New research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that epigenetic aging, defined as an age estimation based on epigenetic markers on the DNA, may play a role in linking prenatal exposures, including nutrition, with early life markers of cardiometabolic health and chronic disease risk in adulthood. The most distinctive epigenetic characteristic, DNA methylation, influences the rate of epigenetic aging.

Accordingly, researcher Michael Skilton (University of Sydney) and colleagues sought to determine early life risk factors for newborn epigenetic aging, specifically maternal dietary macronutrient intake, and whether epigenetic aging is associated with cardiovascular health markers in the newborn.

To assess epigenetic age acceleration, DNA methylation levels were measured in the saliva of 169 newborns. Epigenetic age acceleration represents biological aging above or below that predicted by chronological age. Maternal data including age, pre-pregnancy weight, height, medical history and pregnancy lifestyle information was collected using questionnaires and from medical records. 

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Newborns with accelerated epigenetic aging were more likely to be female and have greater body fatness. Maternal intakes of saturated fat and monounsaturated fat were also associated with higher epigenetic age acceleration in the newborn. Conversely, vitamin D supplementation was associated with lower epigenetic age acceleration.  In preterm infants, epigenetic age acceleration was associated with thickness of the wall of the aorta, the main blood vessel that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the circulatory system.

This study provides evidence of maternal dietary characteristics associated with epigenetic aging in the offspring. The authors conclude that epigenetic age acceleration begins before birth, and that prenatal exposures, including modifiable maternal dietary characteristics, are associated with newborn epigenetic age. However, prospective intervention studies will be needed to confirm whether such associations are causal.

Read the full article.

Reference Phang M, Ross J, Raythatha JH, Dissanayake RU, McMullan RL, Kong Y, Hyett J, Gordon A, Molloy P, Skilton MR.Epigenetic aging in newborns  – role of maternal diet. TheAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz326.

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Kathy Beerman, PhD

Dr. Kathy Beerman teaches in the School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University. The author of several published articles, she is interested in research that focuses on the efficacy of a novel approach to treating iron deficiency anemia in rural regions of Guatemala and Ecuador. Dr. Beerman teaches an undergraduate nutrition course for health majors, as well as a course that prepares students to participate in a 10-day medical mission to Guatemala. Since joining the faculty at Washington State University in 1990, she has been the recipient of several teaching awards (the Burlington Northern Faculty Meritorious Achievement in Teaching Award, the R.M. Wade Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award for Instruction). More recently, she received the CAS Outstanding Achievement Award in International Activities (2017) and the President’s Award for Leadership (2018). Other scholarly activities include co-author of two introductory nutrition textbooks (Nutritional Sciences: From Fundamentals to Food and NUTR).