New Study Supports Claims That Low Vitamin B12 and Folate Levels Could Impact Obesity Rates in Pregnant Women

British researchers set out to clarify the relationship between maternal BMI and B12 and folate in a UK pregnancy survey. Data collected from white, non diabetic women at 28 weeks gestation looked for associations between the levels of folate and B12 and obesity and related glycemic and metabolic biomarkers.

 

The study was prompted by a previous study conducted in India. It found an association between higher BMI and lower B12 levels, but did not determine whether differences in diet, vitamin supplements, or other factors affected the association.

 

However, the recent results confirm the findings of the former Indian study. Higher BMI at 28 weeks gestation was associated with lower circulating vitamin B12 and folate. Researchers found that for every 1 percent increase in BMI, there was a 0.6 percent decrease in circulating B12.

 

Vitamin B12 and folate are especially important for fetal growth and development, and deficiency is associated with a number of fetal abnormalities and birth defects, as well as megaloblastic anemia in the mother.

 

One of the main concerns is that obesity increases the risk of nutritional deficiencies, which can have serious implications on the health of both the mother and the unborn fetus.

 

These findings may have important implications for fetal and maternal health in obese pregnancies, and given the significant health risks to both mother and fetus related to deficiencies in these nutrients, it may be especially important for obese women to supplement during pregnancy.