BACKGROUND: Maternal prenatal folate status has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, but the association with child emotional and behavioral problems is unclear. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the association of maternal folate status during pregnancy with child emotional and behavioral problems. Also, we examined whether any association between folate status and child problems is a consequence of maternal folic acid supplement use or variation in maternal MTHFR genotype. DESIGN: Within a population-based cohort, we measured maternal plasma folate concentrations in early pregnancy and assessed folic acid supplement use by questionnaire. Mothers of European descent were genotyped for the MTHFR 677 C→T polymorphism. Child emotional and behavioral problems were assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist at 3 y in 3209 children. RESULTS: Children of mothers with prenatal folate deficiency were at higher risk of emotional problems (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.38) but not behavioral problems (OR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.64, 1.56) after adjustment for confounders. A higher risk of emotional problems was also found in children whose mothers started using folic acid supplements late or did not use supplements at all (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.84) than in children whose mothers started periconceptionally. However, low plasma folate concentrations only partly explained this association (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.78). Although related to plasma folate concentrations, maternal MTHFR genotype did not explain the association of folate status with offspring emotional problems. CONCLUSION: Low maternal folate status during early pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of emotional problems in the offspring.
BACKGROUND: Maternal prenatal folate status has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, but the association with child emotional and behavioral problems is unclear. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the association of maternal folate status during pregnancy with child emotional and behavioral problems. Also, we examined whether any association between folate status and child problems is a consequence of maternal folic acid supplement use or variation in maternal MTHFR genotype. DESIGN: Within a population-based cohort, we measured maternal plasma folate concentrations in early pregnancy and assessed folic acid supplement use by questionnaire. Mothers of European descent were genotyped for the MTHFR 677 C→T polymorphism. Child emotional and behavioral problems were assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist at 3 y in 3209 children. RESULTS:Children of mothers with prenatal folate deficiency were at higher risk of emotional problems (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.38) but not behavioral problems (OR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.64, 1.56) after adjustment for confounders. A higher risk of emotional problems was also found in children whose mothers started using folic acid supplements late or did not use supplements at all (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.84) than in children whose mothers started periconceptionally. However, low plasma folate concentrations only partly explained this association (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.78). Although related to plasma folate concentrations, maternal MTHFR genotype did not explain the association of folate status with offspring emotional problems. CONCLUSION: Low maternal folate status during early pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of emotional problems in the offspring.
Authors: Claudia J Kruithof; Marjolein N Kooijman; Cornelia M van Duijn; Oscar H Franco; Johan C de Jongste; Caroline C W Klaver; Johan P Mackenbach; Henriëtte A Moll; Hein Raat; Edmond H H M Rings; Fernando Rivadeneira; Eric A P Steegers; Henning Tiemeier; Andre G Uitterlinden; Frank C Verhulst; Eppo B Wolvius; Albert Hofman; Vincent W V Jaddoe Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2014-12-21 Impact factor: 8.082
Authors: Joseph M Braun; Tanya Froehlich; Amy Kalkbrenner; Christine M Pfeiffer; Zia Fazili; Kimberly Yolton; Bruce P Lanphear Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2014-10
Authors: Cathrine Hoyo; Anne Kjersti Daltveit; Edwin Iversen; Sara E Benjamin-Neelon; Bernard Fuemmeler; Joellen Schildkraut; Amy P Murtha; Francine Overcash; Adriana C Vidal; Frances Wang; Zhiqing Huang; Joanne Kurtzberg; Victoria Seewaldt; Michele Forman; Randy L Jirtle; Susan K Murphy Journal: Epigenetics Date: 2014-05-29 Impact factor: 4.528