Caspian Journal of Pediatrics

Context: The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) environment exposes newborns, particularly preterm and Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants, to stressors such as mechanical ventilation, artificial lighting, and nutritional challenges, potentially inducing epigenetic modifications like Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) methylation and histone alterations. These changes may impact long-term neurodevelopmental and metabolic outcomes.
Evidence Acquisition: This review searched Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed using keywords “epigenetic modifications,” “NICU,” “newborn,” “DNA methylation,” and “preterm infant.” No time limits were applied, and only English-language full-text articles were included. Additional terms like “VLBW infants” were used to expand results.
Findings: NICU stressors, including hypoxia and nutritional deficits, were linked to DNA methylation and histone modifications in genes tied to neurodevelopment and immunity in preterm infants. Interventions like optimized nutrition and stress reduction showed potential to mitigate these epigenetic changes.
Conclusion: NICU environments induce epigenetic modifications, affecting newborn health. Advanced technologies, such as CRISPR-based epigenome editing and single-cell epigenomics, alongside tailored interventions, may reduce adverse outcomes. Further research is needed to standardize protocols and assess long-term effects.