Newborn DNA methylation age differentiates long-term weight trajectories: the Boston Birth Cohort

Background: Gestational age (GEAA) estimated by newborn DNA methylation (GAmAge) is associated with maternal prenatal exposures and immediate birth outcomes. However, the association of GAmAge with long-term overweight or obesity (OWO) trajectories is yet to be determined.

Methods: GAmAge was calculated for 831 children from a US predominantly urban, low-income, multi-ethnic birth cohort based on cord blood DNA methylation profile using Illumina EPIC array. Repeated anthropometric measurements aligned with pediatric primary care schedule allowed us to calculate body-mass-index percentiles (BMIPCT) at specific age and to define long-term weight trajectories from birth to 18 years.

Results: GAmAge was associated with BMIPCT trajectories, defined by 4 groups: stable (consistent OWO: "early OWO"; constant normal weight: "NW") or non-stable (OWO by year 1 of follow-up: "late OWO"; OWO by year 6 of follow-up: "NW to very late OWO"). GAmAge differentiated between the group with consistently normal BMIPCT pattern and the non-stable groups with late and very late OWO development. Such differentiation was observed in the age periods of birth to 1year, 3years, 6years, 10years, and 14years (p < 0.05 for all). The findings persisted after adjusting for GEAA, maternal smoking, delivery method, and child's sex in multivariate models. Birth weight was a mediator for the GAmAge effect on OWO status for specific groups at multiple age periods.

Conclusions: GAmAge is associated with BMIPCT trajectories from birth to age 18 years, independent of GEAA and birth weight. If further confirmed, GAmAge may serve as an early biomarker for predicting BMI trajectory to inform early risk assessment and prevention of OWO.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03228875).