Mom's Vitamin B12

A November 2009 paper explored the relationship between maternal nutrition and the child's health.  The authors state, "low maternal vitamin B12 status predicted increased adiposity and insulin resistance in the children."  This is noteworthy because adiposity (being fat) and insulin resistance are very common among kids.

Another study looked at maternal vitamin B12 and cognitive function in kids. The researchers examined pregnant women's vitamin B12 levels and assessed cognitive performance many years later; when the children were age 9.  The children born to mothers with the lowest vitamin B12 levels had the worst performance on assessments of cognitive function.  The authors suggest that "vitamin B₁₂ status during intrauterine growth could influence different aspects of brain growth and neurocognitive development." 

It is becoming clear that maternal nutrition profoundly affects fetal development.