Overview

• Duke University researchers identified epigenetic markers in umbilical cord blood that correlate with metabolic health risks in children aged 7–12.
• Key findings include altered methylation in genes like TNS3, GNAS, and CSMD1, linked to liver fat, blood pressure, and waist-to-hip ratio abnormalities.
• The study highlights the influence of prenatal environments, such as maternal nutrition, on establishing these epigenetic markers during fetal development.
• Presented at Digestive Disease Week 2025, the research underscores the potential for early interventions to mitigate long-term health risks.
• Larger, NIH-funded studies are now underway to validate these findings and facilitate the development of clinical screening tools for at-risk newborns.