Genetic and Epigenetic Contributions to Child Heath Outcomes in the STRONG Kids 2 Cohort Study

Abstract

\n \n \n Childhood obesity is becoming a significant health concern in the United States, and the prevalence of excess weight increases continuously throughout the growing years. It has been proposed that genetic variation partly contributes to the susceptibility of obesity and its development during the early onset. Thus, this study focuses on the determination of the genome-wide signatures (GWAS) and epigenomic signatures (EWAS) of divergent weight for length z scores (WFLZ) in the first year of life. In addition, it attempts to relate the molecular findings to body composition, BMI, adipose tissue deposition, in the first 5 years of life. Our objective is to generate novel preliminary data on the contributions to child health outcomes. Our approach involves integrating genetic and epigenetic variations with factors such as diet and growth.\n \n \n \n Initially, saliva samples of 426 children from SKP cohort were collected. Next, height and weight measurements were collected at intervals of 6 weeks, 3, 12, and 18 months, and 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. Measures such as maternal height and weight were also collected at the time points mentioned above. Furthermore, children were separated into three groups based on their WFLZ score trajectories (low-slow raising growth, mid stable growth and low-high rising growth) and it was demonstrated that there was a biological variation within the groups to investigate the genetic regulation of development in early life.\xa0For genomic analysis, DNA was extracted from infant saliva samples, fixed and quantified\xa0to used for\xa0genomic analysis.\n \n \n \n After statistical analysis 96 samples were chosen and genotyping were carried out using Illimuna Systems. Further results will be discussed at Nutrition 2021 Online. For the epigenetic analysis, EWAS analysis will be conducted and 850,000 methylation sites further will be investigated. We hypothesize that divergent growth factors in the first year of life will represent a unique epigenomic pattern and reveal new genetic targets modified by environmental variables.\n \n \n \n This cohort study\xa0will provide valuable information about growth trajectories and genome and epigenome in the first 5 y of life.\n \n \n \n University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, FIRE Grant\n