Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Emanuele Capra, Paola Toschi, Marcello Del Corvo, Barbara Lazzari, Alessandra Stella, John Lewis Williams, Pasqualino Loi, Paolo Ajmone Marsan
Summary: Experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that maternal nutritional status during early pregnancy may induce long-lasting epigenetic changes in the offspring. This study in sheep found that undernutrition during the periconceptional period resulted in altered CpG methylation in the muscle tissue of adult offspring, potentially impacting cardiac function, muscle physiology, and meat production.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Fangyuan Chen, Runzhu Zhao, Haichuan Zhang, Cailing Huang, Yinghua Liu, Qin Xue
Summary: This study found that female offspring are resistant to enhanced vascular contraction caused by maternal high-fat diet (HFD). Estrogen plays a key role in protecting females from this programming by regulating the DNA methylation mechanism that controls vascular receptor gene expression.
HYPERTENSION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Fangyuan Chen, Haili Yu, Haichuan Zhang, Runzhu Zhao, Kaifang Cao, Yinghua Liu, Jiandong Luo, Qin Xue
Summary: The study demonstrates that estrogen can protect female offspring from maternal high-fat diet-induced cardiac hypertrophy by regulating AT(2)R expression.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Victoria Bariani, Fernando Correa, Ana Paula Dominguez Rubio, Manuel Luis Wolfson, Julieta Aylen Schander, Maximiliano Cella, Julieta Aisemberg, Ana Maria Franchi
Summary: Maternal overnutrition can negatively impact offspring's health, increasing the risk of chronic diseases or metabolic syndrome in adulthood. This study evaluated the transgenerational effect of maternal obesity on cannabinoid receptor 1 knock-out animals in developing metabolic disturbances in their offspring.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yining Xin, Xiaoxiao Sun, Li Ren, Guo Chen, Yingqi Chen, Yingdong Ni, Bin He
Summary: The study found that maternal inflammation can induce phenotypic changes in the next generation. It was discovered that male offspring from inflammatory mothers showed impaired glucose tolerance and hepatic ectopic fat deposition when maintained on a chow diet. These offspring also exhibited anxiety and depressive behaviors, along with elevated serum corticosterone levels and decreased glucocorticoid receptor abundance in the hippocampus. This study expands our understanding of developmental programming and provides a basis for studying metabolic and behavioral alterations in offspring related to maternal inflammation.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Melissa F. Young, Usha Ramakrishnan
Summary: Maternal undernutrition is a critical public health issue with disparities across regions and countries. Evidence-based nutrition interventions before and during pregnancy can improve birth outcomes, but there is still a need for further research on long-term effects and implementation strategies to reduce global disparities in maternal undernutrition.
ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Niamh-Maire Mclennan, Jonathan Hazlehurst, Shakila Thangaratinam, Rebecca M. Reynolds
Summary: There is an increase in maternal metabolic burden due to various complications during pregnancy, which is associated with long-term risks for both women and their offspring. Current interventions have shown short-term improvements in metabolic health, but their long-term effects remain uncertain. Early identification and risk assessment strategies are crucial for targeting women and offspring at highest risk for adverse metabolic health.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Purificacion Ros, Jesus Argente, Julie A. Chowen
Summary: Maternal nutritional imbalances, overweight, and obesity can have long-term effects on offspring's metabolic health, increasing the risk of diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound, is believed to provide protective effects against metabolic issues induced by poor dietary habits, although studies on its supplementation during pregnancy are inconclusive. Different responses to metabolic challenges between males and females need further exploration in research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Allergy
Hitomi Okubo, Shoji F. Nakayama, Yukihiro Ohya
Summary: This study found that improving maternal diet quality prior to conception may help reduce certain wheezing phenotypes in early childhood. The translated title for the study's findings is "Association between maternal diet quality and wheezing in early childhood".
