Prenatal Vitamin D Levels in Maternal Sera and Offspring Specific Learning Disorders

Recent evidence has suggested potential harmful effects of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy on offspring brain development, for example, elevated risks for neuropsychiatric disorders. Findings on general cognition and academic achievement are mixed, and no studies have examined the effect of prenatal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels on diagnosed specific learning disorders, which was the aim of this study. We examined a nested case–control sample from the source cohort of all singleton-born children in Finland between 1996 and 1997 (n = 115,730). A total of 1607 cases with specific learning disorders (mean age at diagnosis: 9.9 years) and 1607 matched controls were identified from Finnish nationwide registers. Maternal 25(OH)D levels were analyzed from serum samples collected during the first trimester of pregnancy and stored in a national biobank. Conditional logistic regression was used to test the association between maternal 25(OH)D and offspring specific learning disorders. There were no significant associations between maternal 25(OH)D levels and specific learning disorders when vitamin D was examined as a log-transformed continuous variable (adjusted OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.82–1.18, p = 0.84) or as a categorical variable (25(OH)D 50 nmol/L), nor when it was divided into quintiles (adjusted OR for the lowest quintile 1.00, 95% CI 0.78–1.28, p = 0.99 compared to the highest quintile). This study found no association between low maternal 25(OH)D in early pregnancy and offspring specific learning disorders

Prenatal Vitamin D Levels in Maternal Sera and Offspring Specific Learning Disorders

Recent evidence has suggested potential harmful effects of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy on offspring brain development, for example, elevated risks for neuropsychiatric disorders. Findings on general cognition and academic achievement are mixed, and no studies have examined the effect of prenatal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels on diagnosed specific learning disorders, which was the aim of this study. We examined a nested case–control sample from the source cohort of all singleton-born children in Finland between 1996 and 1997 (n = 115,730). A total of 1607 cases with specific learning disorders (mean age at diagnosis: 9.9 years) and 1607 matched controls were identified from Finnish nationwide registers. Maternal 25(OH)D levels were analyzed from serum samples collected during the first trimester of pregnancy and stored in a national biobank. Conditional logistic regression was used to test the association between maternal 25(OH)D and offspring specific learning disorders. There were no significant associations between maternal 25(OH)D levels and specific learning disorders when vitamin D was examined as a log-transformed continuous variable (adjusted OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.82–1.18, p = 0.84) or as a categorical variable (25(OH)D 50 nmol/L), nor when it was divided into quintiles (adjusted OR for the lowest quintile 1.00, 95% CI 0.78–1.28, p = 0.99 compared to the highest quintile). This study found no association between low maternal 25(OH)D in early pregnancy and offspring specific learning disorders

Prenatal Vitamin D Levels in Maternal Sera and Offspring Specific Learning Disorders

Recent evidence has suggested potential harmful effects of vitamin D deficiency duringpregnancy on offspring brain development, for example, elevated risks for neuropsychiatric disorders.Findings on general cognition and academic achievement are mixed, and no studies have examinedthe effect of prenatal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels on diagnosed specific learning disorders,which was the aim of this study. We examined a nested case–control sample from the source cohortof all singleton-born children in Finland between 1996 and 1997 (n = 115,730). A total of 1607 caseswith specific learning disorders (mean age at diagnosis: 9.9 years) and 1607 matched controls wereidentified from Finnish nationwide registers. Maternal 25(OH)D levels were analyzed from serumsamples collected during the first trimester of pregnancy and stored in a national biobank. Conditionallogistic regression was used to test the association between maternal 25(OH)D and offspring specificlearning disorders. There were no significant associations between maternal 25(OH)D levels andspecific learning disorders when vitamin D was examined as a log-transformed continuous variable(adjusted OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.82–1.18, p = 0.84) or as a categorical variable (25(OH)D adjusted OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.83–1.28, p = 0.77 compared to levels of >50 nmol/L), nor when it wasdivided into quintiles (adjusted OR for the lowest quintile 1.00, 95% CI 0.78–1.28, p = 0.99 comparedto the highest quintile). This study found no association between low maternal 25(OH)D in earlypregnancy and offspring specific learning disorders.</p

Maternal serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and offspring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Exposure to infection and inflammation during the fetal period are associated with offspring neuropsychiatric disorders. Few previous studies have examined this association with ADHD with mixed findings. This study aims to examine the association between early gestational maternal C-reactive protein (CRP), prospectively assayed in stored maternal sera and the risk of ADHD in offspring. This study is based on the Finnish Prenatal studies of ADHD (FIPS-ADHD) with a nested case–control design. It includes all singleton-born children in Finland between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 1999 and diagnosed with ADHD. A total of 1079 cases and equal number of controls were matched on date of birth, sex and place of birth. Maternal CRP levels were assessed using a latex immunoassay from archived maternal serum specimens, collected during the first and early second trimester of pregnancy. Elevated maternal CRP when analyzed as a continuous variable was not associated with offspring ADHD (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.96–1.15). No significant associations were seen in the highest quintile of CRP (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.88–1.58). The results were similar in both sexes as well as among ADHD cases with or without comorbid ASD or conduct disorder. In this first study examining CRP, a biomarker for inflammation, during early pregnancy in relation to offspring ADHD, we report no significant associations. The lack of any association, when considered with positive findings seen in ASD and schizophrenia, and negative findings in bipolar disorder suggests different pathways linking maternal immune activation and development of various neuropsychiatric disorders.</p

