Early life nutritional environment is not only associated with the growth and development of children, but also affects the health of adults. Numerous epidemiological and animal studies suggest that early nutritional programming is an important physiological and pathological mechanism. DNA methylation is one of the important mechanisms of nutritional programming, which is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferase, a specific base of DNA covalently binds to a methyl group, to regulate gene expression. In this review, we summarize the role of DNA methylation in the "abnormal developmental planning" of key metabolic organs caused by excessive nutrition in early life, resulting in long-term obesity and metabolic disorders in the offspring, and explore the clinical significance of regulating DNA methylation levels through dietary interventions to prevent or reverse the occurrence of metabolic disorders in the early stage in a "deprogramming" manner.
Humans ; Animals ; Female ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Clinical Relevance ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Metabolic Diseases

PURPOSE: To identify needs for pregnancy and postpartum adaptation of Chinese immigrant women and Vietnamese immigrant women in South Korea. METHODS: A descriptive research design was employed. Data were collected from 244 Chinese immigrant women and Vietnamese immigrant women from 3 provinces, 20 health care centers, and multi-cultural family support centers. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. RESULTS: An average score for needs perceived by Chinese immigrant women was significantly higher than that perceived by Vietnamese immigrant women. There were significantly differences in physical and emotional adaptation after childbirth, nutrition during pregnancy, cross cultural understanding and personal respect, and adaptation daily activity during pregnancy between the 2 groups. The highest score of needs in Chinese immigrant women was for nutrition during pregnancy and that in Vietnamese immigrant women was for baby rearing and family support. CONCLUSION: Based on needs of pregnancy and postpartum adaption, nursing intervention program in consideration of cultural characteristics of Chinese immigrant women and Vietnam immigrant women need to be developed for their pregnancy and postpartum health care.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cultural Characteristics ; Delivery of Health Care ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Emotional Adjustment ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Needs Assessment ; Nursing ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Research Design ; Vietnam

Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine ; administration & dosage ; urine ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Nutritional Status ; Pregnancy ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; Urinalysis ; methods

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy plays a vital role in the health of the offspring. Methyl donor nutrients, including folate, vitamin B, choline, betaine, and methionine, directly affect DNA methylation and are closely associated with the health of the offspring. As an important part of epigenetics, DNA methylation plays an important role in the maintenance of normal cellular function, gene expression regulation, and embryonic development. Recent studies have shown that maternal nutrition may have a long-lasting effect on the health of the offspring via the changes in genomic DNA and/or methylation level in the promoter region in specific genes. Therefore, this review article focuses on the effect of maternal intake of methyl donor nutrients during pregnancy on DNA methylation, in order to explore the effect of the changed methylation status on the health of the offspring at the molecular level.
Betaine ; administration & dosage ; Choline ; administration & dosage ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Folic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Methionine ; administration & dosage ; Pregnancy ; Vitamin B 12 ; administration & dosage

Because linseed oil may influence maternal and fetal metabolisms, we investigated its role in the modulation of lipid metabolism in cafeteria diet-induced obese rats and their offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed control or cafeteria food, which were either supplemented or not supplemented with linseed oil (5%) for 1 month before and during gestation. At parturition, serum and tissue lipids and enzyme activities were analyzed. Cafeteria diet induced adverse metabolic alterations in both mothers and offspring. Linseed oil improved metabolic status. In conclusion, linseed oil displayed health benefits by modulating tissue enzyme activities in both obese mothers and their newborns.
Animal Feed ; analysis ; Animals ; Diet ; adverse effects ; Dietary Supplements ; analysis ; Female ; Linseed Oil ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; drug effects ; Obesity ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The study objectives were to investigate the relationship between early exposure to genistein and obesity in young adulthood and to evaluate changes in reproductive health during puberty and adulthood following in utero exposure to genistein. Thirty-two female rats were randomized into four groups; low dose 400 mg genistein/kg diet group (LG), mid-dose 1200 mg genistein/kg diet group (MG), high dose 3600 mg genistein/kg diet group (HG), and control group without genistein diet (CON). Rats were fed genistein at the beginning of pregnancy along with a high-fat diet. Pups were sacrificed at week 4 and week 8 after birth. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results showed a correlation between maternal genistein intake and genistein concentration in pups' plasma. Compared to CON, body weight reduced significantly in male HG group at week 8. No statistical differences were found in plasma estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), interleukin (IL)-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels with early genistein exposure. Furthermore, uterine histopathology showed notable changes in groups HG and MG compared with CON at week 4 and week 8. In conclusion, maternal genistein supplement could reduce body weight in male pups and alter uterine histopathology in female pups.
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Genistein ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacology ; Male ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Uterus ; growth & development

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine differences in nutrition knowledge, eating habits during pregnancy, and neonatal health status between primipara for pregnant women of advanced maternal age in comparison to those under the age of 35. METHODS: This study used a comparative survey design. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires and patients medical records. A total of 127 participants, mothers after delivery were recruited from metropolitan city B. RESULTS: Primipara in advanced maternal age (n=32) reported significantly higher scores of eating habits (Z=-2.96, p=.003) than younger ages (n=95). There were no significant differences in scores of pregnancy nutrition knowledge (Z=-0.44, p=.660), duration of gestation (Z=-0.28, p=.778), neonatal birth height (Z=-0.10, p=.924), neonatal birth weight (Z=-0.28, p=.777), Apgar score 1 minute (Z=-0.53, p=.599) and 5 minutes (Z=-0.23, p=.816) between two groups. CONCLUSION: It concludes that age is not the obstacle to the best nutritional status of women and their newborns.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Eating* ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Age* ; Medical Records ; Mothers ; Nutritional Status ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism and effect of maternal high-fat diet before and during pregnancy on bone growth of neonatal offspring rats.

