Low Prenatal B12 Found to Increase Risk of Congenital Heart Defect in Child.

A study conducted at the University Medical Centre, Rotterdam and published in the European Journal of Nutrition (DOI:10.1007/s00394-006-0622-y) investigated a potential association between intake of B vitamins during pregnancy and congenital heart defect (CHD) risk in the child. It was found that low periconceptional levels of B12 in women may increase the risk of their child having CHD. In this case-control study 192 mothers of a child with CHD and 216 mothers of healthy children each filled out a food frequency questionnaire and had a blood test for B vitamin and plasma homocysteine levels.

Researchers found that CHD risk doubled when a woman’s B12 intake was reduced by 50%. Women’s educational attainment was positively associated with B vitamin intake; case mothers with lesser education showed significantly lower median B12 intake compared to controls. Within the case-group, protein and B6 intake as well as serum B12 and folate levels were significantly lower in women with high homocysteine levels than in women with normal homocysteine levels.

Researchers concluded that low B12 intake may increase a woman’s risk of having a child with a CHD; low intake of folate and protein may also play a role. They further noted that just as hyperhomocysteinemia is a strong risk factor for adult cardiovascular disease, mothers with this condition and their children would benefit from nutritional intervention.

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