A mother's diet around the time of conception can permanently influence her baby's DNA, according to new research. The study, led by scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Baylor College of Medicine, provides the first human evidence that maternal nutrition can alter how a child's genes are expressed for life.
The research followed women in rural Gambia, where seasonal climate leads to significant differences in diet between rainy and dry periods. Scientists analysed 84 pregnant women who conceived at the peak of the rainy season and a similar number who conceived at the peak of the dry season. Nutrient levels were measured in blood samples taken from the women, while the DNA of their babies was analysed two to eight months after birth.
Infants conceived during the rainy season had consistently higher rates of methylation—a chemical modification that can turn genes on or off—in all six genes studied. These were linked to various levels of nutrients in the mother's blood. However, the specific functions of these genes and the long-term health implications remain unknown.
Lead scientist Dr Branwen Hennig said: 'Our results have shown that maternal nutrition pre-conception and in early pregnancy is important and may have implications for health outcomes of the next generation. Women should have a well-balanced food diet prior to conception and during pregnancy.'
Co-researcher Dr Rob Waterland of Baylor College of Medicine described the findings as a 'proof in principle' that a mother's diet can have epigenetic effects, leaving permanent marks on her child's genome. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
