Duration of breastfeeding and gender are associated with methylation of the LEPTIN gene in very young children.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Observational follow-up study examining associations between early life factors and gene methylation at 17 months
PubMed 23884163 · doi:10.1038/pr.2013.95
What was done
The authors examined associations between maternal education, breastfeeding duration, and child constitutional factors (sex, birth weight, BMI at 17 months) with DNA methylation of the leptin (LEP) gene in whole blood and serum leptin concentration at 17 months of age.
What was found
Duration of breastfeeding was negatively associated with LEP methylation. Low maternal education (≤12 years) was associated with higher LEP methylation. Boys had higher birth weight and lower LEP methylation than girls. Birth weight per SD increase (+584 g) was inversely associated with LEP methylation. Higher BMI and higher serum leptin concentrations were also associated with lower LEP methylation. Specific numerical estimates, effect sizes, confidence intervals, and p-values were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study provides preliminary observational evidence linking early nutritional and environmental exposures to epigenetic variation in a gene central to energy homeostasis and appetite regulation.
Limits
The abstract does not state the sample size (n), effect sizes, or confidence intervals. The observational design cannot establish causality between infant feeding practices and DNA methylation. DNA methylation was measured in whole blood rather than target metabolic tissues, and functional consequences or clinical outcomes were not assessed.
Cited by
- supports A 2013 Dutch study of 120 children published in Pediatric Research found that shorter breastfeeding duration was associated with epigenetic silencing of the gene for leptin.
- context Being breastfed as an infant epigenetically programs higher leptin production that can persist for life.