title: Maternal Methyl-Group Donor Intake and Global DNA (Hydroxy)Methylation before and during Pregnancy.
abstract: It is still unclear to which extent methyl-group intake during pregnancy can affect maternal global DNA (hydroxyl)methylation. Pregnancy methylation profiling and its link with methyl-group intake in a healthy population could enhance our understanding of the development of pregnancy related disorders. One hundred forty-eight women were enrolled in the MANOE (MAternal Nutrition and Offspring's Epigenome) study. Thiry-four women were enrolled before pregnancy and 116 during the first trimester of pregnancy. Global DNA (hydroxy)methylation in blood using LC-MS/MS and dietary methyl-group intake (methionine, folate, betaine, and choline) using a food-frequency questionnaire were estimated pre-pregnancy, during each trimester, and at delivery. Global DNA (hydroxy)methylation levels were highest pre-pregnancy and at weeks 18-22 of pregnancy. We observed a positive relation between folic acid and global DNA methylation (p = 0.04) and hydroxymethylation (p = 0.04). A high intake of methionine pre-pregnancy and in the first trimester showed lower (hydroxy)methylation percentage in weeks 11-13 and weeks 18-22, respectively. Choline and betaine intake in the first weeks was negatively associated with hydroxymethylation. Women with a high intake of these three methyl groups in the second and third trimester showed higher hyrdoxymethylation/methylation levels in the third trimester. To conclude, a time trend in DNA (hydroxy)methylation was found and women with higher methyl-group intake showed higher methylation in the third trimester, and not in earlier phases of pregnancy.
authors: KU Leuven, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Environment and Health, Kapucijnenvoer 35 blok D box 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. sara.pauwels@med.kuleuven.be.|Flemish Institute of Technological Research (VITO), Unit Environmental Risk and Health, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium. sara.pauwels@med.kuleuven.be.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Pauwels
authors: KU Leuven, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Environment and Health, Kapucijnenvoer 35 blok D box 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. radu.duca@kuleuven.be.
authors: Radu Corneliu
authors: RC
authors: Duca
authors: KU Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Roland.devlieger@med.kuleuven.be.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Roland.devlieger@med.kuleuven.be.
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Devlieger
authors: KU Leuven, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, UZ Herestraat 49-box 911, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Kathleen.Freson@med.kuleuven.be.
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Freson
authors: AML Laboratory, Department of Endocrinology, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium. dany.straetmans@aml-lab.be.
authors: Dany
authors: D
authors: Straetmans
authors: KU Leuven, Unit Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, UZ Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. erik.vanherck@uzleuven.be.
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Van Herck
authors: International Agency for Research on Cancer, Dietary Exposure Assessment Group, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon CEDEX 08, France. HuybrechtsI@iarc.fr.
authors: Inge
authors: I
authors: Huybrechts
authors: Flemish Institute of Technological Research (VITO), Unit Environmental Risk and Health, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium. gudrun.koppen@vito.be.
authors: Gurdun
authors: G
authors: Koppen
authors: KU Leuven, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Environment and Health, Kapucijnenvoer 35 blok D box 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. lode.godderis@med.kuleuven.be.|IDEWE, External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, Interleuvenlaan 58, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium. lode.godderis@med.kuleuven.be.
authors: Lode
authors: L
authors: Godderis
mesh_terms: D044503:5-Methylcytosine / Q000097:blood / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002794:Choline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000208:ethnology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006900:Hydroxylation; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000208:ethnology; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C011865:5-hydroxymethylcytosine; D001622:Betaine; D044503:5-Methylcytosine; D003596:Cytosine; D005492:Folic Acid; D008715:Methionine; D002794:Choline
keywords: global DNA hydroxymethylation; global DNA methylation; methyl-group donor; pregnancy