title: Maternal omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on vitamin B12 rich diet improves brain omega-3 fatty acids, neurotrophins and cognition in the Wistar rat offspring.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The consequences of wide spread vegetarianism due to low vitamin B12 on brain development and functioning is gaining importance. However, there are no studies which have evaluated exclusively vitamin B12 supplementation during pregnancy on brain growth. A series of our animal studies have documented adverse effects of maternal micronutrient imbalance on brain neurotrophins and its amelioration by omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, the present study investigated the effect of maternal supplementation with vitamin B12 alone and B12 plus omega-3 fatty acid on pup brain fatty acids and neurotrophins at birth and 3 mo of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnant Wistar rats and their male offspring were assigned to 3 dietary groups: Control (normal vitamin B12 (25 μg/kg), vitamin B12 supplemented (BS) (50 μg/kg), vitamin B12 supplemented with omega-3 fatty acid (BSO) till 3 month of age. Maternal vitamin B12 supplementation (BS) increased brain BDNF (protein and mRNA) and DHA levels in pups at birth and in the hippocampus at 3 month of age (BDNF only). These effects were further enhanced by omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to vitamin B12 supplemented group. The spatial memory performance was found to be enhanced in BSO group which was characterised by less number of errors in radial eight arm maze.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that a combination of omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin B12 enriched diet may exert beneficial effects on synaptic plasticity and cognition, which may prove beneficial for mental health, particularly in preventing neurocognitive disorders.
authors.affiliation: Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune 411043, India.
authors.forename: Richa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rathod
authors.affiliation: Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune 411043, India.
authors.forename: Amrita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khaire
authors.affiliation: Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune 411043, India.
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kemse
authors.affiliation: Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune 411043, India.
authors.forename: Anvita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kale
authors.affiliation: Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune 411043, India. Electronic address: srjoshi62@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sadhana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joshi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords: AA; BDNF; Cognition; Cortex; DHA; Hippocampus; RME; RWME; Vitamin B(12); WME; arachidonic acid; brain derived neurotrophic factor; docosahexaenoic acid; reference memory error; reference working memory error; working memory error