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Harris HA, Friedman C, Starling AP, Dabelea D, Johnson SL, Fuemmeler BF, Jima D, Murphy SK, Hoyo C, Jansen PW, Felix JF, Mulder RH. An epigenome-wide association study of child appetitive traits and DNA methylation. Appetite 2023; 191:107086. [PMID: 37844693 PMCID: PMC11156223 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
The etiology of childhood appetitive traits is poorly understood. Early-life epigenetic processes may be involved in the developmental programming of appetite regulation in childhood. One such process is DNA methylation (DNAm), whereby a methyl group is added to a specific part of DNA, where a cytosine base is next to a guanine base, a CpG site. We meta-analyzed epigenome-wide association studies (EWASs) of cord blood DNAm and early-childhood appetitive traits. Data were from two independent cohorts: the Generation R Study (n = 1,086, Rotterdam, the Netherlands) and the Healthy Start study (n = 236, Colorado, USA). DNAm at autosomal methylation sites in cord blood was measured using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Parents reported on their child's food responsiveness, emotional undereating, satiety responsiveness and food fussiness using the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire at age 4-5 years. Multiple regression models were used to examine the association of DNAm (predictor) at the individual site- and regional-level (using DMRff) with each appetitive trait (outcome), adjusting for covariates. Bonferroni-correction was applied to adjust for multiple testing. There were no associations of DNAm and any appetitive trait when examining individual CpG-sites. However, when examining multiple CpGs jointly in so-called differentially methylated regions, we identified 45 associations of DNAm with food responsiveness, 7 associations of DNAm with emotional undereating, 13 associations of DNAm with satiety responsiveness, and 9 associations of DNAm with food fussiness. This study shows that DNAm in the newborn may partially explain variation in appetitive traits expressed in early childhood and provides preliminary support for early programming of child appetitive traits through DNAm. Investigating differential DNAm associated with appetitive traits could be an important first step in identifying biological pathways underlying the development of these behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A Harris
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Erasmus University Rotterdam, Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Chloe Friedman
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Anne P Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Susan L Johnson
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Bernard F Fuemmeler
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Dereje Jima
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Susan K Murphy
- Duke University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Sciences, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Cathrine Hoyo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Pauline W Jansen
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Erasmus University Rotterdam, Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Janine F Felix
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Rosa H Mulder
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Jaramillo-Ospina AM, Roman GT, Rodrigues DM, Patel S, Pokhvisneva I, Chakr VG, Levitan RD, Meaney MJ, Silveira PP. Omega-3 polygenic score protects against altered eating behavior in intrauterine growth-restricted children. Pediatr Res 2023; 94:1225-1234. [PMID: 37142650 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02609-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alterations in eating behavior are common in infants with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR); omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) could provide protection. We hypothesized that those born IUGR with a genetic background associated with increased production of omega-3-PUFA will have more adaptive eating behaviors during childhood. METHODS IUGR/non-IUGR classified infants from MAVAN and GUSTO cohorts were included at the age of 4 and 5 years, respectively. Their parents reported child's eating behaviors using the child eating behavior questionnaire-CEBQ. Based on the GWAS on serum PUFA (Coltell 2020), three polygenic scores were calculated. RESULTS Significant interactions between IUGR and polygenic score for omega-3-PUFA on emotional overeating (β = -0.15, P = 0.049 GUSTO) and between IUGR and polygenic score for omega-6/omega-3-PUFA on desire to drink (β = 0.35, P = 0.044 MAVAN), pro-intake/anti-intake ratio (β = 0.10, P = 0.042 MAVAN), and emotional overeating (β = 0.16, P = 0.043 GUSTO) were found. Only in IUGR, a higher polygenic score for omega-3-PUFA associated with lower emotional overeating, while a higher polygenic score for omega-6/omega-3-PUFA ratio was associated with a higher desire to drink, emotional overeating, and pro-intake/anti-intake. CONCLUSION Only in IUGR, the genetic background for higher omega-3-PUFA is associated with protection against altered eating behavior, while the genetic score for a higher omega-6/omega-3-PUFA ratio is associated with altered eating behavior. IMPACT A genetic background related to a higher polygenic score for omega-3 PUFA protected infants born IUGR against eating behavior alterations, while a higher polygenic score for omega-6/omega-3 PUFA ratio increased the risk of having eating behavior alterations only in infants born IUGR, irrespective of their adiposity in childhood. Genetic individual differences modify the effect of being born IUGR on eating outcomes, increasing the vulnerability/resilience to eating disorders in IUGR group and likely contributing to their risk for developing metabolic diseases later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriel T Roman
