Summary

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), primarily cardio vascular disease, diabetes and cancer kill more than 38 million people each year, making them by far the leading cause of death in the world. The metabolic changes which lead to NCDs are found to originate in early childhood and are directly linked with obesity. The worldwide prevalence of childhood obesity has tripled over the past three decades which is more pronounced in low-and middle-income countries including Sri-Lanka. Current research in to causal pathways suggest that epigenetic mechanisms contribute to the onset of NCDs and further research is expected to inform strategies to predict, prevent and treat these conditions. Study of epigenetics therefore, is considered as the emerging field of future medical research. Epigenetic modifications are reversible and therefore have the potential to be manipulated the rapeutically.

This is the first well-designed epigenetic study to be carried out in our country to identify the cord blood DNA methylation patterns associated with neonatal adiposity and early childhood cardio-metabolic risk. The results of our study will add new knowledge to the causality of childhood obesity and adverse metabolic outcomes. The preventive health sector of our country will be directly benefited by this information, based on which the stakeholders could target better preventive programmes. Clinically, such predictors could be useful biomarkers to identify individuals at high risk of developing certain NCDs and implement stringent preventive strategies. Primary prevention of NCDs will extensively cut down on the cost of managing patients with established NCDs.

Objectives

General Objectives
To study the association of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) with cord bloodDNA methylation, birth anthropometry, cord blood Adipokine and Insulin levels and weight gain during the first 3 years of life.
To study the effectiveness of early lifestyle modification in the prevention of rapid weight gain in infancy

Specific objectives

• To study the effect of maternal pre-pregnant BMI and gestational weight gain with neonatal anthropometric parameters
• To study the association of maternal pre-pregnant BMI and gestational weight gain with cord blood DNA methylation,Adipokine levels(Leptin, Adiponectin, Resistin) and Insulin levels
• To study the association of cord blood Adipokine levels (Leptin, Adiponectin, Resistin)with the neonatal anthropometry andweight gain in the first year of life
  To study the association of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pregnancy induced hypertension with cord blood Adipokineand Insulin levels
• To study the association of maternal pre-pregnant BMI and gestational weight gain with weight gain in the first year of life

Major Equipment Facilitated by Grant