Lack of folic acid in pregnancy hits generations

• Autores: Linda Geddes
• Localización: New scientist, ISSN 0262-4079, Nº. 2937, 2013, pág. 14
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Whether or not a mother has enough folic acid during pregnancy could affect not only the health of the child, but also that of future generations. That's the suggestion from a study in mice showing that folic acid deficiency triggers abnormalities in their pups and grandpups. It is well known that a lack of folic acid--a vitamin necessary for protein formation--during pregnancy can result in birth defects or low birth weight, but how it does so is unclear. To investigate, Erica Watson at the University of Cambridge bred mice with a mutation in the MTRR gene, involved in folic acid metabolism. The mutation's effect is similar to withdrawing dietary folk acid but is easier to control experimentally.