Abstract
The incidence of low-birth-weight infants (LBW) has been growing at nearly 10% in the last three decades in Japan, the highest rate in OECD countries. The parallel incidence of pediatric obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and autism has also been following that of LBW. The theory of fetal origins of adult disease (FOAD) is essential for understanding the patho-physiology of life-style-related adult diseases. There is apprehension that the next generation will face a higher future risk of adult diseases, and the maternal nutrition should be focused on to minimize this. The molecular mechanism for the FOAD theory is supposed to be epigenetic modification caused by intra-uterine malnutrition, that persists after delivery. The one carbon metabolism regulates this epigenetic modification with DNA methylation, folate vitamins B6 and B12 being key nutrients for this metabolism. A high proportion of Japanese mothers have lower folate and higher homocystein than normal levels, possibly leading to the babies with undesirable epigenetic changes. Such persistent epigenetic change will induce adult diseases after a long time. Maternal and intra-uterine nutrition at the early development stage is therefore the most important for our next generation to protect from adult diseases.
