Abstract
Background: During the early postnatal period, the impact of nutrition on DNA methylation has not been well studied in humans. The aim was to quantify the relationship between one-carbon metabolism nutrient intake during the first three years of life and global DNA methylation levels at four years. Design: Childhood dietary intake was assessed using infant feeding questionnaires, food frequency questionnaires, 4-day weighed food records and 24-h food records. The dietary records were used to estimate the intake of methionine, folate, vitamins B2, B6 and B12 and choline. The accumulative nutrient intake specific rank from three months to three years of age was used for analysis. Global DNA methylation (%5-methyl cytosines (%5-mC)) was measured in buccal cells at four years of age, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) commercial kit. Linear regression models were used to quantify the statistical relationships. Results: Data were collected from 73 children recruited from the Women and their Children’s Health (WATCH) study. No association was found between one-carbon metabolism nutrient intake and global DNA methylation levels (P 0.05). Global DNA methylation levels in males were significantly higher than in females (median %5-mC: 1.82 vs. 1.03, males and females respectively, (P 0.05)). Conclusion: No association was found between the intake of one-carbon metabolism nutrients during the early postnatal period and global DNA methylation levels at age four years. Higher global DNA methylation levels in males warrants further investigation.
Highlights
DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that involves the transfer of a methyl group (−CH3 )to a DNA cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) dinucleotide
This study investigated the association of: (1) Cumulative nutrient intake during infancy and early childhood on global DNA methylation in buccal cells at four years of age; (2) Nutrient intake at three years of age on global DNA methylation in buccal cells at four years of age
Global DNA methylation could not be analysed in four samples and six samples could only be analysed in duplicates rather than triplicates due to limited
Summary
DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that involves the transfer of a methyl group (−CH3 )to a DNA cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) dinucleotide. The establishment and maintenance of DNA methylation patterns is essential for mammalian development and physiological function in the adult organism [1]. During embryogenesis and early postnatal life, DNA methylation increases, leading to cell differentiation and organogenesis [5,6,7]. Mis-programming of methylation patterns during critical windows of development may alter cell and tissue functioning, thereby increasing human disease susceptibility later in life [10,11,12,13]. The aim was to quantify the relationship between one-carbon metabolism nutrient intake during the first three years of life and global DNA methylation levels at four years. Global DNA methylation (%5-methyl cytosines (%5-mC)) was measured in buccal cells at four years of age, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) commercial kit.
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