Polyphenols, epigenetics, and methionine metabolism: unlocking therapeutic potential

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Epigenetics
• Metabolomics
• Functional Foods

Background:

• Polyphenols are bioactive compounds in plant-based foods.
• Epigenetic modifications are sensitive to dietary signals.
• The methionine cycle is vital for cellular methylation homeostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of dietary polyphenols in modulating the methionine cycle.
• To explore how polyphenols impact epigenetic modifications.
• To highlight the potential of polyphenols in disease prevention and precision nutrition.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on polyphenols, epigenetics, and methionine metabolism.
• Analysis of mechanisms by which polyphenols influence the methionine cycle.
• Examination of the role of gut microbiota in polyphenol biotransformation and epigenetic effects.

Main Results:

• Dietary polyphenols modulate DNA, histone, and RNA methylation via the methionine cycle.
• Polyphenols regulate methionine adenosyltransferase activity, SAM biosynthesis, and S-adenosylhomocysteine clearance.
• Polyphenol metabolites produced by gut microbiota further influence epigenetic modifications.

Conclusions:

• Dietary polyphenols act as functional food supplements influencing methionine metabolic homeostasis and epigenetic modification.
• These findings offer new perspectives for precision nutrition strategies.
• Polyphenols hold potential for the development of functional foods and chronic disease prevention.