DNA Methylation Signatures of Early Childhood Malnutrition Associated With Impairments in Attention and Cognition.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood malnutrition affects 113 million children worldwide, impacting health and increasing vulnerability for cognitive and behavioral disorders later in life. Molecular signatures after childhood malnutrition, including the potential for intergenerational transmission, remain unexplored. METHODS: We surveyed blood DNA methylomes (~483,000 individual CpG sites) in 168 subjects across two generations, including 50 generation 1 individuals hospitalized during the first year of life for moderate to severe protein-energy malnutrition, then followed up to 48 years in the Barbados Nutrition Study. Attention deficits and cognitive performance were evaluated with the Connors Adult Attention Rating Scale and Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. Expression of nutrition-sensitive genes was explored by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in rat prefrontal cortex. RESULTS: We identified 134 nutrition-sensitive, differentially methylated genomic regions, with most (87%) specific for generation 1. Multiple neuropsychiatric risk genes, including COMT, IFNG, MIR200B, SYNGAP1, and VIPR2 showed associations of specific methyl-CpGs with attention and IQ. IFNG expression was decreased in prefrontal cortex of rats showing attention deficits after developmental malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS: Early childhood malnutrition entails long-lasting epigenetic signatures associated with liability for attention and cognition, and limited potential for intergenerational transmission.

Early malnutrition predicts parent reports of externalizing behaviors at ages 9-17.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether externalizing behaviors are more prevalent in youth who have experienced an episode of malnutrition in the first year of life than in healthy comparison youth. METHOD: Parents of previously malnourished youth and a matched healthy comparison group completed a behavior rating scale when the youth were 9-15 years of age and again, 2 years later, when they were 11-17 years of age. Longitudinal multiple regression analysis was applied to evaluate group differences adjusted for baseline age, sex, household standard of living, and maternal depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Early childhood malnutrition was associated with problems in executive functioning at both occasions. Malnutrition also predicted discernibly higher parent-reported levels of aggression toward peers at 9-15 years than at 11-17 years. These findings were independent of baseline age, sex, household standard of living, and maternal depressive symptoms. Problem behaviors in general decreased during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Parents report persisting problems with executive functioning through adolescence in youth who suffered an episode of moderate-to-severe protein-energy malnutrition in the first year of life, while reports of aggression, although more common when this cohort were younger, did not persist at follow-up.

Healthy male workers? a look at male workers in two occupational settings in Barbados - abstract

Company-sponsored annual examination of 150 workers, from two separate industries, revealed that unhealthy life-styles, in terms of drinking and smoking behaviours, were fairly common. Sixty percent drank alcohol at least every weekend, and 19 smoked at least ten cigarettes daily. Ten percent were obese. Previously undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension were present in 10 and 12 percent of subjects respectively. The workers had very limited contact with health care physicians, for reasons believed in part to be financial. In the circumstances, the physicians had to modify textbook approaches and utilize new approaches to 'opportunistic screening' for chronic disease. None of the problems encountered could be adequately managed on a single annual visit. Family physicians, employers and employees are encouraged to negotiate additional strategies for monitoring and maintaining the health of male workers. (AU)

Profile of teenage mothers and their parents' attitudes to teenage sexuality and pregnancy - abstract

The purpose of this study was to obtain a profile of the Barbadian pregnant teenager and to ascertain from them their parents' attitudes to teenage sexuality and pregnancy. From April 1 to July 31, 1989, information was obtained by questionnaire from 160 teenage mothers during hospitalization. Pregnant teenagers ranged in age from 13 to 19 years, and 131 (82 per cent) were over 16 years, the legal age of consent. All attended, but only 84 per cent completed secondary schooling. They were predominantly of lower socio-economic class and 65 per cent had teenage mothers. Seventy-one per cent lived in homes with no resident male authority, and 54 per cent reported strict parental discipline. Fifty-nine per cent had their first sexual encounter before 16 years of age (legal consent age), only 2 per cent were married and 22 per cent were in commom-law union. Most teenagers (94 per cent) had some knowledge of contraception before becoming pregnant but only 19 per cent practised family planning. Pregnancy was unplanned in 82 per cent and 80 per cent wished to have delayed pregnancy. Sex education was received from school (78 per cent) and mother (33 per cent), but 78 per cent felt it was inadequate. Mothers of pregnant teenagers were mostly single parents (71 per cent), of lower socio-economic class, and 50 per cent were < 40 years of age. Mothers' reaction to the boyfriend were reportedly angry (25 per cent), approving (23 per cent), not angry (15 per cent) and no reaction, (38 per cent). Only 2.5 per cent of teenagers were evicted from the home, and 90 per cent of parents were supportive (AU)