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Abstract

Prenatal and early postnatal nutrient status influences metabolic health in adulthood. A study from India reported that children born to women with high folate and low vitamin B12 status during pregnancy had increased adiposity and insulin resistance. Many countries, including Canada, fortify their grain products with folic acid. In Canada, women have adequate folate status but 1 in 20 may be vitamin B12 deficient. Currently, the metabolic consequences of developmental exposure to high folic acid, with or without vitamin B12 deficiency, are unknown. Female C57BL/6J mice were fed diets high in folic acid, with (HFA+B12) and without (HFA-B12) adequate vitamin B12, or a control diet throughout breeding, pregnancy and lactation. Offspring were weaned onto a control or western-type diet (WTD) for 30 weeks. Maternal and post-weaning diets affected visceral (P