ЭПИГЕНЕТИЧЕСКИЕ МАРКЕРЫ В ОЦЕНКЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ СПЕЦИАЛИЗИРОВАННЫХ РАЦИОНОВ ДЕТСКОГО ПИТАНИЯ С БИОСОДЕРЖАЩИМИ ДОБАВКАМИ

Healthcare and the food industry require precise methods to assess how specialized children's diets, particularly those with bioactive supplements, affect development and health. The aim is to substantiate the use of epigenetic markers in evaluating the efficacy of such diets. Theoretical analysis of the scientific literature covers the key mechanisms of epigenetic regulation: DNA methylation, histone modifications, gene expression control through non-coding RNAs, chromatin remodeling, and genomic imprinting. Unlike genetic alterations, epigenetic changes are reversible and respond to environmental factors, nutrition foremost among them. The trajectory of epigenetic research is traced from C. Waddington's foundational work; a key confirmation of the role of nutrients comes from the experiment by R. Jirtle and R. Waterland (Duke University, 2003), in which dietary supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B12, choline, and methionine produced healthy offspring in mice carrying the obesity gene. Evidence is reviewed on the influence of folic acid, B-group vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids on the expression of genes related to metabolism, immunity, and inflammatory processes. Epigenetic changes capture early adaptive shifts at the molecular level, whereas clinical and biochemical indicators reflect later stages. Three directions for applying epigenetic markers in dietary assessment are identified: monitoring the activation of growth- and metabolism-related genes, detecting risks of allergies and diabetes mellitus, and tailoring dietary composition to the child's individual epigenetic profile. Epigenetic markers can serve as objective indicators of nutrition-related biological activity and adaptive processes. This provides a foundation for advancing personalized dietetics and improving nutritional recommendations for early childhood.

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