January 17, 2025 • 8 mins
In this episode of Daily Value, we look at the role of maternal Vitamin B12 intake during pregnancy and its impact on a child’s IQ. Drawing on findings from the ELSPAC study (PMID: 39674678), we discuss how Vitamin B12 supports critical neurodevelopmental processes and how deficiency may impact verbal IQ.
Discussion Points:
- The role of Vitamin B12 in one-carbon metabolism, axon myelination, and DNA methylation, and their importance for fetal brain development.
- Findings from the ELSPAC study, where higher maternal Vitamin B12 intake was associated with improved language skills at 18 months and higher verbal IQ at 8 years.
- The importance of addressing elevated homocysteine levels during pregnancy to mitigate neurodevelopmental risks.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 0 (00:00):
Could a nutrient deficiency that affects you
impact the IQ of your child?
Hello everyone and welcome backto Daily Value.
I'm William Wallace and todaywe're looking into the
relationship between maternalvitamin B12 intake during
pregnancy and the neurocognitivedevelopment of offspring.
This discussion is grounded inrecent findings from the
(00:22):
European Longitudinal Study ofPregnancy and Childhood, also
called ELSPAC, a study thatbrings fresh insights into a
topic that, to this point, hashad equivocal and contradictory
findings the critical role ofmaternal B12 levels and how that
possibly affects a child'sneurocognitive development.
(00:42):
Brain development is influencedby the frequency and timing of
nutrient intake, so it stands toreason that nutrients critical
for field development and thereare many would have different
impacts depending on the timingand severity of the deficiency
on that developmental timeline.
While the importance of folicacid, iodine and iron during
(01:04):
pregnancy is well documented,the impact of vitamin B12 on
neurodevelopment remains lessconsistently characterized to
this point in time.
However, its biochemical rolessuggest it is indispensable for
optimal cognitive outcomes,especially during development.
For instance, axon myelination.
Vitamin B12 facilitates thesynthesis of myelin, that's the
(01:28):
fatty layer surrounding axons,to insulate them and ensure
efficient impulse conductionbetween neurons in the central
nervous system.
Disruptions in this process canimpair sensory and cognitive
function.
Vitamin B12 supports DNAsynthesis and neurogenesis.
It is required for nucleotidesynthesis.
Dna is made up of nucleotidesand supports cellular
(01:50):
proliferation in developingbrain regions, particularly in
auditory and visual centers.
Vitamin B12, specifically themethylcobalamin form, plays a
role in homocysteine regulation.
Methylcobalamin is a coenzymefor the enzyme methionine
synthase, which is one of thefour enzymes involved in the
(02:11):
breakdown of homocysteine.
Elevated homocysteine levelsduring pregnancy have been tied
to adverse pregnancy outcomesthat include lower scores in
expressed language and motorskills.
In the early part of a child'slife, vitamin B12 plays an
important role in reducingneurotoxic homocysteine levels
and promotes the synthesis ofS-adenosylmethionine, otherwise
(02:33):
known as SAMe.
That's a universal methyl donornecessary for epigenetic
regulation.
Now, the connection betweenvitamin B12 status of a mother
and language skills in heroffspring is something that has
come up repeatedly inobservational studies conducted
around the world.
Language skills, we know,influence a broad set of
(02:54):
cognitive domains and are astrong predictor of not only
later academic success, butsuccess integrating oneself into
social environments, which, nosurprise, is a predictor of
general later life success.
Studies published by CruzRodriguez in 2023 and 2024 as
part of the Eclipse study foundthat vitamin B12 levels of the
(03:19):
mother in the first trimesterwere associated with better
motor function after birth andhigher work and memory scores
once the child reached the ageof four.
Another study in 2021 foundthat children of mothers with
low prenatal vitamin B12 levelshad lower speech, language and
math abilities in earlychildhood.
(03:39):
However, not all studies onthis topic find the same thing,
which brings us to a study thatwas published last month in one
of the Oxford academic journals,the Journal of Public Health,
the ELSPAC study, as it wascalled led by Rezova et al I
hope I pronounced that nameright.
They looked at the associationbetween maternal B12 intake and
(04:02):
child development milestonesacross a cohort of 5,000
mother-child pairs.
Specifically, they wanted toknow if maternal B12 status
affected language outcomes inchildren.
Key outcomes were assessedusing parent-reported measures
of speech and language at age 18months and 3, 5, and 7 years,
(04:24):
as well as an IQ evaluation at 8years.
The findings were as follows Ahigher maternal vitamin B12
intake was positively correlatedwith improved language scores
at 18 months.
Children of mothers in thehighest quartile of vitamin B12
intake scored significantlybetter in both vocabulary and
(04:44):
comprehension tasks.
Elevated maternal homocysteinelevels indicative of suboptimal
vitamin B12 status wereassociated with poorer
expressive language performancein early childhood, not when
looking at verbal IQ.
