FIG. 8.

Pharmacological and nutritional interventions of epigenetic defects. Epigenetic defects can occur in response to environmental stress (e.g., malnutrition and heat stress), abnormal endocrine status, and abnormal levels of metabolites in the body. Chemically synthesized drugs (e.g., 5'-azacytidine as an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase), physiological metabolites (e.g., butyrate as an inhibitor of histone deacetylase), specific nutrients (e.g., amino acids and vitamins), or bioactive phytochemicals may be used to prevent and treat epimutations.