Maternal intake of methyl-group donors affects DNA methylation of metabolic genes in infants

Clinical Epigenetics

Table 2 Intake of maternal methyl-group donors through diet and supplements (folic acid) during pregnancy and in the postpartum (PP) period

Methyl-group donors	First trimester (10–13 weeks) Mean (SE) Range N = 94	Second trimester (18–22 weeks) Mean (SE) Range N = 85	Third trimester (30–34 weeks) Mean (SE) Range N = 82	6–8 weeks PP Mean (SE) Range N = 79	6 months PP Mean (SE) Range N = 60	p	Dietary guidelines
Methionine (mg) (mg/kg)	1644.4 (45.9) 792–2932 12.4–45.1	1608.4 (44.3) 746.1–2684.4 9.6–38	1659.3 (48.7) 789–2957 9.2–40.6	1678.5 (52) 786.4–3499.4 12.5–45.8	1562.4^a (43.5) 710.5–2562.8 11.7–35.1	0.047	Daily requirement 10.4 mg/kg body weight
Folate (μg)	272.1 (8.7) 131–531	263.2 (8.8) 98–519.8	279.8 (10.5) 112–619	264 (9) 97.4–520.7	263.7 (10.7) 98–564.4	0.17	Recommended intake Non-pregnant 200-300 Pregnant 400 Lactation 300
Folic acid (μg)	507.2^b (14.1) 171–1000	399.9 (23.9) 0–1000	391.3 (25.6) 0–1000	204.3^c (24.7) 0–800	68^c (14.9) 0–600	0.000
Choline (mg)	274.4 (7.4) 137–451	268.1 (7.4) 137.3–469.2	280.3 (8.6) 130–552	278.2 (8.5) 128.3–547.4	268.4 (7.8) 115.3–435.5	0.26	Adequate intake Non-pregnant 400 Pregnant 450 Lactation 550
Betaine (mg)	162.6 (5.7) 63–342	169.2 (6.2) 52.6–354.3	173.2 (6.7) 68–320	170.2 (6.5) 80–349.3	162.6 (7.2) 34.5–326.2	0.53	/

p values were obtained using a multivariate regression model for longitudinal measurements
^aMethionine intake 6 months PP was significantly lower than the intake in the third trimester of pregnancy and 6–8 weeks PP
^bFolic acid intake was significantly higher in the first trimester of pregnancy compared to the other time points
^cFolic acid intake in the PP period was significantly lower than the intake during pregnancy and within the PP period, folic acid intake 6 months PP was lower

ISSN: 1868-7083