Inherited Epigenetic Hallmarks of Childhood Obesity Derived from Prenatal Exposure to Obesogens

María Á. Núñez-Sánchez, Almudena Jiménez-Méndez, María Suárez-Cortés, María A. Martínez-Sánchez, Manuel Sánchez-Solís, José E. Blanco-Carnero, Antonio J. Ruiz-Alcaraz () and Bruno Ramos-Molina ()
Additional contact information
María Á. Núñez-Sánchez: Obesity and Metabolism Research Laboratory, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain
Almudena Jiménez-Méndez: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ‘Virgen de la Arrixaca’ University Clinical Hospital, 30120 Murcia, Spain
María Suárez-Cortés: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Murcia, El Palmar, 30120 Murcia, Spain
María A. Martínez-Sánchez: Obesity and Metabolism Research Laboratory, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain
Manuel Sánchez-Solís: Group of Pediatric Research, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain
José E. Blanco-Carnero: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ‘Virgen de la Arrixaca’ University Clinical Hospital, 30120 Murcia, Spain
Antonio J. Ruiz-Alcaraz: Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology B and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Bruno Ramos-Molina: Obesity and Metabolism Research Laboratory, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries and is becoming a major cause for concern in the developing world. The causes of childhood obesity are complex and multifactorial, involving the interaction between individual genetics and environmental and developmental factors. Among the environmental factors, there is a growing interest in understanding the possible relationship between the so-called environmental obesogens and the development of obesity in children. Exposure to these obesogens such as phthalates, bisphenol A, or parabens, has been identified as a promoter of obesity through different mechanisms such as the alteration of adipocyte development from mesenchymal progenitors, the interference with hormone receptors, and induced inflammation. However, less attention has been paid to the inheritance of epigenetic modifications due to maternal exposure to these compounds during pregnancy. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge of epigenetic modifications due to maternal exposure to those obesogens during pregnancy as well as their potential implication on long-term obesity development in the offspring and transgenerational inheritance of epiphenotypes.

Keywords: obesogen; epiphenotypes; non-persistent organic pollutants; persistent organic pollutants; inorganic arsenic; childhood obesity; endocrine disrupting chemicals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/6/4711/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/6/4711/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:6:p:4711-:d:1090200

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().