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Metabolic risk in offspring

Vitamin B and folate status during pregnancy is associated with the increasing risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, insulin resistance and obesity in the offspring. In addition it has been associated with adverse foetal and neonatal outcomes including neural tube defects (NTDs) and delayed myelination or demyelination. The mother's B status can be important in determining the later health of the child, as shown in the Pune maternal Nutrition Study, conducted in India. In this study, children born to mothers with high folate concentrations and low vitamin B concentrations were found to have higher adiposity and insulin resistance at age 6. In the same study, over 60% of pregnant women were deficient in vitamin B, which was considered to increase the risk of gestational and later diabetes in the mothers. Increased longitudinal cohort studies or randomised controlled trials are required to understand the mechanisms between vitamin B and metabolic outcomes, and to potentially offer interventions to improve maternal and offspring health.