Maternal Methyl-Nutrient Status and Infant Neurodevelopment Study

May 27, 2026 updated by: Chi-Man Kuok, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital

Maternal Methyl-Nutrient Status During Pregnancy and Its Association With Infant Neurodevelopment: Exploring Potential Mechanisms

This prospective cohort study examines the relationship between maternal methyl-nutrient status during pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopment. It integrates maternal dietary, biomarker, genetic, and microbiome data and follows children up to 24 months.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

Evidence regarding the association between maternal methyl-nutrient status during pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopment remains inconsistent. To address this gap, the present study is designed to comprehensively evaluate maternal methyl-nutrient status-specifically dietary intake and concentrations of choline, folate, betaine, and vitamin B12-at different gestational stages, and to examine their associations with infant and early childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes. This prospective mother-child cohort will recruit pregnant women aged 20-45 years from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital who are receiving routine prenatal care and intend to deliver at the study site. At each trimester, maternal dietary intake will be assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and three-day dietary records, accompanied by the collection of blood and stool specimens. These samples will be analyzed for metabolic biomarkers (e.g., homocysteine, trimethylamine N-oxide [TMAO], and gut microbiota composition). Furthermore, genetic polymorphisms in one-carbon metabolism-related genes (e.g., MTHFR, PEMT), maternal DNA methylation status, and the expression of neurodevelopment-related genes will be measured to investigate potential mechanistic pathways. Infant outcomes will include neonatal anthropometrics (gestational age, birth weight, length, and head circumference) and longitudinal neurodevelopmental assessments at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. In addition, meconium and cord blood samples at birth and stool samples during infancy will be collected for analysis. By integrating multi-dimensional data on maternal nutrition, genetics, metabolism, and the gut microbiome, this study seeks to construct a comprehensive model linking maternal methyl-nutrient status during pregnancy with offspring neurodevelopment. The findings are expected to inform evidence-based recommendations for optimal methyl-nutrient intake during pregnancy in Taiwan, thereby contributing to prenatal nutrition guidelines and early preventive strategies against developmental delays.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
240

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Taiwan
      • New Taipei City, Taiwan
        • Recruiting
        • Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
      • New Taipei City, Taiwan
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
          • Phone Number: +886 2 8966 7000

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

120 pregnant women and their 120 newborns/infants

Description

Inclusion Criteria for Pregnant Women

  • Aged 20-45 years
  • Singleton pregnancy
  • Receiving routine prenatal care at the study site and planning to deliver at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital

Exclusion Criteria for Pregnant Women

  • Diagnosed with major chronic diseases, including renal disease (defined as chronic kidney disease stage 3 or above or history of renal transplantation), liver disease (defined as liver cirrhosis or history of liver transplantation), or malignancy
  • Alcohol consumption during pregnancy
  • Diagnosed with eating disorders or psychiatric conditions that may impair the assessment of nutritional status

Inclusion Criteria for Newborns

● Newborns delivered by mothers who participate in this study

Exclusion Criteria for Newborns

  • Diagnosed with congenital anomalies, epilepsy, or severe brain injury
  • Inability to complete neurodevelopmental assessments at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years of age at the study site
  • Infants whose mothers are diagnosed with eating disorders or psychiatric conditions that may impair the assessment of nutritional status

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
FEMHPregnancy cohort
Throughout pregnancy, delivery, and infant follow-up at FEMH

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Ｍaternal methyl-nutrient and other nutrition status
Time Frame: From enrollment to delivery (approximately 9 months)

Maternal methyl-nutrient status will be assessed using the following measurements:

  • Blood biomarkers: plasma or serum concentrations of choline(µmol/L), betaine(µmol/L), RBC and serum folate(ng/mL), vitamin B12 (pg/mL) measured using by standard laboratory assays
  • Dietary intake: assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and 3-day dietary records
From enrollment to delivery (approximately 9 months)
Birth anthropometric measurements of the newborn
Time Frame: At birth
This outcome will be assessed using medical records, including birth weight (grams), birth length (centimeters) , birth head circumference (centimeters), and gestational age at birth (weeks).
At birth
Infant neurodevelopmental outcomes
Time Frame: At 6, 12, and 24 months of age
Infant neurodevelopment will be assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Fourth Edition (Bayley-IV), including composite scores for cognitive, language, motor and social-emotional domains
At 6, 12, and 24 months of age

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Plasma homocysteine concentration
Time Frame: During pregnancy (each trimester) and at birth (cord blood)
Plasma homocysteine levels (µmol/L) will be measured using standard enzymatic assays.
During pregnancy (each trimester) and at birth (cord blood)
Plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) concentration
Time Frame: During pregnancy (each trimester) and at birth (cord blood)
Plasma TMAO levels (ng/mL, µmol/L)will be measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.
During pregnancy (each trimester) and at birth (cord blood)
Global DNA methylation levels
Time Frame: During pregnancy (each trimester) and at birth (cord blood)
DNA methylation status (%) will be assessed using LINE-1 methylation analysis
During pregnancy (each trimester) and at birth (cord blood)
Gut microbiota composition
Time Frame: During pregnancy (each trimester), at birth (meconium), and at 4, 6, 12, and 24 months of age
Gut microbiota composition will be analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and reported as relative abundance and diversity indices
During pregnancy (each trimester), at birth (meconium), and at 4, 6, 12, and 24 months of age
Genetic polymorphisms related to methyl metabolism
Time Frame: During pregnancy
Genetic polymorphisms (e.g., MTHFR, PEMT) will be assessed using genotyping methods and reported as genotype frequencies (%)
During pregnancy
Expression levels of neurodevelopment-related genes
Time Frame: During pregnancy (each trimester) and at birth (cord blood)
Gene expression levels will be measured using RT-qPCR and report as relative expression levels
During pregnancy (each trimester) and at birth (cord blood)

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Dietary intake and diet quality
Time Frame: From enrollment through pregnancy to 4 months postpartum
Dietary intake will be assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and 3-day dietary records, including assessment of nutrient intake (grams/day ,mg/day)and dietary patterns. Diet quality will be derived from these data
From enrollment through pregnancy to 4 months postpartum

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Far Eastern Memorial Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Fu Jen Catholic University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 27, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 18, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 18, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 20, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 28, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 27, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 114224-F

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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