Maternal dietary fatty acid composition and newborn epigenetic aging—a geometric framework approach

Background Maternal nutrition is associated with epigenetic and cardiometabolic risk factors in offspring. Research in humans has primarily focused on assessing the impact of individual nutrients. Objective We sought to assess the collective impact of maternal dietary monounsaturated (MUFA), polyunsaturated (PUFA), and saturated fat (SFA) on epigenetic aging and cardiometabolic risk markers in healthy newborn infants using a geometric framework approach. Design Body fatness (n = 162), aortic intima-media thickness (n = 131), heart rate variability (n = 118), and epigenetic age acceleration (n = 124) were assessed in newborn infants. Maternal dietary intake was cross-sectionally assessed in the immediate postpartum period via a validated 80-item self-administered food-frequency questionnaire. Generalized additive models were used to explore interactive associations of nutrient intake, with results visualized as response surfaces. Results After adjustment for total energy intake, maternal age, gestational age, and sex there was a 3-way interactive association of MUFA, PUFA, and SFA (P = 0.001) with newborn epigenetic aging. This suggests that the nature of each fat class association depends upon one another. Response surfaces revealed MUFA was positively associated with newborn epigenetic age acceleration only at proportionately lower intakes of SFA or PUFA. We also demonstrate a potential beneficial association of omega-3 PUFA with newborn epigenetic age acceleration (P = 0.008). There was no significant association of fat class with newborn aortic intima-media thickness, heart rate variability, or body fatness. Conclusions In this study, we demonstrate an association between maternal dietary fat class composition and epigenetic aging in newborns. Future research should consider other characteristics such as the source of maternal dietary fatty acids.