Pregnancy glucocorticoid review finds gene-regulation changes, mainly in animal studies
A review of animal and human offspring linked pregnancy exposure to naturally occurring or administered glucocorticoids, steroid compounds, with changes in gene regulation.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found reports of epigenetic changes—changes in how genes are regulated—in offspring exposed to naturally occurring or administered glucocorticoids during pregnancy. Some reported biological or observable changes persisted into adulthood. Most included studies involved animals, so these findings do not establish the size of any health risk in human pregnancies.
The abstract combines animal and human evidence without separate effect estimates, exposure levels, or detailed health outcomes. It therefore cannot resolve human clinical risk or differences between specific pregnancy treatments.
Different exposure questions
The review considered glucocorticoids produced within the body as well as those given as medicines during pregnancy. These exposure categories address different questions, and the abstract does not present a direct comparison between them.
Gene regulation versus health
Epigenetic findings concern gene regulation. Although the review also describes biological and observable changes, it does not specify their clinical severity in human offspring. The authors describe the evidence as preliminary and request longer prospective studies.
The original publication
Epigenetic effects of endogenous and exogenous glucocorticosteroids during pregnancy on the offspring: a systematic-narrative review.
Kanouta F, Karampitsakos T, Memi E et al.
Hormones (Athens) · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40542332
- Record checked
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