Prenatal stress showed inconsistent links with maternal DNA markers
A review found context-dependent molecular differences, with low confidence in the evidence and no marker ready for clinical use.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Prenatal stress was associated with maternal DNA methylation differences that varied by gene region, tissue, and stress measure. Evidence certainty was low to very low. The results do not establish that stress caused these differences or demonstrate health consequences for mothers or babies, and no marker was ready for clinical use.
Several results could not be pooled, and some comparisons came from individual studies. This abstract-based account cannot specify when samples were collected relative to stress assessment.
What researchers found
Maternal FKBP5 intron 7 DNA methylation
Greater versus lower trauma/PTSD burden; lower methylation with greater burden. Standardized mean difference across 2 studies; sampling timeframe not reported.
What was measured
The review examined DNA methylation at selected maternal gene regions using blood and mouth samples. Its focus was the association between prenatal stress and molecular measurements, rather than health outcomes.
How to read the estimate
The negative estimate means lower methylation with greater trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder burden. Standardized units express the difference relative to measurement variability, rather than an absolute percentage change; the estimate applies only to the specified gene region.
The original publication
Stress-induced gene regulation in pregnant women: A systematic review and quantitative evidence synthesis.
Wójtowicz-Marzec M, Berendt AM, Zarzycka D et al.
Psychoneuroendocrinology · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41232233
- Record checked
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