PRIYA trial links B12 intake to long-term health in babies, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The PRIYA trial, building on the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS), investigated the impact of vitamin B12 supplementation on adolescent girls in rural Pune from 2012-2020, with follow-up studies concluding in 2025.
• The trial found that vitamin B12 and multi-micronutrient supplementation improved the ponderal index in neonates and altered gene expression in cord blood mononuclear cells (CMCs).
• Higher B12 levels in cord blood correlated positively with the expression of genes encoding methylases, enzymes involved in epigenetic modification and gene regulation.
• Experts suggest national policy should include vitamin B12 supplementation in iron and folic acid tablets for adolescents and women of reproductive age.

Detailed Insights:

• The PMNS study (1993) indicated that low vitamin B12 and high folate levels in pregnant women were linked to a higher risk of "diabesity" (insulin resistance and obesity) in their offspring.
• The PRIYA trial is the first in vivo human study to investigate the molecular aspects of vitamin B12 deficiency through an intergenerational approach.
• Researchers discovered that vitamin B12 appears to act as a regulator of regulators, influencing the expression of methylases, which are crucial for DNA methylation and gene expression.
• The study supports the 'developmental origins of health and disease' hypothesis, suggesting that the intrauterine environment, influenced by factors like vitamin B12 levels, can affect long-term health through epigenetics.
• The recommended daily allowance of 2 micrograms of B12 supplementation was found to be extremely useful, even for groups with very low levels of B12 (less than 100 pmol/L).

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Ponderal Index: A measure of weight in proportion to height, used to assess the nutritional status of newborns.
• Gene Expression: The process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product (protein or RNA).
• Methylases: Enzymes that catalyze the addition of a methyl group to a substrate, such as DNA, playing a role in epigenetic regulation.
• Epigenetics: The study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence, but can be inherited.