Epigenetics refers to changes in gene function, not resulting from the primary DNA sequence, influenced by the environment. It provides a link between the molecular regulation of the genome and the environmental signals exposed during the life of individuals (including lifestyle, social behavior, development, and nutrition). Notably, early development (intrauterine or postnatal) is highly influenced by the adverse socioeconomic status that leads to malnutrition or obesity; these conditions induce changes over the fetal epigenetic programming and can be transferred by transgenerational inheritance, inducing alterations of the transcription of genes related to several metabolic and neurological processes. Moreover, obesity during pregnancy, and excessive gestational weight gain are associated with an increased risk of fatal pregnancy complications, and adverse cardio‐metabolic, respiratory and cognitive‐related outcomes of the future child. However, most of our knowledge in this field comes from experimental animal models, that partially resemble the nutritional effects of humans. In this context, nutritional effects implicated in historical famines represent valuable information about the transgenerational effects of undernutrition and stress. In the present review, we attempt to describe the most outstanding results from the most studied famines about the impact of malnutrition on the epigenome.

中文翻译：

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表观遗传变异是由于生命早期的营养状况及其对衰老和疾病的后期影响

表观遗传学是指基因功能的变化，不是由主要的DNA序列引起的，而是受环境的影响。它提供了基因组的分子调控与个体生命（包括生活方式，社会行为，发展和营养）中暴露的环境信号之间的联系。值得注意的是，早期发育（宫内或产后）受到不利的社会经济状况的严重影响，导致营养不良或肥胖。这些条件引起胎儿表观遗传程序的改变，并可以通过跨代遗传来转移，从而引起与几种代谢和神经系统过程有关的基因转录的改变。此外，怀孕期间的肥胖症和过多的妊娠体重增加会增加致命性妊娠并发症的风险，以及未来孩子的不良心脏代谢，呼吸和认知相关结局。但是，我们在该领域的大多数知识来自实验动物模型，部分类似于人类的营养作用。在这种情况下，与历史饥荒有关的营养作用代表了有关营养不足和压力的代际效应的宝贵信息。在本综述中，我们试图描述营养不良对表观基因组的影响，而对饥荒的研究最为深入。与历史饥荒有关的营养作用代表了有关营养不足和压力的代际效应的宝贵信息。在本综述中，我们试图描述营养不良对表观基因组的影响，而对饥荒的研究最为深入。与历史饥荒有关的营养作用代表了有关营养不足和压力的代际效应的宝贵信息。在本综述中，我们试图描述营养不良对表观基因组的影响，而对饥荒的研究最为深入。