Abstract
Introduction In 2020, an estimated 150 million
children under the age of 5 years were stunted. Stunting
results from early-life
adversity and it is associated
with significant physical and cognitive deficit, lifelong
socioeconomic disadvantage and reduced life expectancy.
There is a need to understand the causes of stunting and
its effects in order to develop strategies to avoid it and to
mitigate the consequences once stunting has occurred.
Epigenetics is an important mechanism through which
early-life
factors are thought to influence biological
function, with long-term
consequences. We describe a
series of epigenetic studies designed to understand how
early-life
adversity results in stunting and to inform the
development of practical tools such as predictive markers
and therapeutic targets. This work is part of the UKRI GCRF
Action Against Stunting Hub.
Methods and analysis The project-in India, Indonesia
and Senegal-comprises an observational study of
mothers, fathers, and offspring (n=500) spanning the first
1000 days of life, and an intervention study in each country.
Epigenetic status (DNA methylation) is determined in saliva
from babies collected within 1 month of birth and again at
18 months of age, and from mothers and fathers around
the time of birth. Epigenome-wide
analysis is carried out
using the Illumina EPIC array, augmented by high-definition
sequencing approaches. Statistical analysis is carried out
at the level of candidate genes/regions, higher dimensional
epigenetic states and epigenome-wide
association. Data
analysis focuses on the determinants of stunting, the
effectiveness of interventions, population comparisons and
the link between epigenetics and other thematic areas,
which include anthropometry, microbiome, gut health,
parasitology, cognition, nutrition, food hygiene and water
sanitation, food systems and the home environment.
Ethics and dissemination This study has been
approved by the relevant Ethics Committees in Indonesia,
India and Senegal, and the UK. Research data will be
published and posted in public repositories.
Year
2024
Category
Refereed journal