ABSTRACT
Barker's hypothesis affirms that undernourishment in early-life induces metabolic reprogramming that compromises organism functions later in life, leading to age-related diseases. We are exposed to environmental and social conditions that impact our life trajectories, leading to ageing phenotypes as we grow. Epigenetic mechanisms constitute the link between both external stimuli and genetic programming. Studies have focused on describing the effect of early adverse events such as trauma, famines, or childhood labor on epigenetic markers in adulthood and the elderly. However, we lack information on epigenetic programming in individuals born in rural communities from underdeveloped countries, exposed to negative influences during fetal and postnatal development, particularly chronic malnutrition. Hence, in this exploratory analysis, we characterize the epigenome of individuals and some parents from Tlaltizapan (a rural community in Mexico originally studied almost 50 years ago) and collect anthropometric data on growth and development, as well on the living conditions of the families. Our results help build a biological hypothesis indicating that most of the epigenetic age measures of the subjects are significantly different among them. Interestingly, the most affected methylated regions correspond to pathways involved in neuronal system development, reproductive behaviour, learning and memory regulation.
Subject(s)
DNA Methylation , Malnutrition , Cohort Studies , Epigenesis, Genetic , Epigenomics , Humans , Malnutrition/genetics , Rural PopulationABSTRACT
Introduction: child maltreatment (CM) can have a negative impact on physical and mental health in childhood and throughout life. Objective: to determine the frequency of malnutrition in cases of CM from the Clínica de Atención Integral al Niño Maltratado (CAINM) of the Instituto Nacional de Pediatría (INP), Mexico. Material and methods: this was a cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive study of children with CM. Height/age, weight/height, and body mass index/age were used to determine malnutrition status (undernutrition and overweight or obesity). The frequency of malnutrition by age group and sex were compared using χ2 tests. The prevalence of malnutrition at CAINM was compared to that expected in Mexico (ENSANUT-2012), serving as a reference for children without CM, using one-sample Poisson tests. Results: of the 117 cases, 41 % presented wasting or overweight/obesity, and 25 % were growth-stunted. Neither wasting nor stunting displayed any difference between age groups (p > 0.05). Overweight/obesity was observed more frequently in adolescents than in schoolchildren (p < 0.05). Being overweight or obese was most frequently associated with sexual abuse, and wasting and stunting were most often associated with neglect. Compared to the population without CM, the group under 5 years of age had a higher prevalence of wasting (p < 0.01), and those aged 5 to 11 years had a higher prevalence of both wasting and stunting (p < 0.001). Conclusions: CM cases were characterized by acute undernutrition and stunting as well as by adolescents who were overweight or obese. Malnutrition in the pediatric population should be analyzed from a wider perspective, including possible CM (AU)
Introducción: el maltrato infantil (MI) puede afectar la salud física y mental en la niñez y a largo plazo. Objetivo: determinar las frecuencias de mala nutrición en casos de MI de la Clínica de Atención Integral al Niño Maltratado (CAINM), perteneciente al Instituto Nacional de Pediatría de México. Métodos: estudio transversal, retrospectivo y descriptivo. Se utilizaron los cocientes de peso/talla, talla/edad e IMC/edad. Las frecuencias de mala nutrición (desnutrición y sobrepeso/obesidad) se compararon entre los grupos de edad y sexo a través de la prueba del χ2. Utilizando pruebas de Poisson para una sola muestra se compararon las prevalencias de la mala nutrición con las esperadas en México (ENSANUT-2012). Resultados: de los 117 casos de MI, el 41 % presentaban emaciación o sobrepeso/obesidad, y el 25 % talla baja. Ni por emaciación ni por talla baja hubo diferencias entre los grupos de edad (p > 0,05). La frecuencia del sobrepeso/obesidad fue mayor en los adolescentes que en los escolares (p < 0,05). En el grupo de abuso sexual destacó el sobrepeso/obesidad; en el de negligencia, la emaciación y la talla baja. En comparación con las prevalencias de los niños sin MI, los niños < 5 años tuvieron prevalencias más altas de emaciación (p < 0,01); los de 5 a 11 años, de emaciación y talla baja (para ambas, p < 0,001). Conclusiones: los niños con MI se caracterizaron por desnutrición y talla baja, así como también por sobrepeso/obesidad en los adolescentes. La mala nutrición en las poblaciones pediátricas debe analizarse desde una perspectiva amplia, incluido el posible maltrato infantil (AU)
