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Epigenetic reprogramming in metabolic disorders: nutritional factors and beyond
Zhiyong Cheng1, Louise Zheng1, Fabio A Almeida2
1Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Fralin Translational Obesity Research Center, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
Environmental factors like poor diet and inactivity cause metabolic disorders. Lifestyle changes can reverse these epigenetic changes, offering hope for managing conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics and Metabolic Health
- Human Physiology and Disease
Background:
- Environmental factors (malnutrition, inactivity) drive metabolic disorders (obesity, type 2 diabetes, NAFLD).
- Metabolic abnormalities are linked to epigenetic alterations: DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNAs.
- Lifestyle interventions (diet, physical activity) can reverse epigenetic and metabolic changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review human studies linking DNA methylation reprogramming to metabolic health.
- To focus on cross-tissue epigenetic markers and mechanistic mediators.
- To explore the potential of epigenetic traits for disease risk prediction and intervention response.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent human studies.
- Analysis of cross-tissue epigenetic markers (liver, muscle, pancreas, adipose, blood).
- Investigation of mechanistic mediators of epigenetic reprogramming.
Main Results:
- DNA methylation reprogramming is central to metabolic derangements and improvements.
- Epigenetic markers show cross-tissue relevance in metabolic diseases.
- Epigenetic traits may predict disease risk and response to lifestyle interventions.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic modifications are key players in metabolic disorders.
- Lifestyle interventions offer a pathway to reverse detrimental epigenetic changes.
- Further research is needed to address challenges and explore future directions in epigenetic studies of metabolic diseases.
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