Reframing metabolic disease prevention through the preconception window
Yuqing Zhang1, Zi-Jiang Chen1, Han Zhao2
1State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Women, Children and Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China; National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology (Shandong University), Ministry of Education, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|April 30, 2026
Summary
Parental metabolic health before conception impacts offspring
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Metabolic disease research
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Parental metabolic health influences offspring's long-term health.
- Germline epigenetic reprogramming is a key mechanism linking parental health to offspring risk.
- Current interventions often focus post-conception, missing early opportunities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a preconception-centered, dual-germline prevention paradigm.
- To highlight the importance of interventions before fertilization.
- To establish upstream opportunities for primary prevention of metabolic disease.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual framework development.
- Review of existing literature on parental metabolic health and epigenetics.
- Discussion of preventative strategies targeting the germline.
Main Results:
- Parental metabolic status prior to conception is a critical determinant of offspring metabolic risk.
- Germline epigenetic reprogramming is a significant pathway for this transmission.
- A preconception focus offers a novel primary prevention strategy.
Conclusions:
- Interventions targeting parental metabolic health before conception are crucial.
- A dual-germline approach before fertilization represents an upstream preventative strategy.
- This paradigm shift can reduce the primary incidence of metabolic diseases.
Keywords:
epigenetic inheritancegermline epigenetic programmingmetabolic diseasemetabolic healthpreconception preventionMore Related Videos
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