- Programa de Residência Médica em Medicina Intensiva Pediátrica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Danitsa M Rodrigues
- Graduate Program in Neurosciences, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Sachin Patel
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Irina Pokhvisneva
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Valentina G Chakr
- Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Robert D Levitan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Patricia P Silveira
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Polverino A, Sorrentino P, Pesoli M, Mandolesi L. Nutrition and cognition across the lifetime: an overview on epigenetic mechanisms. AIMS Neurosci 2021; 8:448-476. [PMID: 34877399 PMCID: PMC8611190 DOI: 10.3934/neuroscience.2021024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The functioning of our brain depends on both genes and their interactions with environmental factors. The close link between genetics and environmental factors produces structural and functional cerebral changes early on in life. Understanding the weight of environmental factors in modulating neuroplasticity phenomena and cognitive functioning is relevant for potential interventions. Among these, nutrition plays a key role. In fact, the link between gut and brain (the gut-brain axis) is very close and begins in utero, since the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) originate from the same germ layer during the embryogenesis. Here, we investigate the epigenetic mechanisms induced by some nutrients on the cognitive functioning, which affect the cellular and molecular processes governing our cognitive functions. Furthermore, epigenetic phenomena can be positively affected by specific healthy nutrients from diet, with the possibility of preventing or modulating cognitive impairments. Specifically, we described the effects of several nutrients on diet-dependent epigenetic processes, in particular DNA methylation and histones post-translational modifications, and their potential role as therapeutic target, to describe how some forms of cognitive decline could be prevented or modulated from the early stages of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Polverino
- Institute of Diagnosis and Treatment Hermitage Capodimonte, Naples, Italy.,Department of Motor and Wellness Sciences, University of Naples "Parthenope", Naples, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Sorrentino
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, National Research Council, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Matteo Pesoli
- Department of Motor and Wellness Sciences, University of Naples "Parthenope", Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Mandolesi
- Department of Humanities Studies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Freese J, Klement RJ, Ruiz-Núñez B, Schwarz S, Lötzerich H. The sedentary (r)evolution: Have we lost our metabolic flexibility? F1000Res 2017; 6:1787. [PMID: 29225776 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.12724.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During the course of evolution, up until the agricultural revolution, environmental fluctuations forced the human species to develop a flexible metabolism in order to adapt its energy needs to various climate, seasonal and vegetation conditions. Metabolic flexibility safeguarded human survival independent of food availability. In modern times, humans switched their primal lifestyle towards a constant availability of energy-dense, yet often nutrient-deficient, foods, persistent psycho-emotional stressors and a lack of exercise. As a result, humans progressively gain metabolic disorders, such as the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer´s disease, wherever the sedentary lifestyle spreads in the world. For more than 2.5 million years, our capability to store fat for times of food shortage was an outstanding survival advantage. Nowadays, the same survival strategy in a completely altered surrounding is responsible for a constant accumulation of body fat. In this article, we argue that the metabolic disease epidemic is largely based on a deficit in metabolic flexibility. We hypothesize that the modern energetic inflexibility, typically displayed by symptoms of neuroglycopenia, can be reversed by re-cultivating suppressed metabolic programs, which became obsolete in an affluent environment, particularly the ability to easily switch to ketone body and fat oxidation. In a simplified model, the basic metabolic programs of humans' primal hunter-gatherer lifestyle are opposed to the current sedentary lifestyle. Those metabolic programs, which are chronically neglected in modern surroundings, are identified and conclusions for the prevention of chronic metabolic diseases are drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Freese
- Institute of Outdoor Sports and Environmental Science, German Sports University Cologne, Cologne, 50933, Germany
| | - Rainer Johannes Klement
