title: Association of homocysteine with global DNA methylation in vegetarian Indian pregnant women and neonatal birth anthropometrics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to evaluate if plasma maternal folate, vitamin B-12 and homocysteine levels had an effect on maternal global DNA methylation and neonatal anthropometrics in Indian pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 49 participants having completed ≥36 weeks of pregnancy were enrolled in the study. Estimation of folate was by Ion capture assay, vitamin B-12 by microparticle enzyme immunoassay, total homocysteine by fluorescence polarization immunoassay and global DNA methylation using Cayman's DNA methylation enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Folate and vitamin B-12 were inversely correlated to homocysteine in pregnant women consuming vegetarian and non-vegetarian diet. No difference in global DNA methylation was found between the vegetarian and non-vegetarian pregnant women. Folate and vitamin B-12 did not show association with global DNA methylation, however plasma total homocysteine of the vegetarian group showed significant correlation to global DNA methylation (r(2 )= 0.49, p = 0.011). Plasma total homocysteine was inversely related to tricep skinfold (r(2 )= -0.484, p = 0.01) and chest circumference (r(2 )= -0.104, p = 0.04) of neonates in vegetarian group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate vitamin B-12 deficiency in vegetarian pregnant women might be the cause of hyperhomocystinemia, hypermethylation when compared to vitamin B-12 sufficient non-vegetarian group.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Pune , Pune , India .
authors.forename: Maithili S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gadgil
authors.forename: Kalpana S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Sadanand S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.forename: Anand N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Pandit
authors.forename: Suhas R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Otiv
authors.forename: Bhushan K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Patwardhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019175:DNA Methylation; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D036801:Parturition / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine
keywords: Hyperhomocystinemia; S-adenosyl-methionine; S-adenosylhomocysteine; hypermethylation