FETAL PROGRAMLAMA VE OBEZİTE
FETAL PROGRAMMING AND OBESITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51271/jashso.96Keywords:
fetal programlama, obezite, maternal beslenme, epigenetik mekanizmalar, prenatal dönem, gelişimsel programlamaAbstract
Objective: Obesity is a multifactorial public health problem arising from the interaction of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors, with its prevalence increasing worldwide. In recent years, it has been suggested that obesity cannot be explained solely by lifestyle factors and that environmental and nutritional exposures during the prenatal period may play a decisive role in metabolic health later in life. In this context, the concept of fetal programming proposes that environmental exposures occurring during intrauterine development may influence an individual’s risk of developing obesity and metabolic diseases in later life. This review aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal nutrition on fetal programming and obesity development within the framework of epigenetic mechanisms.
Materials and Methods: In this review, studies addressing the relationship between fetal programming, maternal nutrition, the prenatal period, epigenetic mechanisms, and obesity were examined through searches of the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases.
Results: The available evidence indicates that maternal obesity, high-fat diets, and energy and nutrient deficiencies influence fetal metabolic programming. In particular, epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA-mediated regulation, have been reported to affect the expression of genes involved in energy homeostasis, appetite regulation, adipogenesis, and glucose metabolism, potentially increasing the risk of obesity later in life. Furthermore, the maternal macronutrient and micronutrient intake patterns appear to play a decisive role in fetal metabolic health, with methyl-donor nutrients having important functions in epigenetic processes.
Conclusion: In conclusion, maternal nutrition plays a critical role in metabolic programming during the prenatal period. Supporting adequate and balanced nutrition before and throughout pregnancy is considered an important public health approach for the prevention of childhood and adult obesity.
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