Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships
University of British Columbia
$105,000.00
Is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate as effective as folic acid in increasing serum and red blood cell folate during pregnancy and lactation, while resulting in reduced unmetabolized folic acid in maternal blood and breastmilk?
FY 2020-21
Summary
Nutrition during pregnancy has an important impact on infant development and pregnancy outcomes. Folic acid (the man-made form of the B-vitamin folate) is recommended during pregnancy and while breastfeeding because it is important for healthy development, but there is growing concern that Canadian women are getting too much. Our bodies are only able to process small amounts of folic acid, and when we eat too much, our bodies cannot use folic acid properly. Unused folic acid has been found in nearly all (>90%) blood and breastmilk samples of Canadian women while pregnant and breastfeeding. The effects of unused folic acid are not fully understood, but have been associated with cancer, concerning infant health outcomes, and it may interfere with folate's role in growth and development. Also, unused folic acid in breastmilk is concerning because babies are not able to absorb it as well as natural folate, which could cause low folate levels. Natural folate may be better for women to take while pregnant and breastfeeding than folic acid. Some prenatal vitamins in Canada contain natural folate instead of folic acid (as it is approved by Health Canada), but natural folate has never been tested during pregnancy. Therefore, a study is needed to help address this gap. We will recruit 60 healthy pregnant women and give them prenatal vitamins with either natural folate or folic acid starting at 8-21 weeks gestation until 1 week after birth. We have three goals for this study: 1) To measure serum folate, red blood cell folate, and unused folic acid after supplementing with natural folate or folic acid for 16 weeks of pregnancy; 2) To learn about recruiting pregnant women to this type of study, to help design a larger follow-up trial; 3) To compare breastmilk folate levels (total folate and unused folic acid) in each group. This study will provide needed information to determine the safest and most effective form of folate supplements for Canadian women and their babies.
Department
Program
Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
CIHR Funding Decisions Database
As published
Id
440013
Name
Cochrane Kelsey
Region
British Columbia
Country
Canada
Orgtype
Institution Paid; Research Institution
Instname2
Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes
Theme2
Clinical
Prcname2
Doctoral Research Awards - B
Projecttitle
Is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate as effective as folic acid in increasing serum and red blood cell folate during pregnancy and lactation, while resulting in reduced unmetabolized folic acid in maternal blood and breastmilk?
Programtype2
Studentship Programs
Orgnameinp2
University of British Columbia
Cihramount2
$105,000
Cihrequipment2
$0
Programname2
Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships
Keyworddelim
Breastmilk; Folate; Folic Acid; Micronutrient Supplementation; Nutrition; Pregnancy; Randomized Clinical Trial; Women'S Health
Abstract
Nutrition during pregnancy has an important impact on infant development and pregnancy outcomes. Folic acid (the man-made form of the B-vitamin folate) is recommended during pregnancy and while breastfeeding because it is important for healthy development, but there is growing concern that Canadian women are getting too much. Our bodies are only able to process small amounts of folic acid, and when we eat too much, our bodies cannot use folic acid properly. Unused folic acid has been found in nearly all (>90%) blood and breastmilk samples of Canadian women while pregnant and breastfeeding. The effects of unused folic acid are not fully understood, but have been associated with cancer, concerning infant health outcomes, and it may interfere with folate's role in growth and development. Also, unused folic acid in breastmilk is concerning because babies are not able to absorb it as well as natural folate, which could cause low folate levels. Natural folate may be better for women to take while pregnant and breastfeeding than folic acid. Some prenatal vitamins in Canada contain natural folate instead of folic acid (as it is approved by Health Canada), but natural folate has never been tested during pregnancy. Therefore, a study is needed to help address this gap. We will recruit 60 healthy pregnant women and give them prenatal vitamins with either natural folate or folic acid starting at 8-21 weeks gestation until 1 week after birth. We have three goals for this study: 1) To measure serum folate, red blood cell folate, and unused folic acid after supplementing with natural folate or folic acid for 16 weeks of pregnancy; 2) To learn about recruiting pregnant women to this type of study, to help design a larger follow-up trial; 3) To compare breastmilk folate levels (total folate and unused folic acid) in each group. This study will provide needed information to determine the safest and most effective form of folate supplements for Canadian women and their babies.
Competitiondate
202011
Approvedterm2
3 yrs 0 mth
Pinamesdelim
Cochrane, Kelsey
Approvedterm
3 ans 0 mois
Cihrcontribution2
~ $105,000~ $0~
