Manipulation of maternal nutrition during gestation alters postnatal growth and physiological outcomes in later adult life of offspring, leading to increased risk of certain chronic diseases.Insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2) and H 19 have been shown to play important roles in the development of many human cancers in which the genes display loss of imprinting (LOI) or aberrant imprinting.We hypothesized that maternal exposure to low protein diets containing different levels of folate during gestation alters gene expression of Igf2 and H 19 by regulation through DNA methylation of the genes.In this study, pregnant Sprague-Dawley dams were fed diets containing low level of protein (90 g/kg casein compared to 180 g/kg in control) supplemented with folate (LP1 and LP3 diets with 1, 3 mg/kg folate, respectively) throughout gestation.Control diet contains 1 mg/kg folate.mRNA expression and DNA methylation profile of Igf2 and H 19 were examined in day 0 male pup liver.Quantitative real-time RT-PCR results showed that mRNA levels of Igf2 and H19 were both significantly elevated by matemal low protein diets (P<0.05).