methylation: Exposure to micronutrients pre-pregnancy associated with gene modifications in offspring

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Exposure to Micronutrients Pre-Pregnancy Associated With Gene

Modifications in Offspring

ScienceDaily (Feb. 22, 2012) --- The offspring of women who were given

micronutrient supplements (minerals needed in small quantities, such as

iron, iodine and vitamin A) before they became pregnant had gene

modifications at birth as well as when they were tested at 9 months.

The changes to the genes, called methylation, have previously been

associated with the development of the immune system, although this

study did not provide direct evidence that the activity of these genes

has changed....

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120222132737.htm

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B. Khulan, W. N. , B. M. Skinner, J. Bauer, S. Owens, A. M.

Prentice, G. Belteki, M. Constancia, D. Dunger, N. A. Affara. *

Periconceptional maternal micronutrient supplementation is associated

with widespread gender related changes in the epigenome: a study of a

unique resource in the Gambia*. /

Human Molecular Genetics/, 2012; DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds026

<http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/dds026>