Table 2.

Summary of evidence supporting the hypothesis.

Postulate	Evidence	References
CAUSE: LOW PTEN DUE TO:
1. Specific nutritional deficiency reduces PTEN expression in tissues & offspring	Experimental data with low protein, methionine and choline diets.	(25, 30, 32, 46)
2.This effect is through epigenetic pathway	Experimental data shows upregulation of DNMT3a.	(27, 31)
EFFECT: LOW PTEN CAN LEAD TO:
1. Obesity	Seen in Cowden syndrome.	(78)
	HFD causes obesity with PTEN deleted models.	(39, 101)
	Hypermethylated (downregulated) PTEN is associated with metabolic syndrome.	(116, 117)
2. Fatty liver (NAFLD)	Liver specific deletion causes fatty liver.	(97, 100)
3.Cancer	Tumor suppressor gene.	(130, 131)
	Low expression in multiple obesity related cancers (ORCs).	(52, 53, 62, 133, 134)
4.PCOS	Deletion in theca-interstitial cells leads to features of PCOS.	(154)