Now, while there was noassociation with vitamin B12
status and total IQ, verbal IQwas notably higher in children
(05:08):
at eight years old whose mothershad greater vitamin B12 intake
during pregnancy, even afteradjusting for confounders like
maternal education, smokingstatus and dietary
supplementation.
These particular results arenot only supported by some of
the past research I mentionedjust a minute ago, but also by
other studies, including arandomized control trial
(05:30):
published in 2021 that showedpreconception supplementation of
vitamin B12 did result inimproved language skills at two
years of age, as well as higherexpressive language scores at
two and a half years of age.
Given these findings, ensuringadequate maternal vitamin B12
intake should be a priorityduring prenatal care,
(05:52):
particularly as plant-baseddiets seem to become more
prevalent.
Vitamin B12 is predominantlysourced from animal-derived
foods.
It's primarily found in animalfoods because it's produced by
microorganisms like bacteria,not by plants or animals
themselves.
Animals obtain vitamin B12either by consuming these
bacteria directly or by hostingthem in their digestive systems.
(06:15):
For instance, ruminants likecows and sheep have gut bacteria
that produce vitamin B12, whichis then absorbed in their
intestines.
This makes animal-based foodslike meat, fish, eggs and dairy
rich and bioavailable sources ofvitamin B12.
On the other hand, plants don'tnaturally contain B12, as they
lack the bacteria needed toproduce it, so any trace amounts
(06:38):
in plants usually comes fromsoil contamination of some kind.
This is why people followingvegan or vegetarian diets often
need to rely on fortified foodsor supplements to meet their
vitamin B12 needs.
The FDA recommends a minimum of2.4 micrograms a day for adult
women over 19 years old.
That number increases to 2.6micrograms a day for pregnant
(07:01):
women and further to 2.8micrograms a day for
breastfeeding women.
The European Food SafetyAuthority recommends 4.5
micrograms a day duringpregnancy.
Now emerging evidence suggeststhat higher intakes may be
beneficial for optimalneurodevelopmental outcomes, and
typically you'll see muchhigher doses in prenatal
(07:22):
supplements.
In fact, prenatal vitaminscontaining methylcobalamin and
or hydroxycobalamin are usuallya wise choice during pregnancy.
Adenosylcobalamin is anotheractive form of vitamin B12 that
is good to have on hand, and oneI don't feel gets appreciated
enough.
The ELSPAC study adds to agrowing body of evidence
(07:43):
highlighting the role ofmaternal nutrition in shaping a
child's cognitive trajectory.
As we refine our understandingof vitamin B12's mechanistic
roles, it's important totranslate these findings into
dietary guidelines and publichealth strategies that
prioritize maternal and fetalhealth.
Thank you for joining me todayon this episode of Daily Value.
(08:06):
If you found this discussionvaluable, consider sharing it
with your network.
As always, stay informed andstay healthy.
Could a nutrient deficiency that affects you
impact the IQ of your child?
Hello everyone and welcome backto Daily Value.
I'm William Wallace and todaywe're looking into the
relationship between maternalvitamin B12 intake during
pregnancy and the neurocognitivedevelopment of offspring.
This discussion is grounded inrecent findings from the
(00:22):
European Longitudinal Study ofPregnancy and Childhood, also
called ELSPAC, a study thatbrings fresh insights into a
topic that, to this point, hashad equivocal and contradictory
findings the critical role ofmaternal B12 levels and how that
possibly affects a child'sneurocognitive development.
(00:42):
Brain development is influencedby the frequency and timing of
nutrient intake, so it stands toreason that nutrients critical
for field development and thereare many would have different
impacts depending on the timingand severity of the deficiency
on that developmental timeline.
While the importance of folicacid, iodine and iron during
(01:04):
pregnancy is well documented,the impact of vitamin B12 on
neurodevelopment remains lessconsistently characterized to
this point in time.
However, its biochemical rolessuggest it is indispensable for
optimal cognitive outcomes,especially during development.
For instance, axon myelination.
Vitamin B12 facilitates thesynthesis of myelin, that's the
(01:28):
fatty layer surrounding axons,to insulate them and ensure
efficient impulse conductionbetween neurons in the central
nervous system.
Disruptions in this process canimpair sensory and cognitive
function.
Vitamin B12 supports DNAsynthesis and neurogenesis.
It is required for nucleotidesynthesis.
Dna is made up of nucleotidesand supports cellular
(01:50):
proliferation in developingbrain regions, particularly in
auditory and visual centers.
Vitamin B12, specifically themethylcobalamin form, plays a
role in homocysteine regulation.
Methylcobalamin is a coenzymefor the enzyme methionine
synthase, which is one of thefour enzymes involved in the
(02:11):
breakdown of homocysteine.
Elevated homocysteine levelsduring pregnancy have been tied
to adverse pregnancy outcomesthat include lower scores in
expressed language and motorskills.
