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Mother’s Diet before Pregnancy Influences her Child’s gene: Study

Mother’s Diet before Pregnancy influences her Child’s gene
(Photo : Flickr) Mother’s Diet before Pregnancy influences her Child’s gene

A woman's food habits at the time of conception influences her child's genes, according to a study.

It is known that a mother's lifestyle pattern and eating habits during pregnancy is directly linked to the weight and health of her child. A research team from MRC International Nutrition Group in London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that food intake and nutritive content in women before their pregnancy can affect their babies' DNA.

Experts studied food habits and the nutrient levels from the blood samples of 2,000 women in rural regions of Gambia. Among these women, 84 conceived during rainy and 83 in dry seasons. The researchers also analyzed blood samples and hair follicles of their children when they were about two to eight months old.  Furthermore, they investigated six genes in all children to note the impacts of mother's diet before carrying.

It was found that the DNA of children who were conceived in rainy season had higher methylation or epigenetic modification that adds DNA to regions having the chemical compound called methyl groups. This process can take place only with the presence of key nutrients like folate, Vitamin B2, B6, and B12, choline and methionine that is supplemented by eating green leafy vegetables and spinach.

"Our results represent the first demonstration in humans that a mother's nutritional well-being at the time of conception can change how her child's genes will be interpreted, with a lifelong impact," said  Branwen Hennig, study author and senior investigator at the MRC Gambia Unit and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in a news release.

In addition, the authors found a mothers' BMI and the presence of two compound- homocysteine and cysteine also played role in causing these epigenetic changes. The after-effects of this genetic modification have not been known but the reduction of these nutritive elements can lead to various diseases.

 "Our ultimate goal is to define an optimal diet for mothers-to-be that would prevent defects in the methylation process. Pre-conceptional folic acid is already used to prevent defects in embryos. Now our research is pointing towards the need for a cocktail of nutrients, which could come from the diet or from supplements," said Andrew Pentrice, co-author and professor of International Nutrition at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Owing to various limitations like small group size and testing blood sample that was collected at only one point during pregnancy, the authors further investigation is required to confirm their findings.

More information is available online in the journal Nature Communications.

Apr 30, 2014 06:57 AM EDT

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