Effects of Vitamin B 12 and Folate Deficiency on Brain Development in Children
Open accessAbstract
Folate deficiency in the periconceptional period contributes to neural tube defects; deficits in vitamin B12 (cobalamin) have negative consequences on the developing brain during infancy; and deficits of both vitamins are associated with a greater risk of depression during adulthood. This review examines two mechanisms linking folate and vitamin B12 deficiency to abnormal behavior and development in infants: disruptions to myelination and inflammatory processes. Future investigations should focus on the relationship between the timing of deficient and marginal vitamin B12 status and outcomes such as infant growth, cognition, social development, and depressive symptoms, along with prevention of folate and vitamin B12 deficiency.
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Deficits of key micronutrients early in life can lead to impairments in the central nervous system, and vitamin B-12 may be one such critical micronutrient.
“Deficits of key micronutrients early in life can lead to impairments in the central nervous system (2,3), and vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) may be one such critical micronutrient (4,5).”
From Vitamin B-12 status in infancy is positively associated with development and cognitive functioning 5 y later in Nepalese children (2017) · cites this paper as [4]
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References 57 · Cited by 393
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [1]Black MM. Nutrition and brain development. In: Walker WA, Duggan C, Watkins JB, editors. Nutrition in pediatrics. 3rd ed. New York: BC Decker; 2003. pp. 386–396. [Google Scholar]
- [56]Institute of Medicine. Dietary reference intakes. Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2000. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Authors
- Black, M. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
- Corresponding author
- Black, Maureen M.
- ORCID
- Black, Maureen M.
- Venue
- Food and Nutrition Bulletin
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2008-06
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 2_suppl1
- Pages
- S126-S131
- ISSN
- 0379-5721 (ISSN-L)
- 1564-8265
- PMC
- PMC3137939
- OpenAlex
- W58729352
- Cited by
- 393
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 5.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Food and Nutrition Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD037430)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Folate and B Vitamins Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Porphyrin Metabolism and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
- Keywords
- vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, vitamin B12, brain development, infants, myelination, neuroinflammation, neural tube defects, periconceptional period, depression risk, infant behavior, infant growth, cognitive development, social development (developmental psychology)
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Brain, Child, Child, Preschool, Depression, Female, Folic Acid, Folic Acid Deficiency, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Middle Aged, Neural Tube Defects, Nutritional Status, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Vitamin B 12, Vitamin B 12 Deficiency
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