MATERNAL FOOD INTAKE: THE IMPACT OF THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET ON EPIGENETIC PROGRAMMING AND OFFSPRING METABOLIC HEALTH

Abstract

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is crucial for fetal programming, influencing metabolic and behavioral outcomes. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), rich in olive oil, vegetables, and whole grains, is associated with beneficial epigenetic changes in neonatal DNA, affecting genes such as IGF2, H19, and SGCE/PEG10, with impacts on fetal growth, childhood obesity, and behavior. MD also improves neonatal gut microbiota and placental methylation, influencing metabolism and adipogenesis. Despite methodological limitations, findings suggest that MD can modulate gene expression and help prevent chronic diseases from early life.