In News:

Recent follow-up findings from the Pune Rural Intervention in Young Adolescents (PRIYA) trial have highlighted the long-term benefits of vitamin B12 supplementation during adolescence on neonatal health outcomes. The study is particularly significant for India, where vitamin B12 deficiency is widespread and contributes to intergenerational cycles of poor health.

About the PRIYA Trial

The PRIYA trial was conducted between 2012 and 2020 as part of the larger Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS). It was designed to examine whether improving vitamin B12 status among adolescents could reduce intergenerational metabolic and nutritional risks in a population with high prevalence of micronutrient deficiency.

The trial focused on adolescents prior to conception, recognising adolescence as a critical window for nutritional interventions that can influence future maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Key Findings

• Improved neonatal outcomes: Adolescents who received physiological doses of vitamin B12 gave birth to babies with a higher neonatal ponderal index (weight relative to length), an indicator of healthier foetal growth.
• Epigenetic mechanism: The findings suggest that vitamin B12 may act as a “regulator of regulators” by influencing enzymes involved in gene expression and epigenetic programming, thereby affecting long-term health outcomes in offspring.
• Intergenerational impact: Adequate adolescent nutrition can positively influence pregnancy outcomes years later, supporting the concept of a life-course approach to public health nutrition.

Vitamin B12: Biological Importance

• Nature: Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin that the human body cannot synthesise. It is produced by microorganisms and obtained mainly from animal-based foods such as milk, eggs, meat, and fish.
• Functions:
  • Red blood cell formation
  • DNA synthesis
  • Proper functioning of the brain and nervous system
• Deficiency in India: Vitamin B12 deficiency is highly prevalent in India, largely due to low intake of animal-source foods.
• Health consequences:
  • Anaemia
  • Neurological and cognitive disorders
  • In rare cases, malabsorption due to intrinsic factor deficiency

Policy Significance

The PRIYA trial findings reinforce the need to:

• Include vitamin B12 supplementation along with iron and folic acid in national programmes targeting adolescents and women of reproductive age.
• Strengthen existing nutrition initiatives to address hidden hunger and micronutrient deficiencies.
• View adolescent nutrition as an investment in future population health and human capital.