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Maternal smoking in pregnancy (MSP) affects the offspring's DNA methylation (DNAm). There is a lack of knowledge regarding individual differences in susceptibility to exposure to MSP. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes are involved in protection against harmful oxidants such as those found in cigarette smoke. This study aimed to test whether polymorphisms in GST genes influence the effect of MSP on offspring DNAm. Using data from the Isle of Wight birth cohort, we assessed the association of MSP and offspring DNAm in 493 mother-child dyads (251 male, 242 female) with the effect-modifying role of GST gene polymorphism (at rs506008, rs574344, rs12736389, rs3768490, rs1537234, and rs1695). MSP was assessed by levels of nicotine and its downstream metabolites (cotinine, norcotinine, and hydroxycotinine) in maternal sera. In males, associations of hydroxycotinine with DNAm at cg18473733, cg25949550, cg11647108, and cg01952185 and norcotinine with DNAm at cg09935388 were modified by GST gene polymorphisms (p-values < 0.05). In females, associations of hydroxycotinine with DNAm at cg12160087 and norcotinine with DNAm at cg18473733 were modified by GST gene polymorphisms (p-values < 0.05). Our study emphasizes the role of genetic polymorphism in GST genes in DNAm's susceptibility to MSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fucoxanthin, a marine xanthophyll carotenoid, has been shown to exert beneficial health effects. Cell‐based and animal‐based experimental studies have shown that fucoxanthin has the potential to mitigate eczema symptoms. Hence, we sought to assess whether fucoxanthinol 3‐arachidate, a fucoxanthin metabolite, measured in maternal serum at birth is associated with eczema development during early childhood. Methods: Data from the 1989/1990 Isle of Wight birth cohort were analyzed. We focused on data obtained from the 1, 2, and 4 years follow‐ups. Fucoxanthinol 3‐arachidate was measured in maternal serum at the child's birth as abundance relative to the reference lipids. Eczema was ascertained according to parent‐reported clinical history and characteristic morphology and distribution. Log‐binomial regression models were used to estimate adjusted risk ratios (aRR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of 592 subjects (49.2% males and 50.8% females) were included in the current analysis. Associations between fucoxanthinol 3‐arachidate levels and eczema risk during the first 4 years of life (longitudinal analysis) were evaluated using four modeling approaches, which showed higher fucoxanthinol 3‐arachidate levels were associated with reduced eczema risk: (i) aRRper 10 unit increase = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.76–1.03; (ii) aRR>0 vs. =0 = 0.67, 0.45–0.99; (iii) aRR≥2.3 vs. <2.3 = 0.66, 0.44–0.98; and (iv) aRRtertile 3 vs. tertile 1 = 0.65, 0.42–0.99. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that increased fucoxanthinol 3‐arachidate levels measured in maternal serum at the child's birth is associated with reduced eczema risk during the first 4 years of the offspring life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]