Epigenetics in Adipose Tissue, Obesity, Weight Loss, and Diabetes

Abstract

Given the role that diet and other environmental factors play in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes, the implication of different epigenetic processes is being investigated. Although it is well known that external factors can cause cell type-dependent epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation, histone tail modifications, and chromatin remodeling, the regulation of these processes, the magnitude of the changes and the cell types in which they occur, the individuals more predisposed, and the more crucial stages of life remain to be elucidated. There is evidence that obese and diabetic people have a pattern of epigenetic marks different from nonobese and nondiabetic individuals. The main long-term goals in this field are the identification and understanding of the role of epigenetic marks that could be used as early predictors of metabolic risk and the development of drugs or diet-related treatments able to delay these epigenetic changes and even reverse them. But weight gain and insulin resistance/diabetes are influenced not only by epigenetic factors; different epigenetic biomarkers have also been identified as early predictors of weight loss and the maintenance of body weight after weight loss. The characterization of all the factors that are able to modify the epigenetic signatures and the determination of their real importance are hindered by the following factors: the magnitude of change produced by dietary and environmental factors is small and cumulative; there are great differences among cell types; and there are many factors involved, including age, with multiple interactions between them. Adv. Nutr. 5: 71-81, 2014.

Dopamine gene methylation patterns are associated with obesity markers and carbohydrate intake

“…Not surprisingly, many epigenetic mechanisms can be implicated in the development of excessive adiposity and associated metabolic risk, including those affecting DA function (Martínez, Milagro, Claycombe, & Schalinske, 2014). In this context, epigenetic modifications at genes involved in DA signaling transmission may help to explain putative relationships between brain reward circuitries, eating behaviors, and body weight status.…”

Providing healthy diets for young children: the experience of parents in a UK inner city

“…The significant and abiding consequences of obesity are widely evidenced and include physical co-morbidities such as diabetes and heart disease (Huang et al, 2015; Martinez, Milagro, Claycombe, & Schalinske, 2014). In addition, associations between obesity, particularly in childhood, and psychological disorders such as depression and emotional and behavioural disorders have been found (Rankin et al, 2016; Yang, Donaldson, Marshall, Shen, & Iacovitti, 2004).…”

Role of maternal vitamins in programming health and chronic disease

“…77 Infants born to mothers who conceived during the nutrient-dense rainy season rather than the dry season had higher rates of DNA methylation that were consistent with the nutritional status of the mother. In addition to findings from human studies, a plethora of evidence from animal models has shown that aberrant DNA methylation patterns due to under-or overnutrition in early life modifies expression of critical genes within homeostatic, [78][79][80] nonhomeostatic, 32,81 and peripheral [82][83][84] regulatory systems, thereby contributing to long-term negative consequence in metabolic health.…”