How vitamin B12 deficiency may disrupt pregnant women's bodies

DESPITE living in an age of dietary abundance, vitamin B12 deficiency is on the rise.

- ADAIKALA ANTONYSUNIL, NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

One major culprit? Our growing reliance on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) - those convenient, calorie-dense and nutrient-poor products that dominate supermarket shelves. While they might fill us up, they're fuelling a global epidemic of "hidden hunger".

This refers to a lack of essential micronutrients including B12, folate, iron and zinc, even when people consume enough (or too many) calories. It's often invisible but can have long-term consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women, children and the elderly.

B12 deficiency in pregnancy, especially in the context of a diet high in ultra-processed foods, can disturb how fat is processed and increase systemic inflammation. This raises the risk of long-term health problems for both mother and baby.

A recent study shed light on how B12 deficiency during pregnancy may disrupt two critical systems in the body: fat metabolism and inflammation - both of which are closely linked to chronic diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.