MDEG: Methyl-Donors and EpiGenetics in The Gambia
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Accumulating evidence suggests that early-life nutrition can affect metabolism and thus increase the risk of disease in adulthood (e.g. type II diabetes and obesity). One possible mechanism to explain these effects is epigenetic variation at critical periods of development. Epigenetic variation describes non-inherited permanent alterations to an individuals DNA.
Recent work in mouse models has demonstrated that maternal nutritional status can affect such epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation and gene expression during embryonic development, with profound effects on outcomes. The investigators aim to study these processes in humans for the first time. The investigators will exploit the "experiment of nature" setting in The Gambia, i.e. fluctuation in diet according to season. During the 'hungry' season diets are known to be depleted in nutrients required for epigenetic gene regulation. Nutritional biomarkers in blood as well as the dietary intake will be measured in pregnant women according to season. A blood sample will also be taken from babies born to these women to determine whether there is a direct effect of diet on mothers' nutritional status and hence variation in DNA methylation patterns in their babies by season.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| maternal methyl-donors, infant epigenetics women of reproductive age in rural Gambia, infants born to these women |
Other: season, dietary intake
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- DNA methylation of infants [infants: at 3-6 months of age]
Measurement of DNA methylation of infants recruited into the study, at 3-6 months of age. Measurement of blood biomarkers monthly after dietary assessment or in early pregnancy
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Blood biomarker status of women [monthly for 12 months or in early pregnancy]
Measurement of blood biomarkers monthly after dietary assessment or in early pregnancy
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion criteria women:
- women aged 18-45 years on 15th March 2009, resident in West Kiang
Exclusion criteria women:
-
on contraception
-
confirmed pregnancy at recruitment
-
enrolment in any study other than the ENID (Early Nutrition and Immune Development) trial (ISRCTN49285450)
-
suffering from severe anaemia (haemoglobin <7 g/dl) or known sickle cell disease
Inclusion criteria infants:
- born to the above women
Exclusion criteria infants:
- those known to be severely malnourished (weight-for-height Z-score < -3)
Contacts and Locations
Locations
No locations specified.Sponsors and Collaborators
- Medical Research Council
Investigators
None specified.Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- MRC-ING-MDEG