مقالات پذیرفته شده در نهمین کنگره بین المللی زیست پزشکی
Nutritional Epigenomics: The Impact of Diet on Epigenetic Regulation and Metabolic Disease Risk
Nutritional Epigenomics: The Impact of Diet on Epigenetic Regulation and Metabolic Disease Risk
Hanieh Salehzadeh,1,*
1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Farhangian, Tehran, Iran
Introduction: Nutritional epigenomics is an emerging field that explores how dietary factors influence epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA regulation. Epigenetic changes can alter gene expression without modifying the DNA sequence and are highly responsive to environmental factors, particularly diet. Diet-induced epigenetic alterations have been shown to play a critical role in the development of metabolic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Despite growing research, the mechanisms by which specific nutrients and dietary patterns modulate the epigenome remain incompletely understood. This review aims to synthesize current knowledge on the effects of diet on epigenetic regulation and its implications for metabolic disease risk, highlighting emerging areas such as the gut microbiome, intergenerational effects, and personalized nutrition strategies.
Methods: This review synthesizes findings from studies published in the past five years that examined the influence of dietary components on epigenetic modifications related to metabolic diseases. We focused on human clinical trials, animal models, and in vitro studies investigating nutrients such as polyphenols, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as dietary patterns including plant-based diets, fermented foods, and caloric restriction regimes. The role of gut microbiota in mediating diet-induced epigenetic changes and emerging research on intergenerational effects were also included. Studies employing epigenome-wide association analyses and other molecular techniques to assess DNA methylation, histone modifications, and gene expression were considered.
Results: 1.Dietary Modifiers of Epigenetic Marks: Various dietary components can positively or negatively influence epigenetic regulation. Unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to enhance DNA methylation and histone acetylation patterns in genes regulating lipid metabolism, inflammation, and insulin sensitivity, potentially reducing the risk of metabolic diseases. Conversely, high intake of saturated fats and refined sugars can induce adverse epigenetic changes, promoting obesity and insulin resistance.
2.Gut Microbiota and Epigenetic Regulation: The gut microbiome plays a significant role in modulating epigenetic marks. Microbiota-derived metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, have been linked to histone acetylation and DNA methylation changes that influence inflammation and metabolic health, providing a novel mechanism through which diet can impact gene expression
3.Intergenerational Effects of Nutrition: Dietary exposures during critical periods such as pregnancy and early childhood can induce epigenetic modifications that persist into adulthood and may be transmitted across generations, affecting metabolic disease risk in offspring.
4. Personalized Nutritional Epigenomics: Tailoring dietary interventions based on an individual’s genetic and epigenetic profile is emerging as a promising strategy for preventing and managing metabolic diseases. Understanding how specific diets interact with genetic backgrounds to influence epigenetic regulation may allow for personalized nutrition approaches that optimize metabolic health.
Conclusion: Nutritional epigenomics provides valuable insights into how diet can shape the epigenome and influence metabolic health. Evidence indicates that dietary interventions can induce both beneficial and detrimental epigenetic changes, affecting gene expression, inflammation, and metabolic pathways. Emerging areas, including the gut microbiome, intergenerational effects, and personalized nutrition, offer promising avenues for preventing and managing metabolic diseases. However, further research is needed to clarify the long-term impacts of diet-induced epigenetic changes and to translate these findings into practical dietary strategies. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms could pave the way for precision nutrition interventions, ultimately reducing the global burden of metabolic disorders