B12 deficiency during pregnancy may predispose children to metabolic problems such as type-2 diabetes, according to research presented at the Society for Endocrinology’s annual Conference in Brighton. These findings could lead to a review of current vitamin B12 requirements for pregnant women, whether through an improved diet or supplements. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs and milk, meaning deficiency is more likely in those following a .vegan diet. Previous studies show that mothers with low B12 levels had a higher BMI and were more likely to give birth to babies with low birth weight as well as high cholesterol levels. These children also had higher insulin resistance in childhood a risk factor for type-2 diabetes. In this study, a team of researchers at the University of Warwick’s Warwick Medical School hypothesised that the changes associated with B12 deficiency may be the result of abnormal levels of leptin the hormone that tell us we are full after eating. .obesity causes levels to rise and remain consistently higher than normal. This can eventually lead to leptin resistance, continued overeating, and an increased risk of insulin resistance, which leads to type-2 diabetes. Scientists and doctors therefore see leptin as providing an effective ‘marker’ for body fat.