Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes
June 28th, 2024
This protocol describes the method for reducing dietary intake of folic acid or choline in female mice prior to pregnancy with the objective of investigating the impact of maternal diet on offspring health outcomes.
We are interested in understanding how maternal dietary deficiencies in folic acid or choline during pregnancy and lactation impact long-term offspring health outcomes. We know that folic acid is really important for the closure of the neural tube in utero, but my laboratory is interested in what roles it plays after birth. We are reading studies that are showing that maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation does play an important role in offspring health.
Dietary changes include high fat, one carbon metabolism, et cetera. These changes are sometimes seen in several generations of offspring. We are using a variety of tools to understand the long-term effects on offspring that come from moms with dietary deficiencies in folate and choline.
Our most recent study is looking at metabolite changes in stool samples of offspring. We use behavioral neuroscience, biochemical assays, molecular biology, and epigenetic tools. My research group is the first one to show that maternal dietary deficiencies in either folic acid or choline during pregnancy and lactation result in worse stroke outcome for female and male offspring.
We are really interested in understanding the long-term role that maternal dietary deficiencies in either folic acid or choline have on offspring health outcomes. Folic acid is well known for its role in the closure of the neural tube in utero. The impact of deficiencies after birth on brain function are not well-defined.
Overview
This protocol describes the method for reducing dietary intake of folic acid or choline in female mice prior to pregnancy. The objective is to investigate the impact of maternal diet on offspring health outcomes.
Key Study Components
Area of Science
- Neuroscience
- Nutrition
- Developmental Biology
Background
- Folic acid is crucial for neural tube closure during pregnancy.
- Maternal diet influences long-term health of offspring.
- Deficiencies in folate and choline can have generational effects.
- Research is ongoing to understand these dietary impacts post-birth.
Purpose of Study
- To explore how maternal dietary deficiencies affect offspring health.
- To assess the long-term consequences of reduced folic acid and choline intake.
- To investigate the role of maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
Methods Used
- Reduction of dietary folic acid and choline in female mice.
- Monitoring of offspring health outcomes.
- Utilization of various research tools to analyze effects.
- Longitudinal studies to observe generational impacts.
Main Results
- Maternal dietary deficiencies can lead to significant health issues in offspring.
- Changes in maternal diet affect multiple generations.
- Findings support the importance of adequate nutrition during pregnancy.
- Research highlights the need for further studies on dietary impacts.
Conclusions
- Maternal nutrition is critical for offspring health outcomes.
- Deficiencies in key nutrients can have lasting effects.
- Further research is essential to fully understand these relationships.
