ArticleNature communications2013
Low paternal dietary folate alters the mouse sperm epigenome and is associated with negative pregnancy outcomes.
Article in Nature communications, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 207 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
207 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 470 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pooled it
- Paternal Folate Status and Sperm Quality, Pregnancy Outcomes, and Epigenetics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Molecular nutrition & food research · 2020Pooled it
- Stability of the human sperm DNA methylome to folic acid fortification and short-term supplementation.Human reproduction (Oxford, England) · 2017Trial
- Sex-Specific Associations between One-Carbon Metabolism Indices and Posttranslational Histone Modifications in Arsenic-Exposed Bangladeshi Adults.Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2017Trial
- Review
- Low folate status and related polymorphisms are associated with lower sperm quality in healthy males: The Lifestyle and Environmental Determinants of Seminogram and Other Male Fertility-Related Parameters (Led-Fertyl) cross-sectional study.The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2026Article
- Article
- Paternal folate deficiency induces hepatic insulin resistance in offspring mice.Nutrition & diabetes · 2026Article
- Paternal Circadian Disruption Impairs Offspring Cognition via Sperm microRNAs.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Gut microbiota and their role in male reproductive health.NPJ science of food · 2026Review
- Folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism controls meiotic and post-meiotic epigenome remodeling in the male germline.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Paternal folate deficiency reveals meiosis as a metabolic sensing window in the male germline.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- The dual role of inflammatory microenvironment in modulating the effect of red blood cell folic acid on sperm DNA integrity: A retrospective study.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Sperm sncRNA networks are synchronized by a coordination between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and current stress.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Environmentally-induced sperm RNAs shape placentation and fetal growth.Research square · 2026Article
- Article
- Environmental and Genetic Perturbations of the Sperm Epigenome.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2026Review
- The bull sperm epigenome: role in male fertility and transmission to the offspring.The Journal of reproduction and development · 2026Review
- Transgenerational Impact of Environmental Change.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2026Review
- Impact of sperm fractionation on chromosome positioning, chromatin integrity, DNA methylation, and hydroxymethylation level.Cellular & molecular biology letters · 2025Article
147 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Epidemiological studies suggest that a father's diet can influence offspring health. A proposed mechanism for paternal transmission of environmental information is via the sperm epigenome. The epigenome includes heritable information such as DNA methylation. We hypothesize that the dietary supply of methyl donors will alter epigenetic reprogramming in sperm. Here we feed male mice either a folate-deficient or folate-sufficient diet throughout life. Paternal folate deficiency is associated with increased birth defects in the offspring, which include craniofacial and musculoskeletal malformations. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis and the subsequent functional analysis identify differential methylation in sperm of genes implicated in development, chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, autism and schizophrenia. While >300 genes are differentially expressed in offspring placenta, only two correspond to genes with differential methylation in sperm. This model suggests epigenetic transmission may involve sperm histone H3 methylation or DNA methylation and that adequate paternal dietary folate is essential for offspring health.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.