Programación fetal y modificaciones epigenéticas relacionadas al folato

Jorly Mejia-Montilla; Nadia Reyna-Villasmil; Eduardo Reyna-Villasmil

doi:10.31403/rpgo.v66i2230

Authors

Jorly Mejia-Montilla Doctora en Ciencias Médicas, Docente de Facultad de Medicina; La Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela
Nadia Reyna-Villasmil Doctora en Ciencias Médicas, Docente de Facultad de Medicina; La Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela
Eduardo Reyna-Villasmil Médico especialista, Adjunto del Servicio de Ginecología y Obstetricia; Hospital Central “Dr. Urquinaona”, Maracaibo, Venezuela

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31403/rpgo.v66i2230

Abstract

Fetal life is characterized by the ability to respond to environmental factors. Nutrition is the most important environmental factor influencing development processes by regulating epigenetic mechanisms. Identifying the role of dietary factors that modulate and remodel the fetal epigenome during development, including the methyl-group donors, is of great importance. Epigenetics studies inherited changes in gene expression not related to modifications in the DNA sequence. Folate metabolism regulates the supply of methyl groups; therefore, eating disorders may influence regulation of epigenetic mechanisms. The crucial role of folate in cell division and homocysteine conversion has been conclusively demonstrated. Because epigenetic processes are one of the pathways in fetal programming, abnormal folate delivery may lead to fetal abnormalities and risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. The objective of this review is to establish the association between fetal programming and epigenetic modifications caused by folate.