Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is considered a significant and increasing worldwide problem. The growing body of evidence on this topic has allowed us to point out that a hostile intrauterine environment in mothers with GDM via epigenetic mechanisms induces “diabetogenic” and “obesogenic” changes in an offspring’s DNA. This sets a vicious intergenerational cycle of metabolic diseases in motion, gradually deteriorating the health of the human population. One of the most important participants of this process seems to be altered microbiota. There is a chance that the identification of specific epigenetic marks may provide a key for future diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic solutions in the field of personalised medicine. Given the reversibility of most epigenetic changes, there is an opportunity to improve the long-term health of the human population. In this manuscript, we aim to summarise available data on epigenetic changes among women suffering from GDM and their progeny, in association with alterations in the microbiome.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains a significant clinical and public health issue due to its increasing prevalence and the possibility for numerous short- and long-term complications. The growing incidence of GDM seems to coincide with the widespread use of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The extensive production and common use of these substances in everyday life has resulted in constant exposure to harmful substances from the environment. That may result in epigenetic changes, which may manifest themselves also after many years and be passed on to future generations. It is important to consider the possible link between environmental exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during pregnancy, epigenetic mechanisms and an increased risk for developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This manuscript attempts to summarize data on epigenetic changes in pregnant women suffering from gestational diabetes in association with EDCs. There is a chance that epigenetic marks may serve as a tool for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic measures.

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is considered a significant and increasing problem worldwide. The growing body of evidence points out that a hostile intrauterine environment in mothers with GDM via epigenetic mechanisms induces "diabetogenic" and "obesogenic" changes in an offspring's DNA. This sets in motion a vicious intergenerational cycle of metabolic diseases gradually deteriorating the health of the human population. One of the most important players in this process seems to be altered microbiota/microbiome. There is a chance that the identification of specific epigenetic marks may provide a key for future diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic solutions/measures in the field of person-alized medicine. Given the reversibility of most epigenetic changes, an opportunity arises to improve the long-term health of the human population/race. In this manuscript, we aim to summarize available data on epigenetic changes among women suffering from GDM and their progeny in association with changes in microbiome.