Mothers, daughters and grandchildren: A cohort study of transgenerational effects of social, nutritional and toxic exposures in early life, a follow-up of the MINIMat trial in rural Bangladesh

BACKGROUND. Fetal and early life exposures have lifelong effects on health and well-being. Transgenerational effects have attracted attention, but human evidence remains scanty. AIMS.

We assess for the first time transgenerational (F0 to F2 generation) effects of prenatal nutritional supplementation in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) setting.

We also assess transgenerational effects of a range of globally prevalent adverse pregnancy exposures including environmental toxicants, domestic violence, mental ill-health and related to poverty (education, wealth, food insecurity, and nutrition).METHODS.

We use the unique MINIMat trial-based cohort, which in 2001-03 randomized 4436 pregnant women (F0) in rural Bangladesh into prenatal nutrient supplement groups and collected data on aforementioned exposures.

The children born (F1) have been followed to 15y collecting data on a range of health, nutrition, and neurodevelopmental factors.We will study ~685 MINIMat daughters (F1) and their children (F2). Our main outcomes are birth size, and growth and development (Bayley) at 6 and 12 months.

In the mothers, data related to their caring capacity (wealth, education, domestic violence, mental health, feeding and stimulation) will be collected. SIGNIFICANCE.

Uncovering transgenerational effects and mechanisms of a range of maternal exposures, including a RCT nutrition intervention, will aid design of multi-factorial and complex public health interventions and thus benefit global health.