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.