
Daily Value Building Brains: B12 During Pregnancy & Childhood IQ
Jan 17, 2025
08:13
In this episode of Daily Value, we look at the role of maternal Vitamin B12 intake during pregnancy and its impact on a child’s IQ. Drawing on findings from the ELSPAC study (PMID: 39674678), we discuss how Vitamin B12 supports critical neurodevelopmental processes and how deficiency may impact verbal IQ.
Discussion Points:
- The role of Vitamin B12 in one-carbon metabolism, axon myelination, and DNA methylation, and their importance for fetal brain development.
- Findings from the ELSPAC study, where higher maternal Vitamin B12 intake was associated with improved language skills at 18 months and higher verbal IQ at 8 years.
- The importance of addressing elevated homocysteine levels during pregnancy to mitigate neurodevelopmental risks.
