Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Metabolic Gene Expression in Smokers: An Integrative Transcriptomic Approach.

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Cigarette smoking significantly disrupts cellular energy metabolism, posing a global health challenge.
• The Mediterranean diet, rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, may influence metabolic pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between Mediterranean diet adherence and energy metabolism gene expression in smokers aged 18-55.
• To understand how dietary patterns modulate smoking-induced metabolic changes.

Main Methods:

• Smokers (n=48) were grouped by Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) scores.
• Gene expression analysis of energy metabolism pathways was conducted using RT-qPCR.
• Pathway enrichment and gene-metabolite analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• Smoking upregulated genes in glycolysis, lipid, amino acid metabolism, and redox regulation, indicating metabolic stress.
• Mediterranean diet adherence correlated with reduced expression of glycolytic and lipid metabolism genes.
• Adherence was linked to increased tricarboxylic acid cycle activity and reduced redox processes.

Conclusions:

• Mediterranean diet adherence influences energy metabolism gene expression in smokers.
• Dietary patterns may play a role in modulating smoking-related metabolic alterations.