METHODSForty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into high-fat diet and control groups (n=20) that were fed with 35% high-fat diet and standard chow, respectively. After 8 weeks, 8 female rats from each group were sacrificed for liver pathological examinations and the other female rats were mated with male rats and fed continuously with 35% high-fat diet and standard chow throughout gestation, respectively. The body lengths (from apex nasi to end of tail) of the offspring rats from both groups were measured within 24 hours after birth. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum insulin-like growth factor (IFG-I) levels. Liver pathological changes were observed under a light microscope. The expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and phosphorylation IRS-1 (Phospho-IRS-1) in tibia and femur samples were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphorylation MAPK (Phospho-MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylation PI3K (Phospho-PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT1) and phosphorylation AKT1 (Phospho-AKT1) in tibia and femur samples were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSThe offspring rats from the high-fat diet group showed a significant shorter body length compared with those from the control group (P<0.05). The level of serum IGF-I in offspring rats from the high-fat diet group decreased by 20.1% in comparison to those from the control group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Fatty degeneration was found in livers of both high-fat diet-fed maternal rats and their offspring rats under a light microscope. There were no significant differences in IRS-1 and Phospho-IRS-1 expression in chondrocytes of tibia and femur samples between the offspring rats of the two groups (P>0.05). The protein expression of MAPK in chondrocytes of tibia and femur samples of offspring rats from the high-fat diet group was higher than that from the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences of PI3K and AKT1/Phospho-AKT1 between the offspring rats of the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSA maternal high-fat diet before and during pregnancy may affect the bone growth of offspring rats in utero, which is possibly associated with the decreased IGF-I level. However, further study on the exact mechanism of IGF-I on the bone growth is needed.

Animals ; Bone Development ; Diet, High-Fat ; Female ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; analysis ; Liver ; pathology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to assess immigrant women's needs for pregnancy and postpartum adaptation and to test the reliability and validity of the scale. METHODS: To construct scale items, critical issues and difficulties associated with pregnancy and postpartum adaptation of immigrant women were identified and categorized through a literature review. Fifty-two scale items were constructed, and data for validity and reliability testing was collected with a questionnaire survey from 367 immigrant women. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and reliability coefficients. RESULTS: The final measurement scale to assess immigrant women's pregnancy and postpartum adaptation consisted of 48 items and 7 factors (adaptation to daily activity during pregnancy, cross-cultural understanding and personal respect, understanding of the process of pregnancy and delivery, baby rearing and family support, physical and emotional adaptation after childbirth, nutrition during pregnancy, and sexual life adaptation). The seven factors accounted for 64.26% of the variance, and Cronbach's alpha was .96. CONCLUSION: The scale developed by this study is a reliable and valid instrument and can be used to assess needs of pregnancy and postpartum adaptation and can be utilized in providing nursing interventions for immigrant women.
Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Female ; Humans ; Needs Assessment ; Nursing ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy* ; Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results

INTRODUCTIONThe exact amount of vitamin D required for pregnant women to adequately supply the foetus during pregnancy is still unclear. This randomised trial attempted to determine the optimal dose of vitamin D necessary during pregnancy in order to attain a vitamin D level > 20 ng/mL in neonates.

METHODSA total of 51 healthy, pregnant women in Yazd, Iran, were recruited in 2009. Of these, 34 were randomised to receive either 50,000 IU (Group A) or 100,000 IU (Group B) of vitamin D3 per month from the second trimester of pregnancy. The remaining 17 pregnant women, who formed the third group (Group C) and were found to have vitamin D deficiency, were initially treated with 200,000 IU of vitamin D3, following which the dose was adjusted to 50,000 IU per month. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) in cord blood was measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay, and a serum 25(OH)D level < 20 ng/mL was defined as deficiency.

RESULTSAll the pregnant women had a vitamin D level < 30 ng/mL at the beginning of the second trimester. The neonates of 76% of women from Group A had sufficient levels of 25(OH)D. All the neonates born to women in Groups B and C had 25(OH)D > 20 ng/mL. No side effects were observed in our participants during the period of vitamin D supplementation.

CONCLUSIONA vitamin D3dose > 50,000 IU/month is required during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy for vitamin D-deficient pregnant women in order for their neonates to achieve serum 25(OH)D levels > 20 ng/mL. Supplementation with < 50,000 IU/month is insufficient to ensure a vitamin D level > 20 ng/mL in all neonates born to vitamin D-deficient pregnant women.

Adult ; Birth Weight ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; blood ; drug therapy ; Prevalence ; Vitamin D ; administration & dosage ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Young Adult