Maternal serum Vitamin B12 and offspring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Maternal Vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy is associated with offspring neuropsychiatric disorders. Few previous studies examining this association with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) report inconsistent findings. The study examines the association between maternal serum Vitamin B12 levels and offsprings’ risk of ADHD. This study is based on the Finnish Prenatal Study of ADHD with a nested case–control design. All the singleton children born in Finland between January 1998 and December 1999 and diagnosed with ADHD were included in the study. A total of 1026 cases were matched with an equal number of controls on sex, date of birth and place of birth. Maternal Vitamin B12 levels were assessed using a chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay and archived from maternal serum banks, collected during the first and early second trimester of pregnancy. Lower maternal Vitamin B12 levels when analyzed as a continuous variable was not associated with offspring ADHD (aOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.79–1.18, p = 0.75). No significant associations were seen in the lowest quintile of Vitamin B12 levels (aOR 0.96, 95% CI 0.73–1.27, p = 0.80). This is the first study examining maternal sera Vitamin B12 levels during early pregnancy and offspring ADHD. The result suggests that Vitamin B12 deficiency during early pregnancy has specificity for some disorders but not with offspring ADHD.</p

Maternal Serum Vitamin B12 during Pregnancy and Offspring Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study examined the association between maternal serum vitamin B12 levels during early pregnancy and offspring autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and subtypes. Based on a Finnish national birth cohort, case offspring (n = 1558) born in 1987–2007 and diagnosed with ASD by 2015 were matched with one control on date of birth, sex and place of birth. Maternal vitamin B12 levels were measured during first and early second trimesters of pregnancy. High maternal vitamin B12 levels (≥81th percentile) was associated with increased risk for offspring childhood autism, adjusted odds ratio, 1.59, 95% confidence interval 1.06–2.41 (p = 0.026). No significant associations were observed between maternal vitamin B12 levels and offspring Asperger’s or pervasive developmental disorder/NOS

Maternal serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and offspring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Abstract Exposure to infection and inflammation during the fetal period are associated with offspring neuropsychiatric disorders. Few previous studies have examined this association with ADHD with mixed findings. This study aims to examine the association between early gestational maternal C-reactive protein (CRP), prospectively assayed in stored maternal sera and the risk of ADHD in offspring. This study is based on the Finnish Prenatal studies of ADHD (FIPS-ADHD) with a nested case–control design. It includes all singleton-born children in Finland between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 1999 and diagnosed with ADHD. A total of 1079 cases and equal number of controls were matched on date of birth, sex and place of birth. Maternal CRP levels were assessed using a latex immunoassay from archived maternal serum specimens, collected during the first and early second trimester of pregnancy. Elevated maternal CRP when analyzed as a continuous variable was not associated with offspring ADHD (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.96–1.15). No significant associations were seen in the highest quintile of CRP (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.88–1.58). The results were similar in both sexes as well as among ADHD cases with or without comorbid ASD or conduct disorder. In this first study examining CRP, a biomarker for inflammation, during early pregnancy in relation to offspring ADHD, we report no significant associations. The lack of any association, when considered with positive findings seen in ASD and schizophrenia, and negative findings in bipolar disorder suggests different pathways linking maternal immune activation and development of various neuropsychiatric disorders

Maternal serum Vitamin B12 and offspring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Abstract Maternal Vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy is associated with offspring neuropsychiatric disorders. Few previous studies examining this association with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) report inconsistent findings. The study examines the association between maternal serum Vitamin B12 levels and offsprings’ risk of ADHD. This study is based on the Finnish Prenatal Study of ADHD with a nested case–control design. All the singleton children born in Finland between January 1998 and December 1999 and diagnosed with ADHD were included in the study. A total of 1026 cases were matched with an equal number of controls on sex, date of birth and place of birth. Maternal Vitamin B12 levels were assessed using a chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay and archived from maternal serum banks, collected during the first and early second trimester of pregnancy. Lower maternal Vitamin B12 levels when analyzed as a continuous variable was not associated with offspring ADHD (aOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.79–1.18, p = 0.75). No significant associations were seen in the lowest quintile of Vitamin B12 levels (aOR 0.96, 95% CI 0.73–1.27, p = 0.80). This is the first study examining maternal sera Vitamin B12 levels during early pregnancy and offspring ADHD. The result suggests that Vitamin B12 deficiency during early pregnancy has specificity for some disorders but not with offspring ADHD