Influence Exogenous Factors on Genomic Imprinting. 1. Effect of Nutrition and Provision of Micronutrients in Mother on Genomic Imprinting Descendants

Abstract

The article analyzes the impact of maternal nutrition during pregnancy on the forming of genomic imprinting in the fetus. It was shown that changes in DNA methylation of imprinted genes, induced by infringement of providing protein and micronutrients, are accompanied by abnormalities of phy­sical development and increased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases, diseases of the cardiovascular system, the metabolic syndrome in the child’s postnatal life. It is emphasized that in order to prevent the development of imprinting-associated di­sease in a child special attention should be paid to the adequate content of protein, folic acid, methionine and group B vitamins in diet of pregnant women while forming their diet.

Keywords

• maternal nutrition
• genomic imprinting
• children