Each person carries a unique combination of millions of
gene variants, so we all have protective and deleterious gene
variants that interact as a suite. Individual gene variants can
affect the expression of the gene that they encode but they can
also have significant effects on the expression of other genes
located some distance away within the genome.
We have also found that the health of the parents of a preg-
nant woman can also indicate her risk for pregnancy compli-
cations. For example, a woman whose father has chronic high
blood pressure is at a greater risk herself of developing pre -
eclampsia, the most serious hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.
Family history of miscarriage and pregnancy complications in
the woman’s mother or sisters can also indicate an increased
risk. These suggest that there are genetic factors common to
both cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and pregnancy
complications. Indeed, we have found this to be the case.
Genes are also known to interact with the environment in
both health and disease. This means that an individual may
harbour a number of gene variants that pre dispose them to a
particular disease but it is only concomitant exposure to certain
environmental factors, such as a poor diet and physical inactivity,
that reveals a vulnerability to that disease.
Gene expression can directly be influenced by nutrition. For
example, zinc is a structural component of hundreds of enzymes
and transcription factors that regulate gene expression, and its
deficiency may compromise the function of a number of biolog-
ical processes.
Environmental exposures occur in the context of the foetal,
and hence placental, genome. The foetus and placenta cross-
communicate with the mother, and both are at the mercy of her
past and present environmental exposures, including her diet.
Furthermore, the placenta orchestrates the mother’s response
to pregnancy by secreting a number of hormones and growth
factors into her circulation. These are determined by the foetal
and placental genome, and also respond to her health status
and exposures.JAN/FEB 2016|| 27The Consequences of
Pregnancy ComplicationsRISKS TO MOTHER
Pregnancy-related problems: severe high blood pressure,
kidney or liver failure, pulmonary oedema, seizures, stroke,
infection, placental abruption, haemorrhage, deathLifelong health risks: stroke, high blood pressure, type 2
diabetes, coronary heart disease, premature deathRISKS TO BABY
Perinatal problems: perinatal death, many require neonatal
intensive careLifelong health risks: mild, moderate or severe handicap,
learning difficulties, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetesOlesia Bilkei/Adobe