Effects of maternal vitamin B12 deficiency from end of gestation to weaning on the growth and haematological and immunological parameters in mouse dams and offspring

MOLINA, V.; MEDICI, M.; TARANTO, M.P.; FONT DE VALDEZ, G.

Archives in Animal Nutrition

Taylor & Francis

Lugar: UK; Año: 2007 vol. 62 p. 162 - 168

The vitamin B12-deficiency may induce specific (neurological alterations) and unspecific symptoms such as anaemia, weight-loss and even growth retardation. In this study, the maternal vitamin B12 deficiency from end of gestation to weaning in mouse dams was evaluated established by feeding a B12-deficient diet. The animals were divided into two groups (control and deficient), the control group receiving the B12-deficient diet supplemented with commercial vitamin B12. The vitamin B12-deficient dams and their offspring showed a significant (P < 0.005) percentage of decrease in body weight (20 and 39%, respectively), serum vitamin B12 concentration (61 and 67%, respectively), haematological values as hematocrit (25 and 26%, respectively), and IgA producers cells (36 and 54%, respectively) compared to the control groups. Small intestine histological alterations in both vitamin B12-deficient mouse dams and offspring as well as a growth retardation in the latter ones were also observed. This experimental murine model allows assessing the incidence of maternal cobalamin deficiency in offspring and would be useful for evaluating novel adjuncts such as functional foods to prevent the vitamin B12 deficiency.