Epigenetics | Progenyx

Epigenetics is the field of biology concerned with how our genes interplay with the environment to create adaptations that can be (dis)advantageous and which can last a lifetime

Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes - half are inherited from our mother and half from our father - and they contain our genes which can be thought of as a set of instructions that prompt physiological processes at the cellular level. Our genes are coded for by DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and are activated by methylation. Gene methylation is a largely irreversible process; once a cell line develops to become, for example, a hormone-producing cell, all of its daughter cells will be of the same type. Each subsequent generation inherits the specific methylations involved in the specialisation process, ensuring its primary function is maintained throughout life. Appropriate methylation when we are developing our organs and cells is vital; it is also of huge importance in determining how we react and adapt to our environment.

There are 2 occasions when genes are reset: gametogenesis (the formation of egg and sperm) and when the sperm and egg combine (fertilisation). Sperm are highly specialised: they carry the genetic payload and have a tail to swim to the egg. Inappropriate methylation may impair their ability to move and how efficiently they package and protect the chromosomes, negatively affecting fertility. Some sperm may be less inappropriately methylated and so can fertilise the egg but if the compromising methylations are left uncorrected they could impede the development of the zygote (the fertilised egg). The egg is 10,000 larger than the sperm and can correct epigenetic missteps so that the start-point for your baby can be optimised from the outset. The egg must be viable too and the resultant pregnancy should proceed in as healthily as possible to give your baby the best possible start to life.

Gene methylation needs a functioning one-carbon cycle

Methylation of our genes occurs at particular sites called histones and requires an adequate and constant supply of methyl groups. The one-carbon cycle provides methyl groups and relies on the constant supply of metabolites that are usually sourced by a healthy diet. Modern trends of having children at an older age can compromise the quality of sperm and eggs and relying more on convenience foods can deprive us of essential nutrients. On the one hand sperm and eggs may contain more methylation errors and on the other our ability to protect against cellular damage and repair errors is compromised. Ideally, we should have children at an earlier age and audit our diets more carefully. Where that it is not possible, help is on hand: Progenyx provides all of the nutrients required by the one-carbon cycle plus vitamin D which is essential for normal male fertility.

"serum vitamin D3 concentration was found to be positively correlated with sperm concentration (β = 2.103; P < 0.001), total number of spermatozoa with progressive motility (β = 2.069; P = 0.003), total number of motile spermatozoa (β = 2.571; P = 0.015), and strict morphology (β = 0.056; P = 0.006), regardless of other variables." (Ciccone et al)

Epigenetics & Male Subfertility (Marcho et al)

The preconception period is a critical time. Good nutritional state is essential to counter the effects of environmental pollution, stress, drugs and over- or under-exercise. Within the developing sperm "changes in DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin structure, and non-coding RNA can impact reproductive and offspring health."

The preconception environment shapes sperm epigenetics

Population Studies show that poor diet for even a relatively short time during pregnancy can have lifelong effects on the child and their children

In the Netherlands during the winter of 1944-45 the population had to survive on only 30% of its normal caloric intake and 20,000 died before relief was brought be the end of the Second World War. Fortunately for science, the post-war Dutch health system documented the survivors and made several intriguing observations. Babies born to mothers who experienced starvation towards the end of their pregnancy were born small and remained small throughout their lives. Babies born to mothers who starved during the first trimester (first three months) only were normal weight at birth but had a much higher incidence of obesity and other health problems. Although this cohort appears to have been able to catch up during the pregnancy, the two groups developed in very different ways. Furthermore, some of the impacts seem to have been passed on to the children of the babies affected in the first trimester. The conditions experienced by both groups were identical but occurred at different stages of pregnancy and caused distinct lifelong effects that could even be passed on to future generations.

Studies of identical twins and certain highly inheritable illnesses have helped to further our understanding of the subject. Identical twins have the same DNA as they are produced from a single egg and sperm but they are not identical in every way. If one identical twin has schizophrenia there is a 50% chance of the other developing the condition (prevalence in general is 0.5-1%). If causation was entirely due to their genetic makeup, we would expect to observe 100% concordance. Both experienced identical conditions during pregnancy so the illness must have a different cause that is related to their genetic payload. The egg and sperm from which they were conceived are identical so we must assume that environmental factors post-birth play a role. If an event occurs that causes one twin to develop the illness and a similar event later affects the other twin it is highly likely that the condition would be precipitated in them too.

We are using these examples to explain to the more curious amongst you how epigenetics works and why it is so important to maintain good nutritional health if you are trying to have a baby and throughout pregnancy. Environmental challenges during our earliest developmental stages can ripple through time, even down through the generations.