Grant: Operating Grant

Limited understanding of the complex contributors of obesity and related disorders has imposed a significant socioeconomic burden in Canada. Popularity and use of multivitamin supplements along with liberal food fortification policy contribute to risk of excessive intakes during pregnancy with largely unknown long term health effects in offspring. During the past 8 years our research group has provided novel evidence that high multivitamin consumption during pregnancy, in excess or inadequate amounts, programs the fetus for obesity and metabolic disorders in later life. As well, it has long lasting effects on food intake and characteristics of metabolic syndrome in the mothers. Our hypothesis is that the obese phenotype is a result of altered fetal and postnatal programming interactions of central and peripheral energy homeostasis pathways in response to excessive vitamin intake. Our work has potential to lead to a new understanding of the role of vitamins in the development of regulatory systems for food intake and metabolism. This research will identify the vitamins responsible and the molecular mechanisms underlying high vitamin diet-induced metabolic dysfunctions. The results will encourage research in humans to determine if excess of vitamins during pregnancy and early life contribute to a higher risk of obesity.