Maternal eating disorders affect offspring cord blood DNA methylation: a prospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Eating disorders (ED) are chronic psychiatric disorders, common amongst women of reproductive age. ED in pregnancy are associated with poor nutrition and abnormal intrauterine growth. Increasing evidence also shows offspring of women with ED have adverse developmental and birth outcomes. We sought to carry out the first study investigating DNA methylation in offspring of women with ED. We compared cord blood DNA methylation in offspring of women with active ED (n = 21), past ED (n = 43) and age- and social class-matched controls (n = 126) as part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Results

Offspring of women with both active and past ED had lower whole-genome methylation compared to controls (active ED 49.1% (95% confidence

SUBMITTER: Kazmi N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5659017 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature