Table 3.
Key dietary factors with associated epigenetic metabolic effects.
| Nutritional Factors | Potential Epigenetic Mechanisms | Associated Metabolic Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Caloric restriction/undernutrition | DNA methylation Histone modifications miRNA |
Increased risk of obesity and metabolic disorders (including insulin resistance and diabetes) in adulthood |
| Fatty Acids | ||
| Unsaturated FA (MUFA, n-3 PUFA) |
DNA methylation Histone modifications miRNA |
Prevention of metabolic derangements (lipid metabolism disturbances, inflammation, and insulin resistance) or chronic diseases (obesity, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, CVD risk and some types of cancer) (Becerra, 2019) |
| n-6 PUFA, Saturated and trans FA | DNA methylation Histone modifications miRNA |
Associated with the presence or development of obesity, diabetes, inflammatory profile, atherosclerosis, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, lipid alterations, lipotoxicity, dysregulation of lipid metabolism, and abnormal lipid accumulation (Becerra, 2019) |
| SCFA | DNA methylation Histone modifications Interaction with Gut Microbiome |
Mixed effects |
| Methyl donors (e.g., folate, methionine, choline) * | DNA methylation | Increased risk of metabolic disorders including insulin resistance, diabetes and obesity |
| Probiotics/Fibers | Production of SCFA (same as SCFA) | Same as SCFA |
| Vitamins and minerals (e.g., retinol, ascorbate, tocopherol) | DNA methylation Histone modifications |
Antioxidant effects |
| Polyphenols and other plant compounds | Inhibition of DNA hypermethylation Histone modification miRNA |
May protect against carcinogenesis and obesity on adulthood |
| Dietary Patterns | ||
| High fat diet/Western diet | DNA methylation of obesity related genes leading to changes in genes expression and appetite regulation | - Imbalance in fatty acids causing oxidative stress and inflammatory state - Increased risk of obesity and metabolic disorders (including insulin resistance and diabetes) in adulthood |
| Mediterranean diet | DNA methylation | Protective against CVD risk and cancer |
| Intermittent Fasting | Improve the expression of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory genes | May be protective against oxidative stress |