Nutrition and Epigenetics: Nutrient-influenced epigenetic modifications and their impact on health and disease development.

Abstract

Introduction: Epigenetics investigates heritable modifications that regulate gene expression without altering DNA, such as methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA. Factors like diet influence these mechanisms and impact chronic disease risk. This article aims to provide an updated overview of the effect of specific nutrients on epigenetic mechanisms and their relationship with pathologies like cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding this interaction will enable the design of preventive and therapeutic nutritional strategies.  Results: Nutrients such as folic acid, methionine, choline, vitamin B12, polyphenols, and omega-3s modulate epigenetic processes. C1 metabolism, mediated by folates, is critical for synthesizing methyl groups essential for DNA methylation; its deficiency is linked to hypomethylation, neural tube defects, and metabolic dysregulation. Methionine regulates the production of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which is associated with genomic stability, and its moderate restriction reduces tumor growth. Bioactive compounds (polyphenols, omega-3s) inhibit enzymes like DNMT and HDAC, regulate microRNA, and activate sirtuins (e.g., resveratrol), promoting protective gene expression. The interaction between choline and gut microbiota also influences the gut-brain axis and neuropsychiatric disorders. Conclusions: Nutrition influences epigenetic mechanisms, modulating gene expression and affecting chronic disease risk (e.g., cancer, diabetes). Nutrients and bioactive compounds in balanced diets promote epigenetic health. Personalized nutrition, integrating basic and clinical research with sustainable, multidisciplinary strategies, optimizes interventions tailored to individual needs.