The association between maternal prenatal vitamin B12 intake and child cognitive development

BACKGROUND: Nutrient deficiencies in diet during pregnancy may have an adverse effect on the development of offspring. The association between prenatal vitamin B12 intake and cognitive functioning in children is unclear. Therefore, we examined such association in Czech children. METHODS: Czech part of European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood is a population-based prospective longitudinal birth cohort study of pregnant women and their children enrolled in 1991-1992. Dietary data was measured at 32 weeks of gestation using 145 items self-reported food frequency questionnaire. Parents reported on their child's speech and language development at 18 months, 3, 5, and 7 years of age (outcomes ranging from n = 1891 to n = 2362), from which single scores for vocabulary, language, early communication, understanding, and intelligibility were calculated. Higher scores indicate better speech and language development. Data were analysed using multiple ordinal and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Higher prenatal vitamin B12 intake was associated with higher speech and language test scores in fully adjusted models. Children of mothers with higher B12 intake had increased likelihood of higher scores in vocabulary (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01; 1.11), language (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01; 1.10), early communication (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01; 1.11) and understanding (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04; 1.14) at 18 months of age. Furthermore, they were more likely to get maximum points in the intelligibility test at age 3 (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02; 1.14) opposed to children of mothers with lower B12 intake. There were no associations at 5 and 7 years. CONCLUSIONS: We found consistent and significant associations between prenatal vitamin B12 intake and early speech and language development. The results suggest that a diet during pregnancy low in vitamin B12 may negatively affect children's cognitive development. Thus, a healthy pregnancy diet with sufficient vitamin B12 should be promoted. KEY MESSAGES: • A diet low in vitamin B12 during pregnancy may have negative effects on the cognitive development of offspring, according to a longitudinal birth cohort study. • Adequate prenatal vitamin B12 intake is important for cognitive development, particularly speech and language development.