Epigenetic age acceleration in offspring linked to paternal smoking initiation and overweight in puberty: Evidence from a two-generation study

JP López-Cervantes; T Mørkve Østergaard; NT Kitaba; M Lønnebotn; RJ Bertelsen; S Accordini; C Janson; SC Dharmage; KA Franklin; FJC González; M Holm; A Johannessen; C Lodge; A Malinovschi; A Oudin; FG Real; AF Viken; V Schlünssen; JW Holloway; C Svanes

Journal article

Epigenetic age acceleration in offspring linked to paternal smoking initiation and overweight in puberty: Evidence from a two-generation study

JP López-Cervantes, T Mørkve Østergaard, NT Kitaba, M Lønnebotn, RJ Bertelsen, S Accordini, C Janson, SC Dharmage, KA Franklin, FJC González, M Holm, A Johannessen, C Lodge, A Malinovschi, A Oudin, FG Real, AF Viken, V Schlünssen, JW Holloway, C Svanes

Environmental Advances | Elsevier BV | Published : 2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.envadv.2026.100739

Open access

Abstract

Background: Father’s adolescent smoking and overweight contribute to shape future offsprings’ respiratory health. We examined whether biological aging in offspring was associated with parents’ smoking or overweight in puberty. Methods: We estimated Horvath, GrimAge, PhenoAge and DunedinPACE epigenetic clocks from blood DNA methylation, in 892 RHINESSA cohort participants (mean age 27 years) with data on parental smoking and body shape in the RHINE/ECRHS surveys. Linear regressions assessed associations of parental smoking initiation ≤15 versus >15 years, and overweight body shapes in childhood/puberty versus age 30, with offspring epigenetic age acceleration, adjusting for offspring sex, age..

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