Lifestyle, Pregnancy and Epigenetic Effects

Abstract

Rapidly growing evidences link maternal lifestyle and prenatal factors with serious health consequences and diseases later in life. Extensive epidemiological studies have identified a number of factors such as diet, stress, gestational diabetes, exposure to tobacco and alcohol during gestation as influencing normal fetal development. In light of recent discoveries, epigenetic mechanisms such as alteration of DNA methylation, chromatin modifications and modulation of gene expression during gestation are believed to possibly account for various types of plasticity such as neural tube defects, autism spectrum disorder, congenital heart defects, oral clefts, allergies and cancer. The purpose of this article is to review a number of published studies to fill the gap in our understanding of how maternal lifestyle and intrauterine environment influence molecular modifications in the offspring, with an emphasis on epigenetic alterations. To support these associations, we highlighted laboratory studies of rodents and epidemiological studies of human based on sampling population cohorts.

In utero exposure to malaria is associated with metabolic traits in adolescence: The Agogo 2000 birth cohort study

“…32,33 On the molecular level of the child, DNA methylation patterns of corresponding genes and other epigenetic mechanisms might be responsible for such programming effects. 34 Moreover, skeletal muscle damage of the fetus exposed to MiP and thus, loss of metabolic function is suggested to contribute to hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. 35 As a consequence of reduced muscle mass in previously MiP-exposed individuals, muscle strength might be also reduced, 36 promoting an inactive lifestyle, which is an established risk factor for diabetes, obesity and hypertension.…”

Epigenetic Modifications of Major Depressive Disorder

“…Important environmental factors to consider in the risk for developing MDD occur early during the gestational stage of an individual [35]. Accordingly, gestational stimuli play important roles in the development of various neuropsychiatric disorders, including MDD [36,37].…”

Epigenetics and obesity cardiomyopathy: From pathophysiology to prevention and management

“…Not surprisingly, epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation and chromatin modifications during gestation may contribute to diverse plasticity including oral clefts, congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, autism spectrum disorder, allergies and cancer (Barua & Junaid, 2015). Along the same line, environmental factors experienced during early stages of development, including the intrauterine and neonatal periods, are believed to predispose individuals to the elevated prevalence of metabolic diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (Jimenez-Chillaron et al, 2016).…”