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You are what you eat, and so are your children: the impact of micronutrients on the epigenetic programming of offspring

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences volume 71, pages 271–285 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

The research field of fetal programming has developed tremendously over the years and increasing knowledge suggests that both maternal and paternal unbalanced diet can have long-lasting effects on the health of offspring. Studies implicate that macronutrients play an important role in fetal programming, although the importance of micronutrients is also becoming increasingly apparent. Folic acid and vitamins B2, B6 and B12 are essential for one-carbon metabolism and are involved in DNA methylation. They can therefore influence the programming of the offspring’s epigenome. Also, other micronutrients such as vitamins A and C, iron, chromium, zinc and flavonoids play a role in fetal programming. Since it is estimated that approximately 78 % of pregnant women in the US take vitamin supplements during pregnancy, more attention should be given to the long-term effects of these supplements on offspring. In this review we address several different studies which illustrate that an unbalanced diet prior and during pregnancy, regarding the intake of micronutrients of both mother and father, can have long-lasting effects on the health of adult offspring.

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Abbreviations

AhR:

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor

Avy :

Agouti viable yellow

B[a]P:

Benzo[a]pyrene

BPA:

Bisphenol A

Cat:

Catalase

DNMTs:

DNA methyltransferases

Gpx:

Glutathione peroxidase

Gstp1:

Glutathione S-transferase pi 1

IAP:

Intracisternal A particles

IL:

Interleukin

LINE1:

Long interspersed nucleotide element

Nqo1:

NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1

PAHs:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SAM:

S-adenosyl-methionine

SINEB1/2:

Short interspersed nuclear element B1/2

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

Ugt1a6:

UDP glucuronosyltransferase 1 family, polypeptide A6

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Acknowledgments

This review was partly supported by the Network of Excellence ECNIS2, EU-FP7-KBBE-2010-4266198. We would also like to thank Matt Randall for carefully reading and editing the manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

All authors have read and approved the manuscript and declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Toxicology, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht UMC+, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Kimberly Vanhees, Indira G. C. Vonhögen, Frederik J. van Schooten & Roger W. L. Godschalk

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  1. Kimberly Vanhees
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  2. Indira G. C. Vonhögen
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  3. Frederik J. van Schooten
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  4. Roger W. L. Godschalk
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Correspondence to Kimberly Vanhees.

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Vanhees, K., Vonhögen, I.G.C., van Schooten, F.J. et al. You are what you eat, and so are your children: the impact of micronutrients on the epigenetic programming of offspring. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 71, 271–285 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-013-1427-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-013-1427-9

Keywords

  • Fetal programming
  • Epigenetics
  • Maternal/paternal effect
  • Transgenerational inheritance
  • Micronutrients
  • Flavonoids