Prenatal trimester-specific intake of micronutrients: global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation at birth and persistence in childhood.

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The prenatal environment may program health and disease susceptibility via epigenetic mechanisms. We evaluated associations of maternal trimester-specific intake of micronutrients with global DNA methylation (%5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylation (%5hmC) at birth in cord blood and tested for persistence into childhood. We quantified global %5mC and %5hmC in cord blood cells ( = 434) and in leukocytes collected in early ( = 108) and mid-childhood ( = 390) from children in Project Viva, a pre-birth cohort from Boston, MA. Validated food frequency questionnaires estimated maternal first- and second-trimester intakes of vitamin B, vitamin B, vitamin B, folate, betaine, choline, methionine, iron, and zinc. Mean (SD) cord blood %5mC and %5hmC was 5.62% (2.04) and 0.25% (0.15), respectively. Each μg increase in first-trimester B intake was associated with 0.002 lower %5hmC in cord blood (95% CI: -0.005, -0.0003), and this association persisted in early childhood ( = -0.007; 95% CI: -0.01, -0.001) but not mid-childhood. Second-trimester iron (mg) was associated with 0.01 lower %5mC (95% CI: -0.02, -0.002) and 0.001 lower %5hmC (95% CI: -0.01, -0.00001) in cord blood only. Increased second-trimester zinc (mg) intake was associated with 0.003 greater %5hmC in early childhood ( = 0.003; 95% CI: 0.0004, 0.006). Second-trimester folate was positively associated with %5hmC in early childhood only ( = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.003, 0.16). Associations did not survive multiple testing adjustment; future replication is needed. Trimester-specific nutrients may impact various sensitive windows of epigenetic programming some with lasting effects in childhood. Further research is needed to understand the role of gene-specific epigenetic changes and how global DNA methylation measures relate to child health.

Abbreviation
J Dev Orig Health Dis
Publication Date
2022-12-14
Page Numbers
1-8
Pubmed ID
36515010
Medium
Print-Electronic
Full Title
Prenatal trimester-specific intake of micronutrients: global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation at birth and persistence in childhood.
Authors
Parsons E, Rifas-Shiman SL, Bozack AK, Baccarelli AA, DeMeo DL, Hivert MF, Godderis L, Duca RC, Oken E, Cardenas A