measured maternal height, telomere length, total white blood cell count, and glycosylated haemoglobin as covariates. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate the relationship between the baseline variables and newborn leukocyte telomere lengths. To confirm that there was an independent association between newborn leukocyte telomere lengths and maternal vitamin D concentrations, we performed a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Newborn leukocyte telomere lengths correlated positively with maternal leukocyte telomere lengths (r = .76, p < .01), maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (r = .72, p < .01), maternal energy intakes (r = .22, p = .03), and newborn body weights (r = .51, p < .01). In the multivariate model, newborn leukocyte telomere lengths were associated with maternal vitamin D concentrations (β = .33, p < .01). These findings suggest that the maternal vitamin D concentration during pregnancy may be a significant determinant of the offspring's telomere length.

Placental and Cord Blood Telomere Length in Relation to Maternal Nutritional Status

“…Telomeres may also be susceptible to poor or unbalanced nutrition ( 21 ). Prepregnancy BMI has been found to be inversely associated with newborn TL ( 22 ), whereas maternal folate ( 7 , 23 ), vitamin C ( 24 ), and vitamin D ( 25 ) have been associated with longer telomeres in newborns. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential impact of multiple markers of maternal nutritional status on TL in placenta and cord blood.…”

The fetal programming of telomere biology hypothesis: an update

“…A more recent study reported an association between cord blood levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), reactive oxygen species and newborn LTL [ 192 ]. Finally, yet other studies have reported associations between maternal oestrogen levels [ 193 ], folate [ 166 ] and vitamin D status during pregnancy [ 194 ] with newborn LTL.…”

Telomere length determinants in childhood

“…Second, maternal vitamin D concentration was examined for associations with LTL in newborn cord blood samples in a model adjusted for the maternal age, BMI, LTL, white blood cell count, glycosylated haemoglobin level, health behaviours (smoking, exercise, body weight before pregnancy, medical history) and nutritional intake and for the newborn's sex and birthweight. The study concluded that maternal vitamin D levels were also positively associated with newborn LTL [99].…”

“…TL in children can be affected by oxidative, immune, endocrine and metabolic pathways in a way that accelerates cellular dysfunction over the lifespan [11,92], thus reflecting the effect of specific conditions on the later susceptibility to a disease. Maternal stress [93][94][95], hormones [96], smoking [97], race [98], vitamin concentrations [99,100], pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) [101] and other factors showed correlation with TL and pointed out the importance of in utero exposures in the regulation of newborn TL. In this section we will focus on some of the most pertinent antenatal determinants.…”