Journal of perinatal medicineSep 18, 2025

How a mother's nutrition during pregnancy may influence the baby's gene activity and long-term health

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Jan 7, 2026

Abstract

Maternal diet-induced epigenetic changes may influence fetal metabolic programming and health outcomes into adulthood.

Nutritional exposures during pregnancy are associated with modifications in key epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation and histone changes.
Specific nutrients, including folate, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids, can affect gene expression in the placenta and fetal tissues.
Epigenetic changes linked to maternal nutrition could lead to altered birthweights and increased risks of childhood obesity and immune issues.
These changes may also elevate the risk of chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic and neuropsychiatric conditions, later in life.
Insights from nutriepigenomics could inform personalized nutrition strategies and public health policies aimed at improving long-term health.

Simplified

INTRODUCTION: Maternal nutrition during pregnancy can influence fetal development through epigenetic modifications, affecting gene expression without altering DNA sequence. Nutriepigenomics - the study of nutrient-driven epigenetic regulation - provides critical insights into how prenatal nutritional exposures can shape immediate and lifelong health outcomes.

CONTENT: This narrative review synthesizes evidence from human cohort studies and experimental animal models on how macro- and micronutrients, including folate, vitamin B12, choline, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and resveratrol, modify key epigenetic processes. These include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA regulation, particularly within the placenta and developing fetal tissues.

SUMMARY: Maternal diet-induced epigenetic changes influence fetal metabolic programming, neurodevelopment, immune maturation, and organogenesis, with impacts detectable at birth and persisting into adulthood. Evidence indicates associations with altered birthweight trajectories, increased risk of childhood obesity and immune dysregulation, and potential elevation in lifelong cardiometabolic and neuropsychiatric disease risk.

OUTLOOK: Integrating nutriepigenomic insights into perinatal care offers opportunities for early preventive strategies and personalized nutrition interventions. Translational application of epigenetic biomarkers, coupled with population-level nutritional policies, could reduce disease risk across generations and improve long-term population health outcomes.

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How a mother's nutrition during pregnancy may influence the baby's gene activity and long-term health

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