In the early part of a child'slife, vitamin B12 plays an
important role in reducingneurotoxic homocysteine levels
and promotes the synthesis ofS-adenosylmethionine, otherwise
(02:33):
known as SAMe.
That's a universal methyl donornecessary for epigenetic
regulation.
Now, the connection betweenvitamin B12 status of a mother
and language skills in heroffspring is something that has
come up repeatedly inobservational studies conducted
around the world.
Language skills, we know,influence a broad set of
(02:54):
cognitive domains and are astrong predictor of not only
later academic success, butsuccess integrating oneself into
social environments, which, nosurprise, is a predictor of
general later life success.
Studies published by CruzRodriguez in 2023 and 2024 as
part of the Eclipse study foundthat vitamin B12 levels of the
(03:19):
mother in the first trimesterwere associated with better
motor function after birth andhigher work and memory scores
once the child reached the ageof four.
Another study in 2021 foundthat children of mothers with
low prenatal vitamin B12 levelshad lower speech, language and
math abilities in earlychildhood.
(03:39):
However, not all studies onthis topic find the same thing,
which brings us to a study thatwas published last month in one
of the Oxford academic journals,the Journal of Public Health,
the ELSPAC study, as it wascalled led by Rezova et al I
hope I pronounced that nameright.
They looked at the associationbetween maternal B12 intake and
(04:02):
child development milestonesacross a cohort of 5,000
mother-child pairs.
Specifically, they wanted toknow if maternal B12 status
affected language outcomes inchildren.
Key outcomes were assessedusing parent-reported measures
of speech and language at age 18months and 3, 5, and 7 years,
(04:24):
as well as an IQ evaluation at 8years.
The findings were as follows Ahigher maternal vitamin B12
intake was positively correlatedwith improved language scores
at 18 months.
Children of mothers in thehighest quartile of vitamin B12
intake scored significantlybetter in both vocabulary and
(04:44):
comprehension tasks.
Elevated maternal homocysteinelevels indicative of suboptimal
vitamin B12 status wereassociated with poorer
expressive language performancein early childhood, not when
looking at verbal IQ.
Now, while there was noassociation with vitamin B12
status and total IQ, verbal IQwas notably higher in children
(05:08):
at eight years old whose mothershad greater vitamin B12 intake
during pregnancy, even afteradjusting for confounders like
maternal education, smokingstatus and dietary
supplementation.
These particular results arenot only supported by some of
the past research I mentionedjust a minute ago, but also by
other studies, including arandomized control trial
(05:30):
published in 2021 that showedpreconception supplementation of
vitamin B12 did result inimproved language skills at two
years of age, as well as higherexpressive language scores at
two and a half years of age.
Given these findings, ensuringadequate maternal vitamin B12
intake should be a priorityduring prenatal care,
(05:52):
particularly as plant-baseddiets seem to become more
prevalent.
Vitamin B12 is predominantlysourced from animal-derived
foods.
It's primarily found in animalfoods because it's produced by
microorganisms like bacteria,not by plants or animals
themselves.
Animals obtain vitamin B12either by consuming these
bacteria directly or by hostingthem in their digestive systems.
(06:15):
For instance, ruminants likecows and sheep have gut bacteria
that produce vitamin B12, whichis then absorbed in their
intestines.
This makes animal-based foodslike meat, fish, eggs and dairy
rich and bioavailable sources ofvitamin B12.
On the other hand, plants don'tnaturally contain B12, as they
lack the bacteria needed toproduce it, so any trace amounts
(06:38):
in plants usually comes fromsoil contamination of some kind.
This is why people followingvegan or vegetarian diets often
need to rely on fortified foodsor supplements to meet their
vitamin B12 needs.
The FDA recommends a minimum of2.4 micrograms a day for adult
women over 19 years old.
That number increases to 2.6micrograms a day for pregnant
(07:01):
women and further to 2.8micrograms a day for
breastfeeding women.
The European Food SafetyAuthority recommends 4.5
micrograms a day duringpregnancy.
Now emerging evidence suggeststhat higher intakes may be
beneficial for optimalneurodevelopmental outcomes, and
typically you'll see muchhigher doses in prenatal
(07:22):
supplements.
In fact, prenatal vitaminscontaining methylcobalamin and
or hydroxycobalamin are usuallya wise choice during pregnancy.
Adenosylcobalamin is anotheractive form of vitamin B12 that
is good to have on hand, and oneI don't feel gets appreciated
enough.
The ELSPAC study adds to agrowing body of evidence
(07:43):
highlighting the role ofmaternal nutrition in shaping a
child's cognitive trajectory.
As we refine our understandingof vitamin B12's mechanistic
roles, it's important totranslate these findings into
dietary guidelines and publichealth strategies that
prioritize maternal and fetalhealth.
Thank you for joining me todayon this episode of Daily Value.
(08:06):
If you found this discussionvaluable, consider sharing it
with your network.
As always, stay informed andstay healthy.
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