5-Methyltetrahydrofolate in Maternal Diets Alters DNA Methylation Potential and Increases Later Life Weight Gain and Food Intake in Wistar Rat Dams and Female Offspring (P11-022-19)

摘要

ObjectivesDiet during pregnancy programs the mother and offspring post-weaning (PW). Folic acid (FA, synthetic folate) mediates DNA methylation (DNAm) reactions and high intakes, simulating those consumed by American women, lead to epigenetic dysregulation of energy metabolic pathways. 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF), the bioactive folate form, has gained popularity as a supplement due to direct cellular uptake and utilization and does not increase unmetabolized FA (UMFA). However, a comparison of folate forms on in utero programming of offspring or maternal health has not been reported. Our objectives were to compare the effects of folate dose (low vs high) and form (FA vs 5MTHF) during pregnancy on DNAm potential, and the early and later PW phenotype of Wistar rat mothers and female offspring (mothers-to-be).