Abstract:Epigenetics describe heritable changes to the genome without changes to the DNA sequence itself. Epigenetic marks include DNA methylation and histone modifications, and epigenetic molecules include microRNAs. Epigenetic mechanisms modulate gene expression and so regulate many cellular processes such as cell proliferation and cell death. As a consequence, changes to the epigenome may have consequences for the function of cells, tissues and organs and may modify the risk of developing disease. Epigenetic marks a… Show more
“…One important epigenetic alteration is the methylation of DNA in and around promotor regions, which results in reduced or suppressed gene transcription and can be reversed or unmethylated. These epigenetic modifications are essential to normal biological functioning but may also be the result of environmental exposures including diet and bioactive compounds [ 37 ]. A growing body of literature has shown that both beneficial and harmful epigenetic changes can result from various dietary exposures [ 38 ].…”
Section: The Anatomy Of Gene–diet Interactionsmentioning
Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data are now quickly and inexpensively acquired, raising the prospect of creating personalized dietary recommendations based on an individual’s genetic variability at multiple SNPs. However, relatively little is known about most specific gene–diet interactions, and many molecular and clinical phenotypes of interest (e.g., body mass index [BMI]) involve multiple genes. In this review, we discuss direct to consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT) and the current potential for precision nutrition based on an individual’s genetic data. We review important issues such as dietary exposure and genetic architecture addressing the concepts of penetrance, pleiotropy, epistasis, polygenicity, and epigenetics. More specifically, we discuss how they complicate using genotypic data to predict phenotypes as well as response to dietary interventions. Then, several examples (including caffeine sensitivity, alcohol dependence, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity/appetite, cardiovascular, Alzheimer’s disease, folate metabolism, long-chain fatty acid biosynthesis, and vitamin D metabolism) are provided illustrating how genotypic information could be used to inform nutritional recommendations. We conclude by examining ethical considerations and practical applications for using genetic information to inform dietary choices and the future role genetics may play in adopting changes beyond population-wide healthy eating guidelines.
“…One important epigenetic alteration is the methylation of DNA in and around promotor regions, which results in reduced or suppressed gene transcription and can be reversed or unmethylated. These epigenetic modifications are essential to normal biological functioning but may also be the result of environmental exposures including diet and bioactive compounds [ 37 ]. A growing body of literature has shown that both beneficial and harmful epigenetic changes can result from various dietary exposures [ 38 ].…”
Section: The Anatomy Of Gene–diet Interactionsmentioning
Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data are now quickly and inexpensively acquired, raising the prospect of creating personalized dietary recommendations based on an individual’s genetic variability at multiple SNPs. However, relatively little is known about most specific gene–diet interactions, and many molecular and clinical phenotypes of interest (e.g., body mass index [BMI]) involve multiple genes. In this review, we discuss direct to consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT) and the current potential for precision nutrition based on an individual’s genetic data. We review important issues such as dietary exposure and genetic architecture addressing the concepts of penetrance, pleiotropy, epistasis, polygenicity, and epigenetics. More specifically, we discuss how they complicate using genotypic data to predict phenotypes as well as response to dietary interventions. Then, several examples (including caffeine sensitivity, alcohol dependence, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity/appetite, cardiovascular, Alzheimer’s disease, folate metabolism, long-chain fatty acid biosynthesis, and vitamin D metabolism) are provided illustrating how genotypic information could be used to inform nutritional recommendations. We conclude by examining ethical considerations and practical applications for using genetic information to inform dietary choices and the future role genetics may play in adopting changes beyond population-wide healthy eating guidelines.
“…That regulation is provided, in part, by the cell's epigenetic machinery. Epigenetics describes heritable changes to the genome without changes to the DNA sequence per se [1] .In cancers and many other diseases, abnormal patterns of gene expression are associated with methylation of the promoter regions of specific genes leading to loss of function of the corresponding gene.…”
Section: Epigenetics – the Basicsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…This is an emerging field and much remains to be discovered but it appears that the chemically modified nucleosides in RNA play an important role in RNA homeostasis by regulating the amounts and activities of particular RNA species [4] . So far, little is known about whether, or how, environmental factors, such as diet, influence the epitranscriptomic landscape [1] but a potential link with obesity is discussed below.…”
Epigenetics-the basics Every nucleated cell in the human body contains approximately three billion base pairs (bp) of DNA and the DNA in each of these cells is exactly the same. The particular sequence of bases in the DNA for any individual was determined at conception and, except for monozygotic (identical) twins, each of us is genetically unique. From that fertilised egg onwards, at each cell division, our unique DNA sequence was copied faithfully to the next generation of cells. This means that each of our cells has the potential (the DNA blueprint) to make any of our proteins and to carry out any of our cellular functions. All cells express some genes in common i.e. the so-called 'house-keeping' genes that encode the proteins that are needed to maintain the basic functions of all cells e.g. transporting in oxygen and nutrients, generating ATP to fuel the work of the cell and exporting waste products. However, a liver cell is very different from a bone cell and since the work done John C. Mathers of Newcastle University explains how gene expression is regulated in the body and discusses how diet may induce heritable changes to the genome.
“…It is the nutrition that interacts with each individual's genetic makeup to modulate mental health throughout the life course. The interactions between nutrition and genetics are mediated by epigenetic marks and molecules, which have a central role in the causal pathways between diet, genotype, and phenotype (Figure1) [8].…”
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