Maternal Methionine Nutrition and Its Functions in Epigenetic Regulation of Offspring Development in Animals

Methionine is an essential amino acid that plays a vital role in animal growth and development, lipid metabolism, intestinal health, and 1-carbon metabolism as a primary methyl donor. Emerging evidence indicates that maternal methionine status exerts long-term effects on offspring growth, metabolism, and health through developmental programming, largely mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. These mechanisms primarily involve alterations in deoxyribonucleic acid methylation, histone modifications, and related epigenetic regulatory networks that modulate gene expression during critical periods of embryonic and postnatal development. This review highlights recent advances in the physiological functions of methionine and the epigenetic mechanisms underlying maternal methionine-mediated regulation of offspring development, with particular emphasis on findings from animal models. We highlight how variations in maternal methionine status influence offspring phenotypes by reshaping epigenetic landscapes associated with growth, metabolic homeostasis, and tissue development. By integrating current evidence from nutritional, molecular, and epigenetic perspectives, this review aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical framework for optimizing maternal-offspring methionine nutrition strategies and to offer insights for improving offspring health and productivity in both animals and humans.