Maternal Red Blood Cell Folate and Infant Vitamin B Status Influence Methylation of Genes Associated with Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Scope: Inadequate maternal folate intake is associated with increased childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) risk. Folate provides methyl groups for DNA methylation, which is dramatically disrupted in ALL. Whether or not maternal folate (and related B-vitamin) intake during pregnancy may affect ALL risk via influencing DNA methylation is investigated.