title: Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of diabetes risk as a consequence of early nutritional imbalances.
abstract: In today's world, there is an unprecedented rise in the prevalence of chronic metabolic diseases, including obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The pathogenesis of T2D includes both genetic and environmental factors, such as excessive energy intake and physical inactivity. It has recently been suggested that environmental factors experienced during early stages of development, including the intrauterine and neonatal periods, might play a major role in predisposing individuals to T2D. Furthermore, several studies have shown that such early environmental conditions might even contribute to disease risk in further generations. In this review, we summarise recent data describing how parental nutrition during development increases the risk of diabetes in the offspring. We also discuss the potential mechanisms underlying transgenerational inheritance of metabolic disease, with particular emphasis on epigenetic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sant Joan de Deu,Endocrinology,c/ Santa Rosa 39-57,3ª planta,Esplugues de Llobregat,Barcelona 08950,Spain.
authors.forename: Josep C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Chillaron
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sant Joan de Deu,Endocrinology,c/ Santa Rosa 39-57,3ª planta,Esplugues de Llobregat,Barcelona 08950,Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramon-Krauel
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sant Joan de Deu,Endocrinology,c/ Santa Rosa 39-57,3ª planta,Esplugues de Llobregat,Barcelona 08950,Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ribo
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sant Joan de Deu,Endocrinology,c/ Santa Rosa 39-57,3ª planta,Esplugues de Llobregat,Barcelona 08950,Spain.
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diaz
keywords:  HFD high-fat diet;  IUGR intrauterine growth restriction;  SAM 
                    S-adenosyl-methionine;  T2D type 2 diabetes; Developmental programming; Nutritional epigenomics; Transgenerational inheritance; Type 2 diabetes