B Vitamin Deficient Parents More Likely to Produce Overweight Children

Proper health preparation prior to and during pregnancy has a profound affect on the future health of the child. The “fetal programming” that takes place is especially involved with energy regulation, formation of metabolic “hardware,” and the likelihood of being overweight during childhood or even adulthood.

New animal research is showing that B vitamin deficient parents are more likely to produce offspring that is fatter and more prone to insulin resistance.. Researchers believe that adequate B12 and folic acid are required for the proper programming of DNA during initial embryonic development. A deficiency leads to subtle metabolic changes with profound consequences.

It is crystal clear that much more attention needs to be given to the health of mothers entering and during pregnancy if we are to reduce our society's health care costs – not to mention giving a new child the potential for a healthy life. Managing leptin, as explained in The Leptin Diet, is vital. B vitamins are rapidly depleted by stress, leaving a large percentage of parents in the deficient category.

The best forms of B vitamins in dietary supplements are known as co-enzymes, exactly what cells use in metabolism. Methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin are the superior co-enzyme forms of vitamin B12 (unlike the cyanide-producing cheap form – cyanacobalamin). Calcium folinate is an example of the co-enzyme form of folic acid. Any woman who of child bearing age should be taking high quality B vitamins.