Neonatal bloodspot DNA methylation patterns are associated with childhood weight status in the Healthy Families Project

Background This study measured longitudinal DNA methylation dynamics at growth-related genes during childhood, and then tested whether DNA methylation at various stages of childhood was associated with obesity status. Methods Using neonatal bloodspot ( n = 132) and matched childhood blood samples ( n = 65), DNA methylation was quantified at a repetitive element (long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1)), two imprinted genes ( IGF2 , H19 ), and four non-imprinted genes ( LEP , PPARA , ESR1 , SREBF1 ) related to growth and adiposity. Logistic regression was used to test whether neonatal bloodspot DNA methylation at target genes was associated with log odds of obesity (Y/N) in children recruited from three age groups—12–24 months old ( n = 40), 3–5 years of age ( n = 40), and 10–12 years of age ( n = 52). Results In 3–5 year olds, neonatal bloodspot LINE-1 methylation was negatively associated with obesity (log odds = −0.40, p = 0.04). Across childhood age group in matched blood samples, DNA methylation levels in blood decreased ( p