DHA supplementation during pregnancy and DNA methylation in cord blood leukocytes

摘要

Modulation of the level of methylation of CpG nucleotide pairs in the 5' -regulatory regions of genes is an important mechanism in the differentiation of T cells into T helper (Th) 1 or Th2 phenotypes (1). Altered epigenetic regulation of T cell differentiation during fetal development has been implicated as an important mechanism in the etiology of allergic diseases in childhood (2). Therefore, nutritional interventions during pregnancy that may prevent or reverse impaired epigenetic regulation of genes that influence T cell phenotype may be of considerable health benefit.