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<p>Pregnancy functions as a “stress test” with implications for women’s long-term health. We hypothesize that maternal biological aging, measured by epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), can be influenced by one-carbon nutritional status (folate, vitamin B₁₂, homocysteine), adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and prenatal multivitamin use. We analyzed data from 742 mothers enrolled in the Boston Birth Cohort (1998–2013). EAA was defined as the difference between the Levine epigenetic clock–DNA methylation–based measure and chronological age at delivery. Mediterranean-diet adherence and prenatal multivitamin use were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire administered within 24–72 h postpartum. Blood DNA and plasma samples used to measure folate, B<sub>12</sub>, and homocysteine were collected concurrently and stored at − 20 °C and − 80 °C, respectively, until biomarker assays. Associations were evaluated using multivariable linear regression adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Participants had a median chronological age of 28 (interquartile range, 23–33) years and a median epigenetic age (EA) of 30 (23–36) years; 66% were non-Hispanic Black. Women in the lowest quartile of plasma folate had significantly faster EAA than those with higher folate levels (<i>β</i> = 1.36; 95% CI, 0.35, 2.36). Mothers who did not take prenatal multivitamins also exhibited accelerated EA (<i>β</i> = 1.59; 95% CI, 0.01, 3.17), compared to those with multivitamins intake. An additive detrimental effect on EAA was observed for the combination of low folate and low Mediterranean diet adherence and high homocysteine level. These findings suggest that adequate folate levels and adherence to a healthy dietary pattern during pregnancy may help mitigate EAA—a precursor to multiple chronic diseases later in life.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Independent and combined associations of maternal one-carbon nutrition biomarkers and dietary patterns with epigenetic age acceleration: Evidence from the Boston Birth Cohort

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月9日

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  • Nusrat Jabin,
  • Guoying Wang,
  • Xiumei Hong,
  • Serena Rusk,
  • Tina L. Cheng,
  • Xiaobin Wang

摘要

Pregnancy functions as a “stress test” with implications for women’s long-term health. We hypothesize that maternal biological aging, measured by epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), can be influenced by one-carbon nutritional status (folate, vitamin B₁₂, homocysteine), adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and prenatal multivitamin use. We analyzed data from 742 mothers enrolled in the Boston Birth Cohort (1998–2013). EAA was defined as the difference between the Levine epigenetic clock–DNA methylation–based measure and chronological age at delivery. Mediterranean-diet adherence and prenatal multivitamin use were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire administered within 24–72 h postpartum. Blood DNA and plasma samples used to measure folate, B12, and homocysteine were collected concurrently and stored at − 20 °C and − 80 °C, respectively, until biomarker assays. Associations were evaluated using multivariable linear regression adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Participants had a median chronological age of 28 (interquartile range, 23–33) years and a median epigenetic age (EA) of 30 (23–36) years; 66% were non-Hispanic Black. Women in the lowest quartile of plasma folate had significantly faster EAA than those with higher folate levels (β = 1.36; 95% CI, 0.35, 2.36). Mothers who did not take prenatal multivitamins also exhibited accelerated EA (β = 1.59; 95% CI, 0.01, 3.17), compared to those with multivitamins intake. An additive detrimental effect on EAA was observed for the combination of low folate and low Mediterranean diet adherence and high homocysteine level. These findings suggest that adequate folate levels and adherence to a healthy dietary pattern during pregnancy may help mitigate EAA—a precursor to multiple chronic diseases later in life.

Graphical abstract