Advancing Public HealthThrough Nutrigenetics and Microbiotain Early Life: Initiating Longevity in Childhood

Abstract

Early life is a critical period when nutrition and environmental exposures significantly influence development and long-term health. This review examines the interactions among genetic factors, nutrigenetics, epigenetic mechanisms, and the gut microbiota in early life, emphasizing maternal effects during prenatal and infancy stages. Maternal nutrition can alter fetal epigenetic marks, shaping gene expression patterns that persist into adulthood. Genetic variations in mother and child affect nutrient metabolism and requirements, influencing developmental outcomes. The infant’s microbiota, seeded by maternal microbes and shaped by diet, is crucial for metabolic and immune system training. The concept of early-life programming, known as the “Developmental Origins of Health and Disease,” is discussed. Evidence from both human and animal studies links early nutrition and microbial exposure to lifelong health outcomes. Immune development relies on early microbial and nutrient signals, affecting tolerance and allergy risks. By integrating epigenetics, nutrigenetics, and microbiome research, this article brings the role of maternal diet quality and microbial transmission in infant development to prominence. Understanding these processes may guide strategies, such as optimized maternal nutrition and microbiota-based interventions, to improve health outcomes across generations.