FX Medicine

Home of integrative and complementary medicine

Physical comfort has epigenetic effects on infants

 
Laura_Miller's picture

In the first of its kind, new research conducted by the University of British Columbia and British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute shows that DNA methylation patterns in children can be altered based on the amount of physical contact received from caregivers during infancy, with effects still evident at four and a half years of age. The study aimed to expand on animal models of early postnatal interactions between mother and infant, which highlighted the importance of tactile contact for biobehavioural outcomes.

Parents of five-week-old babies were asked to track the amount of physical contact from caregivers, as well as their infant's behaviour, to assess the impact of normative variation in contact on DNA methylation. Using a daily diary, filled in by the caregivers, variations in infant contact were assessed to determine the effect on genetic expression. The study focused on the glucocorticoid receptor gene and nuclear receptor gene, along with two candidate genes related to the neurobiology of social bonds and postnatal plasticity. 

DNA methylation levels were compared across the low and high contact groups, with no differences found at candidate genes related to the neurobiological encoding of tactile contact. There was, however, an association made between infant distress levels and epigenetic age deviation in infants who had experienced lower levels of contact. This indicates that epigenetic age deceleration is occurring, which may cause delays in maturation as a result of increased stress levels. 

Children who had received less physical contact and who were more distressed as infants subsequently had an underdeveloped molecular profile in their cells when assessed at four and a half years of age, suggesting they were biologically lagging. 

The results from this study show that biological immaturity results from higher levels of distress and lower amounts of contact. However, the long-term effects of these epigenetic changes for the health and development of the child are still unknown. The research team aims to conduct a further longitudinal study to determine whether a low epigenetic age carries broader implications for a child's physical and psychological health.

For practitioners, this research provides an important correlation between early postnatal contact and normative social and cognitive development, and suggests clinically important outcomes in the health of children as well as the formation of strong social bonds.

Reference:

  1. Moore SR, McEwen LM, Quirt J, et al. Epigenetic correlates of neonatal contact in humans. Development and Psychopathol 2017;29(5):1517-1538 [Abstract]

DISCLAIMER: 

The information provided on FX Medicine is for educational and informational purposes only. The information provided on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event something you have read here raises questions or concerns regarding your health.

Share / Print: 
Laura_Miller's picture
Laura Miller
Laura currently holds a bachelor degree of professional writing and is in her third year of her naturopathic degree. Laura was exposed to the benefits of natural medicine from a very young age and was raised to view food as medicine. This passion has now carried over into her adult life and she is now on a lifelong journey to learn all she can about healing the body naturally. Though all facets of natural medicine interest her, Laura is particularly passionate about fertility, gut health and the mind-body connection.