BackgroundIn animal models, prenatal zinc deficiency induced epigenetic changes in the fetus, but sequal eclipse 5 battery data in humans are lacking.We aimed to examine associations between maternal zinc levels during pregnancy and DNA methylation in LINE-1 and Alu repetitive sequences in young adult offspring, as well as anthropometry and cardiometabolic parameters.MethodsParticipants were 74 pregnant women from the Chiang Mai Low Birth Weight cohort, and their offspring followed up at 20 years of age.Maternal plasma zinc concentrations were measured at approximately 36 weeks of gestation.
DNA methylation levels in LINE-1 and Alu repetitive sequences were measured in the offspring, as well as anthropometry and cardiometabolic parameters (lipid profile, blood pressure, and glucose metabolism).ResultsOver half of mothers (39/74; 53%) were zinc deficient (ConclusionsLower maternal zinc concentrations late in gestation were associated with changes in DNA methylation in later life.Thus, zinc deficiency during pregnancy may induce alterations in total LINE-1 methylation and LINE-1 hypermethylation 100w products loci.These results suggest a possible epigenetic link between zinc deficiency during pregnancy and long-term outcomes in the offspring.