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Abstract

Maternal folate, riboflavin, betaine, choline, and vitamins B-6 and B-12 (B-12) concentrations, also known as methyl nutrients, have an interrelated role in fetal growth and DNA methylation. To date, the relationship between individual maternal methyl nutrient concentrations and neonatal anthropometric outcomes have shown conflicting results, while the interrelationship of maternal methyl nutrient concentrations and their association with DNA methylation levels of fetal growth and obesity-related genes in the offspring is unknown. The overall goal of my thesis was to provide novel evidence of the interrelationship of maternal methyl nutrients during early pregnancy i.e., 1360 nmol/L was tested, and whether these CpG sites were associated with maternal methyl nutrient patterns. Infant DNA methylation levels did not significantly differ by maternal folate concentration and were not significantly associated with maternal methyl nutrient patterns. In summary, these results indicated that betaine and total B-12 were the main drivers of maternal methyl nutrients patterns in these folate-replete populations. However, the lack of association between maternal methyl nutrient patterns with neonatal anthropometric outcomes and DNA methylation levels of fetal growth and obesity-related genes in infants suggests the need for a better understanding of the role of these nutrients in fetal programming and growth.