Cross-talk between Folic acid and MMP2 /Leptin genes Methylation in Childhood Obesity, Nutrigenomics approach

Abstract

This study was done at Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Sham University in collaboration with National nutrition institute during the period from June, 2015 till October, 2016 and included 80 subjects. The aim of the current study was estimation of serum folic acid in obese children. Then, to evaluate methylation pattern of both Leptin/MMP2 genes' promoters in blood samples of obese children, before and after folic acid supplementation. Our premise is that epigenetic profile might shed light on the mechanisms underlying the development of obesity and related metabolic disorders. The present study included 80 children, 30 obese children before starting special diet regimen or folic acid intake, as patient group (I), another 30 obese children starting the special diet regimen without folic acid intake as patient group (II), group (III) included 15 folic acid treated obese children of group (I) who continued diet regimen and folic acid intake 500 µg/ day for 3 months as a follow up group, and 20 normal healthy children as control group (IV) who match the patient group for age and sex