The effects of nutritional/life-environmental factors during pregnancy on the maternal and fetal epigenome and their relationship to pregnancy progress and prognosis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19635
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: University of Yamanashi (2022-2023); Tokyo Medical and Dental University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Imai Chihiro 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 准教授 (50778842)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 食事の質 / 妊娠期栄養 / DNAメチル化 / DOHaD / 母子コホート

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To clarify the effects of nutritional/life-environmental factors during pregnancy on the maternal and fetal epigenome, pregnancy progress and prognosis, we conducted a follow-up study of the mother and child between early pregnancy and two years after childbirth. In this study, DNA methylation levels of the SKI gene in newborn umbilical cord blood were weakly associated with protein-energy intake ratio of pregnant women. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between NRF9.3 or Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top Score, which are assessing the diet quality and weight gain during pregnancy. The results showed that there are concerns that nutritional advice that focuses on weight only may actually lead to poor diet quality, so that the importance of assessing individual diet quality using appropriate metrics to prevent the deterioration of diet quality.

Free Research Field

分子疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

妊娠期（胎児期）の環境は、妊娠中から出産後にかけての短期的な母児の健康はもとより、母児の長期的な予後にまで影響を及ぼす。妊娠によって引き起こされる母体の身体的変化や心理的負荷が食事などの基本的な生活環境にも影響することを考慮すると、同一母児の環境要因を網羅的に収集し、エピゲノムや妊娠経過などとどのように関連するかを調べることは、予防医療・先制医療の観点から重要である。その点において本研究は、修正可能な栄養・環境要因について明らかにすることで、次世代のための適切な妊娠環境あるいは栄養環境についてさまざまな示唆を得ることができた。