Epigenetic Modifications as Outcomes of Exercise Interventions Related to Specific Metabolic Alterations: A Systematic Review

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Chronic diseases arise as a consequence of an unhealthy lifestyle primarily characterized by physical inactivity and unbalanced diets. Regular physical activity can improve health, and there is consistent evidence that these improvements may be the result of epigenetic modifications. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To identify epigenetic modifications<b><i></i></b>as outcomes of exercise interventions related to specific metabolic alterations. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) methodology for manuscript research and preparation was followed using PubMed and EBSCO databases for literature review. Out of 2,638 articles identified, only 34 articles met the inclusion criteria. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The sections of the review were organized by metabolic alterations in which studies were grouped according to healthy, diseased, and trained individuals. Resistance exercise in humans induced epigenetic changes in pathways associated with energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity, contributing to healthy skeletal muscle. Endurance exercise also caused modifications in biomarkers associated to metabolic alterations through changes in DNA methylation and the expression of specific miRNAs. However, both resistance and endurance exercise are necessary to obtain a better physiological adaptation and a combination of both seems to be needed to properly tackle the increasing prevalence of non-communicable pathologies. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Given the heterogeneity and complexity of the existing literature, it is currently not possible to propose a specific recommendation about the type, intensity, or duration of exercise that could be beneficial for different subsets of the population (healthy, diseased, and/or trained). Nevertheless, this review highlights the importance of exercise for health and shows the need to perform more research in this emerging area to identify epigenetic biomarkers that could serve as indicators of exercise adaptations.

Epigenetic signatures underlying inflammation: an interplay of nutrition, physical activity, metabolic diseases, and environmental factors for personalized nutrition

“…Additionally, acute strenuous exercise (consisting of stepping up and down from a step until complete exhaustion) led to enhanced chronic low-grade inflammation in PBMCs from obese individuals via an imbalance on Histone H4 Acetylation/Histone Deacetylase 2 as compared to lean subjects [65]. Together, these findings suggest that the impact of physical activity in inflammation is dependent of type, intensity, and clinical settings of exercise interventions [54].…”

“…Studies have shown that some physical exercise may exert anti-inflammatory effects through epigenetic regulation depending on the type of activity, exercise duration, body composition, gender, and age [54]. However, excessive physical activity (i.e.…”

“…However, excessive physical activity (i.e. in 10-km marathons, or treadmill runs for 120 min followed by a 5-km time trial in a fasted condition) can also induce inflammation [54]. Thus, in a population-based cohort study, substituting light-intensity physical activity (< 3 METs; acceleration intensities 1-3) for sedentary time was associated with higher methylation of the ASC gene, a potential biomarker of systemic inflammation [55].…”

Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism and Oxidative Stress in Human Peripheral Blood Cells: Can Physical Activity Reactivate the Proteasome System through Epigenetic Mechanisms?

“…Furthermore, aerobic exercise has been shown to upregulate UPS in healthy mice [ 37 ]. Also, all epigenetic agents are strictly influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors, including physical exercise [ 38 – 41 ].…”

Physical exercise and the patient with schizophrenia

“…5 Evidence exists, not only for the benefit of physical exercise as an epigenetic modulator of brain plasticity and cognition, 7,14 but also for somatic disturbances such as exercise-induced epigenetic modifications in genes related to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, inflammation, cardiovascular disease and obesity. 15 The aim of this article is to provide general practitioners (GPs) and primary healthcare workers with an overview of the benefits of physical exercise as an add-on therapy to pharmacological intervention for patients with schizophrenia.…”