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B12 Alters Genes: Indian Study Reveals New Health Insights
30 Jan
Summary
- Low B12 in pregnancy linked to neural tube defects and poor fetal growth.
- Adolescent B12 supplementation improved neonatal weight and altered gene expression.
- B12 found to regulate gene expression by controlling methylase enzymes.
The Indian population, particularly vegetarians, often faces vitamin B12 deficiency, essential for blood and nerve cell function. Deficiency during pregnancy has been linked to serious fetal health issues. A study initiated in Pune, India, explored the impact of adolescent B12 supplementation on offspring health.
Researchers supplemented adolescents with vitamin B12 and multi-micronutrients. They observed improved neonatal weight and altered gene expression in cord blood cells. This revealed that B12 positively influences genes encoding methylases, crucial for epigenetic modifications.
This discovery suggests B12 acts as a 'regulator of regulators,' influencing gene expression. The findings support the 'developmental origins of health and disease' hypothesis, highlighting the role of the intrauterine environment and epigenetics in long-term health outcomes.
Experts recommend incorporating physiological doses of vitamin B12 into national policies for adolescents and women of reproductive age to enhance nutritional status and promote national development.
