Transgenerational Effects of Undernutrition on Children Over a 40 year period, the Barbados Nutrition Study has systematically followed 312 individuals (G1 cohort) in Barbados from birth through adulthood. One group of participants suffered from protein-energy malnutrition during the first year of life and the other group includes matched controls from the same neighborhoods and classrooms who do not have histories of malnutrition. This study has extensively documented the developmental course of these individuals. The previously malnourished group displayed significant adverse developmental consequences that persisted into adulthood even after controlling for multiple environmental and ecological factors. Most of these individuals, now 38-43 years of age, have children (G2 offspring). Studies in animal models, including our own studies of intergenerational malnutrition in rats, indicate that malnutrition has long-term effects that persist for two to four generations even when the parent generation is nutritionally rehabilitated, raising concerns about the offspring of our cohort. Epigenetic changes secondary to the early malnutrition exposure are likely candidates for explaining these long-term transgenerational effects. We now propose to study cognitive, behavioral and health outcomes (phenotype) of these G2 offspring (Aim 1, N=200), allowing us to document transgenerational effects of malnutrition. We will then use state-of-the- art techniques to document epigenetic changes in a subgroup of G2 offspring and their G1 mothers (Aim 2, N=200) with different nutritional histories. Finally, we will examine the relationship between any epigenetic changes and phenotype in both the G1 and G2 generations (Exploratory Aim 3). Research on the intergenerational effects of undernutrition in humans is limited and has not addressed behavioral outcomes. The availability of our well-documented Barbadian subjects and their offspring thus presents an exciting and unique translational opportunity. In our current NIH-funded study of the G1 adults, we have already identified 188 G2 offspring who are available for study and estimate adding 98 more G2s as the adult study nears completion this coming year. Thus, we have the opportunity to determine whether the offspring of the previously malnourished adults differ from those of controls and, importantly, to explore potential epigenetic mechanisms underlying long-term and transgenerational behavioral and cognitive outcomes. This information may elucidate future interventions aimed at preventing long-term adverse outcomes and future generational transmission. Malnutrition impacts 25-30% of children world-wide and 1.3% of US children, and limits the developmental potential of all of these children, underscoring the potential public health benefits of this research. Since epigenetic changes are potentially reversible, identifying an epigenetic mechanism could be of significant clinical relevance.

Public Health Relevance

We will determine whether the offspring of the previously malnourished adults differ from the offspring of controls and, importantly, will explore potential epigenetic mechanisms that may explain continuing adverse effects into the next generation. Malnutrition impacts 25-30% of children world-wide and 1.3% of US children and limits the developmental potential of these children and possibly their children. Because epigenetic changes are potentially reversible, identifying an epigenetic mechanism is of significant clinical relevance, underscoring the potential far-reaching public health benefits of this research.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01HD060986-05
Application #
9036689
Study Section
Child Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities Study Section (CPDD)
Program Officer
Raiten, Daniel J
Project Start
2011-09-01
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2017-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
073130411
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Hock, Rebecca S; Bryce, Cyralene P; Fischer, Laura et al. (2018) Childhood malnutrition and maltreatment are linked with personality disorder symptoms in adulthood: Results from a Barbados lifespan cohort. Psychiatry Res 269:301-308
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Waber, Deborah P; Bryce, Cyralene P; Girard, Jonathan M et al. (2018) Parental history of moderate to severe infantile malnutrition is associated with cognitive deficits in their adult offspring. Nutr Neurosci 21:195-201
Taboada-Crispi, Alberto; Bringas-Vega, Maria L; Bosch-Bayard, Jorge et al. (2018) Quantitative EEG Tomography of Early Childhood Malnutrition. Front Neurosci 12:595
Galler, Janina R; Koethe, John R; Yolken, Robert H (2017) Neurodevelopment: The Impact of Nutrition and Inflammation During Adolescence in Low-Resource Settings. Pediatrics 139:S72-S84
Hock, Rebecca S; Bryce, Cyralene P; Waber, Deborah P et al. (2017) Relationship between infant malnutrition and childhood maltreatment in a Barbados lifespan cohort. Vulnerable Child Youth Stud 12:304-313
Peter, Cyril J; Fischer, Laura K; Kundakovic, Marija et al. (2016) DNA Methylation Signatures of Early Childhood Malnutrition Associated With Impairments in Attention and Cognition. Biol Psychiatry 80:765-774
Fischer, L K; McGaughy, J A; Bradshaw, S E et al. (2016) Prenatal protein level impacts homing behavior in Long-Evans rat pups. Nutr Neurosci 19:187-95
McGaughy, Jill A; Amaral, Ana C; Rushmore, R Jarrett et al. (2014) Prenatal malnutrition leads to deficits in attentional set shifting and decreases metabolic activity in prefrontal subregions that control executive function. Dev Neurosci 36:532-41
Galler, Janina; Rabinowitz, Danielle Galler (2014) The intergenerational effects of early adversity. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci 128:177-98

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