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eiji Munetsuna, Hiroya Yamada, Mirai Yamazaki, Yoshitaka Ando, Genki Mizuno, Yuji Hattori, Itsuki Kageyama, Atsushi Teshigawara, Yuki Nouchi, Hiroaki Ishikawa, Ryosuke Fujii, Yoshiji Ohta, Koji Suzuki, Yohei Shimono, Koji Ohashi, Shuji Hashimoto
Summary: Excessive maternal fructose intake may lead to abnormal liver function in offspring, increasing the risk of developing metabolic disorders. This abnormal hepatic programming induced by an imbalanced maternal nutritional environment is likely to be maintained throughout life and contribute to metabolic disorders.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ruixin Hu, Linhai Zou, Li Wang, Chunxue Xu, Mengmeng Qi, Zhihong Yang, Guohui Jiang, Lixia Ji
Summary: The study found that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has a negative impact on the development and maturation of offspring mice's islets, causing premature development and abnormal expression of insulin and glucagon. Treatment with probiotics can promote normal development and maturation of GDM-offspring islets by improving intestinal flora disturbance and leaky gut.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Mila-Guasch, Sara Ramirez, Sergio R. Llana, Julia Fos-Domenech, Lea Maria Dropmann, Macarena Pozo, Elena Eyre, Alicia G. Gomez-Valades, Arnaud Obri, Roberta Haddad-Tovolli, Marc Claret
Summary: Modern lifestyle is associated with a high consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) which contain emulsifiers, a main additive. Ingestion of emulsifiers has been linked to gut inflammation, microbiota dysbiosis, adiposity, and obesity. Unbalanced maternal nutritional habits during embryonic and perinatal stages can negatively impact offspring's long-term metabolic health.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Litao Wang, Aislinn M. M. O'Kane, Yingmei Zhang, Jun Ren
Summary: Maternal obesity is associated with obstetric complications and metabolic anomalies in offspring. Developmental programming is a major factor contributing to the chronic comorbidities associated with maternal obesity. Defective autophagy/mitophagy has been reported in maternal obesity and negatively affects fetal development and postnatal health. This review discusses metabolic disorders in fetal development and postnatal health caused by maternal obesity and the potential role of autophagy/mitophagy in metabolic diseases.
Article
Developmental Biology
Linkai Zhu, Nicole Tillquist, Giovanna Scatolin, Rachael Gately, Mia Kawaida, Amanda Reiter, Sarah Reed, Steven Zinn, Kristen Govoni, Zongliang Jiang
Summary: Studies have shown that inadequate or excessive maternal nutrition during gestation does not affect semen characteristics in male sheep offspring, but it does result in significant changes in the composition and expression of small noncoding RNAs in sperm, as well as alterations in DNA methylation at specific genomic loci.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shuman Li, Bin Liu, Yongjie Liu, Yu-Qiang Ding, Jun Zhang, Liping Feng
Summary: This study found that exposure to particulate matter (PM) during pregnancy did not significantly impact the birth outcomes of mice. However, it did affect the growth trajectories of offspring after birth in a dose- and fetal sex-dependent manner.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Siobhan Tu'akoi, Mark H. Vickers, Jacquie L. Bay
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE
(2020)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
A. E. P. Heazell, J. Budd, L. K. Smith, M. Li, R. Cronin, B. Bradford, L. M. E. McCowan, E. A. Mitchell, T. Stacey, D. Roberts, J. M. D. Thompson
Summary: This study found that socio-economic deprivation, unemployment, social stress, and declining to answer about domestic abuse increase the risk of stillbirth after 28 weeks' gestation. However, having a greater number of antenatal visits than recommended can reduce the risk of stillbirth.
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Yeukai T. M. Mangwiro, James S. M. Cuffe, Mark H. Vickers, Clare M. Reynolds, Dayana Mahizir, Kristina Anevska, Sogand Gravina, Tania Romano, Karen M. Moritz, Jessica F. Briffa, Mary E. Wlodek
Summary: Maternal growth restriction and high-fat feeding had minimal impact on fetoplacental endocrine function. PregEx and Stress independently dysregulate the endocrine status of the developing fetus, which may program future disease.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jillian Rae Hildreth, Mark H. Vickers, Clare R. Wall, Jacquie L. Bay
Summary: This study found that first-time mothers feel pressure to 'get it right' and desire more support from healthcare providers and society. While nutrition education is important, a booklet should serve as a starting point for conversation rather than as a stand-alone list of recommendations.
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Farha Ramzan, Mark H. Vickers, Richard F. Mithen
Summary: Epigenetics refers to DNA chemistry changes that affect gene transcription and translation independently of the DNA coding sequence. These modifications involve various molecular mechanisms, including classic epigenetic changes like DNA methylation and histone modifications, as well as small RNA-mediated processes. Epigenetic changes play a critical role in gene regulation and are reversible and interconnected. They are influenced by genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices, and are implicated in the development of various diseases. This review focuses on how epigenetic changes are associated with metabolic syndrome and explores strategies such as epigenetic diet, drugs, editing tools, and miRNA-based therapies to modify its outcomes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Siobhan Tu'akoi, Jacquie L. Bay, Yin Yin May Aung, Neti Tamarua-Herman, Celeste Barrett-Watson, Karen Tairea, Mark H. Vickers
Summary: This study conducted in the Cook Islands investigated the association between early-life environment and later-life health, finding a significant inverse correlation between birth weight and central obesity. The results highlight the importance of optimizing early-life environments for later-life health.
ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Biology
Daniel Ho, Denis M. Nyaga, William Schierding, Richard Saffery, Jo K. Perry, John A. Taylor, Mark H. Vickers, Andreas W. Kempa-Liehr, Justin M. O'Sullivan
Summary: A machine learning approach was developed to rank tissue-specific gene regulatory effects for T1D SNPs, identifying an eQTL associated with changes to AP4B1-AS1 transcript levels in lung tissue as making the largest gene regulatory contribution to T1D risk. The strongest tissue-specific eQTL effects were observed in lung tissue, potentially explaining associations between respiratory infections and risk of islet autoantibody seroconversion in young children.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Mark Hedley Vickers
Summary: There is a clear link between alterations in the early life environment and the risk for developing cardiometabolic diseases later in life, known as developmental programming. Changes in maternal nutritional environment have been associated with adverse health outcomes in offspring and can be passed on to future generations. Animal models have provided empirical data to support the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis and have greatly contributed to our understanding of mechanisms underlying developmental programming.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Pania E. Bridge-Comer, Mark H. Vickers, Jacob Morton-Jones, Ana Spada, Jing Rong, Clare M. Reynolds
Summary: The consumption of artificial sweeteners as sugar substitutes has increased in popularity, but there is conflicting evidence regarding their impact on metabolic and reproductive health. This study found that consuming artificial sweeteners during pregnancy and lactation may impair metabolic health and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes post-partum.
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Melenaite Tohi, Jacquie Lindsay Bay, Siobhan Tu'akoi, Mark Hedley Vickers
Summary: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are a significant global health burden. Early life exposures can increase the risk of developing NCDs across the lifecourse, passing on these risk factors to future generations. Adolescence is a critical developmental window, where lifestyle behaviors become ingrained. Focusing on adolescent behaviors, health literacy, and emotional development may be the best opportunity to break the cycle of NCDs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jillian R. Hildreth, Mark H. Vickers, Tatjana Buklijas, Jacquie L. Bay
Summary: The study highlights the importance of effectively communicating the long-term effects of the early-life environment on children's health in order to bring about positive changes. However, there are certain issues with the existing research, such as the limited understanding and oversimplification of the knowledge on these effects and an overemphasis on maternal factors.
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alvina F. Pauuvale, Mark H. Vickers, Soana Pamaka, Dorothy Apelu, Anaseini Fehoko, Malakai Ofanoa, Jacquie L. Bay
Summary: Studies show that rates of noncommunicable diseases are high among people of Pacific ethnicity, with nutrition-related environmental factors playing a significant role. Preventative interventions during adolescence and integrating health promotion into school-based learning are often neglected. The research tested a low-cost method to map the retail food environment around schools in Tonga and New Zealand, revealing that outlets within a 1 km radius mainly stocked unhealthy foods. This method could be a valuable tool for analyzing and critiquing the retail food environment in secondary schools.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Pania E. Bridge-Comer, Mark H. Vickers, Sandra Ferraro, Aurelie Pagnon, Clare M. Reynolds, Dominique Sigaudo-Roussel
Summary: Growing evidence suggests that maternal consumption of artificial sweeteners may not be a beneficial alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages and may contribute to metabolic dysfunction in adult offspring. This study investigated the impact of maternal fructose or acesulfame-k consumption during pregnancy on offspring wound healing. The results showed that a maternal fructose diet had significant effects on wound severity and delayed healing, while a maternal artificial sweetener diet had a sex-specific effect on the healing process. These findings highlight the importance of understanding developmental programming and its influence on skin integrity and wound responsiveness in later life.
Article
Health Policy & Services
Suzanne Trask, Peg Lockyer, Jillian Hildreth, Erica D'Souza, Tatjana Buklijas, Rochelle Menzies, Mark Vickers, Jacquie L. Bay
Summary: Physical activity is essential for the well-being of young people, but the level of participation tends to decline as they transition into adulthood due to various social and structural factors. The COVID-19 restrictions globally provided an opportunity to understand the barriers and enablers of physical activity during challenging times. This study, based on self-reported behaviors during the New Zealand COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, explored factors that enabled young people to sustain or increase physical activity. The findings highlighted the importance of habits, routines, time flexibility, social connections, incidental exercise, and awareness of the link between physical activity and well-being. The positive attitudes, creativity, and resilience demonstrated by young people in finding alternative ways to stay active were noteworthy. Understanding the modifiable factors can support the need for adaptability in physical activity during late adolescence and emerging adulthood, a phase associated with significant challenges and changes.
HEALTH PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Farha Ramzan, Ivana R. Sequeira-Bisson, Louise W. Lu, Cameron J. Mitchell, Randall F. D'Souza, Mark H. Vickers, Sally D. Poppitt, David Cameron-Smith
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between circulating miRNA levels and intra-pancreatic fat deposition and liver fat deposition. The results showed significant correlations between miR-21-3p and miR-320a-5p with intra-pancreatic fat deposition, and the abundance of miR-21-3p was negatively correlated with intra-pancreatic fat deposition. miR-21-3p and miR-320a-5p were not associated with liver fat deposition.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)