@article{e4fcab9af2994455b308e27d95c9d7bb,
title = "Elevated Maternal Folate Status and Changes in Maternal Prolactin, Placental Lactogen and Placental Growth Hormone Following Folic Acid Food Fortification: Evidence from Two Prospective Pregnancy Cohorts",
abstract = "Folic acid (FA) food fortification in Australia has resulted in a higher-than-expected intake of FA during pregnancy. High FA intake is associated with increased insulin resistance and gestational diabetes. We aimed to establish whether maternal one-carbon metabolism and hormones that regulate glucose homeostasis change in healthy pregnancies post-FA food fortification. Circulating folate, B12, homocysteine, prolactin (PRL), human placental lactogen (hPL) and placental growth hormone (GH2) were measured in early pregnancy maternal blood in women with uncomplicated pregnancies prior to (SCOPE: N = 604) and post (STOP: N = 711)-FA food fortification. FA food fortification resulted in 63% higher maternal folate. STOP women had lower hPL (33%) and GH2 (43%) after 10 weeks of gestation, but they had higher PRL (29%) and hPL (28%) after 16 weeks. FA supplementation during pregnancy increased maternal folate and reduced homocysteine but only in the SCOPE group, and it was associated with 54% higher PRL in SCOPE but 28% lower PRL in STOP. FA food fortification increased maternal folate status, but supplements no longer had an effect, thereby calling into question their utility. An altered secretion of hormones that regulate glucose homeostasis in pregnancy could place women post-fortification at an increased risk of insulin resistance and gestational diabetes, particularly for older women and those with obesity.",
keywords = "folic acid, gestational diabetes mellitus, human placental lactogen, obesity, placental growth hormone, pregnancy, prolactin",
author = "Tanja Jankovic-Karasoulos and Smith, {Melanie D.} and Shalem Leemaqz and Jessica Williamson and Dylan McCullough and Arthurs, {Anya L.} and Jones, {Lauren A.} and Bogias, {Konstantinos Justin} and Mol, {Ben W.} and Julia Dalton and Dekker, {Gustaaf A.} and Roberts, {Claire T.}",
note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to extend their gratitude to all of the women who participated in SCOPE and STOP and to those who donated their placentas after pregnancy termination. We also thank the research staff involved in recruitment and the collection of biological samples from the participants (Petra Verburg, Suzette Coat, Samantha Paul and Caitlin McCullough). We thank the doctors at the Pregnancy Advisory Centre who cared for the women who donated their placentas. This study was made possible due to funding from the NHMRC (Investigator grant GNT1174971, awarded to CTR; Project grant GNT1161079, awarded to CTR, GAD and SL) and the Flinders Foundation (Health Seed Grant, awarded to TJ-K). Funding Information: This research was funded by NHMRC Investigator grant (GNT1174971; CTR); NHMRC project grant (GNT1161079; CTR, GAD and SL); the Matthew Flinders Professorial Fellowship and funding by Flinders University (CTR); the Flinders Foundation Seed Grant (TJ-K). Role of the funding source: The funders played no role in the study design, collection or analyses of data, data interpretation, report writing or the decision to submit the paper for publication. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 by the authors.",
year = "2023",
month = apr,
doi = "10.3390/nu15071553",
language = "English",
volume = "15",
journal = "Nutrients",
issn = "2072-6643",
publisher = "MDPI AG",
number = "7",
}