ABSTRACT
Studies have demonstrated associations of maternal obesity and epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, histone modication, and chromatin remodeling, linked to adipose tissue growth and chronic disease risk in offspring. Diet has emerged as important in this regard, affecting epigenetic pathways in adipocytes. Understanding the metabolic bases by which diet affects the embryonic/fetal environment to regulate obesigenic epigenetic events is important for identifying maternal practices that can reduce obesity risk across generations. This overview summarizes current understanding of effects of diet on epigenetic control mechanisms in epigenetic regulation relevant to obesity.