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Leopoldina Hospital Schweinfurt, Schweinfurt, 97422, Germany
| | - Begoña Ruiz-Núñez
- Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, 9713, Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Schwarz
- University College Physiotherapy Thim van der Laan,, Landquart, 7302, Switzerland
| | - Helmut Lötzerich
- Institute of Outdoor Sports and Environmental Science, German Sports University Cologne, Cologne, 50933, Germany
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Freese J, Klement RJ, Ruiz-Núñez B, Schwarz S, Lötzerich H. The sedentary (r)evolution: Have we lost our metabolic flexibility? F1000Res 2017; 6:1787. [PMID: 29225776 PMCID: PMC5710317 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.12724.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During the course of evolution, up until the agricultural revolution, environmental fluctuations forced the human species to develop a flexible metabolism in order to adapt its energy needs to various climate, seasonal and vegetation conditions. Metabolic flexibility safeguarded human survival independent of food availability. In modern times, humans switched their primal lifestyle towards a constant availability of energy-dense, yet often nutrient-deficient, foods, persistent psycho-emotional stressors and a lack of exercise. As a result, humans progressively gain metabolic disorders, such as the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer´s disease, wherever the sedentary lifestyle spreads in the world. For more than 2.5 million years, our capability to store fat for times of food shortage was an outstanding survival advantage. Nowadays, the same survival strategy in a completely altered surrounding is responsible for a constant accumulation of body fat. In this article, we argue that the metabolic disease epidemic is largely based on a deficit in metabolic flexibility. We hypothesize that the modern energetic inflexibility, typically displayed by symptoms of neuroglycopenia, can be reversed by re-cultivating suppressed metabolic programs, which became obsolete in an affluent environment, particularly the ability to easily switch to ketone body and fat oxidation. In a simplified model, the basic metabolic programs of humans’ primal hunter-gatherer lifestyle are opposed to the current sedentary lifestyle. Those metabolic programs, which are chronically neglected in modern surroundings, are identified and conclusions for the prevention of chronic metabolic diseases are drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Freese
- Institute of Outdoor Sports and Environmental Science, German Sports University Cologne, Cologne, 50933, Germany
| | - Rainer Johannes Klement
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Leopoldina Hospital Schweinfurt, Schweinfurt, 97422, Germany
| | - Begoña Ruiz-Núñez
- Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, 9713, Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Schwarz
- University College Physiotherapy Thim van der Laan,, Landquart, 7302, Switzerland
| | - Helmut Lötzerich
- Institute of Outdoor Sports and Environmental Science, German Sports University Cologne, Cologne, 50933, Germany
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Straub RH. Insulin resistance, selfish brain, and selfish immune system: an evolutionarily positively selected program used in chronic inflammatory diseases. Arthritis Res Ther 2014; 16 Suppl 2:S4. [PMID: 25608958 PMCID: PMC4249495 DOI: 10.1186/ar4688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin resistance (IR) is a general phenomenon of many physiological states, disease states, and diseases. IR has been described in diabetes mellitus, obesity, infection, sepsis, trauma, painful states such as postoperative pain and migraine, schizophrenia, major depression, chronic mental stress, and others. In arthritis, abnormalities of glucose homeostasis were described in 1920; and in 1950 combined glucose and insulin tests unmistakably demonstrated IR. The phenomenon is now described in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and others. In chronic inflammatory diseases, cytokine-neutralizing strategies normalize insulin sensitivity. This paper delineates that IR is either based on inflammatory factors (activation of the immune/ repair system) or on the brain (mental activation via stress axes). Due to the selfishness of the immune system and the selfishness of the brain, both can induce IR independent of each other. Consequently, the immune system can block the brain (for example, by sickness behavior) and the brain can block the immune system (for example, stress-induced immune system alterations). Based on considerations of evolutionary medicine, it is discussed that obesity per se is not a disease. Obesity-related IR depends on provoking factors from either the immune system or the brain. Chronic inflammation and/or stress axis activation are thus needed for obesity-related IR. Due to redundant pathways in stimulating IR, a simple one factor-neutralizing strategy might help in chronic inflammatory diseases (inflammation is the key), but not in obesity-related IR. The new considerations towards IR are interrelated to the published theories of IR (thrifty genotype, thrifty phenotype, and others).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer H Straub
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Neuroendocrine Immunology, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, 93042 Regensburg, Germany
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