The effect of maternal vitamin C intake on fetal telomere length

Abstract

Background

A telomere is a nucleoprotein structure that is located at the end of a chromosome. Reduced telomere length manifests as physical ailments such as the increased risk of age-related illnesses. These age-related illnesses include heart disease and failure. Telomere length has been studied extensively in adults; however, limited information exists regarding maternal dietary influences on fetal telomere length.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between maternal vitamin C intake and fetal telomere length.

Methods

Data for this analysis were collected as part of a prospective cohort study that recruited pregnant women upon admission into labor and delivery. Umbilical cord serum was collected for 96 maternal–fetal dyads, and DNA analysis was performed using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The telomere to single copy gene ratio method was used to determine telomere length, and maternal vitamin C intake was measured using the Dietary History Questionnaire (DHQ). Statistical analysis was conducted using generalized linear modeling-based analyses.

Results

The linear model indicates that maternal vitamin C intake (OR = 1.0032, 95%CI: 1.0014–1.0052, p ≤ .05) was positively associated with fetal telomere length. BMI (OR = 1.1096, 95%CI: 1.0619–1.1660, p ≤ .05) had a significant positive association with fetal telomere length while sodium intake was negatively associated with this outcome (OR = 0.9997, 95%CI: 0.9995–0.9998, p ≤ .05). Black ethnicity had a significant negative association with fetal telomere length (OR = 0.0186, 95%CI: 0.0031–0.0824, p ≤ .05).

Conclusions

Our study shows a positive association between maternal vitamin C intake and fetal telomere length. These findings may provide a method of understanding and preventing adult-onset disease and mortality through intrauterine reprograming.

Keywords:

• Maternal
• nutrition
• public health
• telomere length
• vitamin C

Ethical consent

All participants described in this manuscript have provided written consent to the inclusion of material pertaining to themselves, they acknowledge that they cannot be identified via the paper. They also acknowledge that they will remain anonymous as it pertains to participation in the study.

Geolocation information

Samples and demographic data were collected from Tampa Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology Division (FMOL, 2 Tampa General Cir, Tampa, FL 33606) and assessed in USF Global Health Infectious Disease Research Laboratory (3010 USF Banyan Circle Tampa, FL 33612).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Hamisu Salihu and Dr. Korede Yusuf who were primarily responsible for data acquisition and cleaning, Dr. Boubakari for data cleaning and management, and Daniel Muak, MPH for his assistance with writing the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors of this manuscript have no financial, personal, political, intellectual, or religious interests that affect their ability to present this manuscript objectively.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from Hamisu M. Salihu but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study, and so are not publicly available. Data are however available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of Hamisu M. Salihu.