The role of nutrition on epigenetic modifications and their implications on health

• Published in: Biochimie Vol. 94; no. 11; pp. 2242 - 2263
• Main Authors: Jiménez-Chillarón, Josep C., Díaz, Rubén, Martínez, Débora, Pentinat, Thais, Ramón-Krauel, Marta, Ribó, Sílvia, Plösch, Torsten
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier B.V 01-11-2012
• Subjects: Animals; Caloric restriction; Developmental origins of health and disease; Diet; Dietary Transitions; Epigenesis, Genetic; Epigenomics; Health; Humans; Metabolic syndrome; Nutritional epigenomics; Dietary Transitions; Nutritional epigenomics; Metabolic syndrome; Developmental origins of health and disease; Caloric restriction
• ISSN: 0300-9084; 1638-6183
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2012.06.012

Nutrition plays a key role in many aspects of health and dietary imbalances are major determinants of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer. Adequate nutrition is particularly essential during critical periods in early life (both pre- and postnatal). In this regard, there is extensive epidemiologic and experimental data showing that early sub-optimal nutrition can have health consequences several decades later.
The hypothesis that epigenetic mechanisms may link such nutritional imbalances with altered disease risk has been gaining acceptance over recent years. Epigenetics can be defined as the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence. Epigenetic marks include DNA methylation, histone modifications and a variety of non-coding RNAs. Strikingly, they are plastic and respond to environmental signals, including diet. Here we will review how dietary factors modulate the establishment and maintenance of epigenetic marks, thereby influencing gene expression and, hence, disease risk and health.
► Epigenetic marks are plastic and respond to environmental signals, including diet. ► Nutritional modulation of the epigenome influences disease risk and health. ► Dietary factors might be good pharmacological tools aimed to target the epigenome.