Fetal programming associated with diabetes and obesity: a systematic review of epigenetic consequences in children

Abstract

Background: Fetal programming induced by an adverse intrauterine environment may induce metabolic syndrome in adult offspring. An adverse intrauterine environment can lead to relatively irreversible long-term changes in the organs and metabolism of the fetus, leading to fetal metabolic programming that can lead to metabolic syndrome in future offspring. Fetal epigenetic programming affects changes in gene expression and cell function through epigenetic modifications without altering the nucleotide sequence of DNA. Epigenetic modifications can be conserved relatively stably and transmitted through mitosis and generations, thus inducing the development of metabolic syndrome in adult offspring. Material and methods: Systematic review protocol of the literature based on the databases PubMed, Cochrane, TripData, Google Scholar, Scielo, Epistemonikos. Following reading and review of the studies on the subject. Results: Risk factors for adverse fetal programming include maternal obesity, diabetes. These factors lead to fetal programming through multiple complex pathways including alterations in organ formation and homeostatic pathways, epigenetic changes. Conclusion: It is possible to expose through this systematic review through investigations of current findings, the association of exposure to maternal hyperglycemia and obesity during pregnancy with obesity, abnormal glucose tolerance and metabolic syndrome in their children, passed on to their children. generations through fetal epigenetic modification and gene expression activity.