The goals were to investigate in umbilical cord tissue if gestational obesity: (1) was associated with changes in DNA methylation of skeletal muscle-specific genes; (2) could modulate the co-methylation interactions among these genes. Additionally, we assessed the associations between DNA methylation levels and infant's variables at birth and at age 6. DNA methylation was measured in sixteen pregnant women [8-gestational obesity group; 8-control group] in umbilical cord using the Infinium Methylation EPIC Bead Chip microarray. Differentially methylated CpGs were identified with Beta Regression Models [false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05 and an Odds Ratio > 1.5 or < 0.67]. DNA methylation interactions between CpGs of skeletal muscle-specific genes were studied using data from Pearson correlation matrices. In order to quantify the interactions within each network, the number of links was computed. This identification analysis reported 38 differential methylated CpGs within skeletal muscle-specific genes (comprising 4 categories: contractibility, structure, myokines, and myogenesis). Compared to control group, gestational obesity (1) promotes hypermethylation in highly methylated genes and hypomethylation in low methylated genes; (2) CpGs in regions close to transcription sites and with high CpG density are hypomethylated while regions distant to transcriptions sites and with low CpG density are hypermethylated; (3) diminishes the number of total interactions in the co-methylation network. Interestingly, the associations between infant's fasting glucose at age 6 and MYL6, MYH11, TNNT3, TPM2, CXCL2, and NCAM1 were still relevant after correcting for multiple testing. In conclusion, our study showed a complex interaction between gestational obesity and the epigenetic status of musclespecific genes in umbilical cord tissue. Additionally, gestational obesity may alter the functional co-methylation connectivity of CpG within skeletal muscle-specific genes interactions, our results revealing an extensive reorganization of methylation in response to maternal overweight. Finally, changes in methylation levels of skeletal muscle specific genes may have persistent effects on the offspring of mothers with gestational obesity.

The world’s leading health institutions warn that adolescents do not meet the minimum level of physical activity necessary for the proper physical development of young people, which is considered one of the main problems of public health. In addition to personal preference, environmental and cultural factors play an important role in the involvement of young people in sports. This study aimed to examine potential differences in involvement in sports, anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities, in adolescents of different residential statuses. The sample included 83 adolescents, of whom 45 (54.2%, 13.51±0.55 yrs) were from urban areas and 38 (45%, 13.45±0.50 yrs) were from rural areas in the Belgrade region. Surveying detected their involvement in sports, and anthropometric characteristics were assessed through body height (BH) body mass (BM), body mass index (BMI), and motor abilities through explosive strength of lower and upper extremities and agility. A Mann-Whitney U test has shown that place of residency impacts involvement in sports and motor abilities, while there was no impact on anthropometric characteristics. Cohen’s criteria (r) detected the level of impact. Adolescents from urban areas are more involved at sports and have better motor abilities. There is no difference in anthropometric characteristics. Considering the relatively small sample of respondents and variables assessed, the obtained results can hardly be generalized. However, this does not diminish the importance of the present study which examined the urban-rural state of sports activity, anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities of adolescents in Serbia, thus making an important contribution to this field.

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Practice of sport, exercise or recreational physical activity increase the needs of energy and nutrients. Objectives are: 1) to evaluate BMI; 2) to assess the nutritional status; and 3) to test the association between BMI and KIDMED index. The study is realized on a sample of healthy young participants (N=101), aged 18 – 35, that do recreational sport activities such as: football (N=24), basketball (N=16), handball (N=15), volleyball (N=20), tennis (N=10), swimming (N=10) and martial arts (N=9). Body composition: height, weight, and BMI, were measured and calculated according to World Health Organization’s manual. A 16-item KIDMED questionnaire was used to assess nutritional status. KIDMED index was calculated after the KIDMED questionnaire was administered to all participants. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was applied to test the association between BMI and KIDMED index. We have assessed an optimal diet - medium quality, in physically active population that is involved in recreational sport such as: football, basketball, handball, volleyball, tennis, swimming and martial arts, and a normal healthy weight category based on BMI classification criteria of World Health Organization. In addition, we have found a weak positive association between BMI and KIDMED index in physically active population, that was not statistically significant. The outcome of the study indicates that most of the people that are regularly involved in physical activity have a decent nutritional awareness, as a result of the nutritional counseling they get from their coaches. It seems that recreational collective activities and sports, besides allowing people to gain knowledge about healthy eating skills and nutritional habits, also encourage them to bring the required changes in their diets. The impact of physical activity may be a promising area for future promotion of nutrition and health.

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