Epigenetics is the branch of science that studies changes in gene expression that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence, but are also hereditary. It examines disorders that occur when environmental factors such as lifestyle, eating habits and sports reduce or increase the activity of genes. In other words, they are situations caused by genes working too much or not working enough, without any change in the DNA sequence. As a result of research conducted in the last decade, it has been understood that epigenetic events have very important effects, especially in highly organized living things.
Epigenetic phenomenon plays an important role in the changes in gene expression that occur during cell differentiation, especially observed in the developmental process of living things from embryo to adult. These changes in gene expression occur when the gene is suppressed or activated and DNA is selectively packaged into different chromatin structures in different epigenetic states. The two most studied types of epigenetic phenomena are DNA methylation and histone modifications. These two events are thought to be interconnected and reversible.
Epigenetic modifications provide a potential link between nutrition during critical periods of growth and changes in gene expression that can lead to disease. Therefore, epigenetic marks are considered to provide a mechanistic link between environment, nutrition and diseases. Nutrients and bioactive food components can influence epigenetic phenomena either by directly inhibiting enzymes that catalyze DNA methylation and histone modification or by altering the available substrates required for all enzymatic reactions.
For example, folate found in green tea leaves, cinnamic acid found in coffee, cereal grains, plums and kiwi fruits, phenols such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) obtained from green tea, resveratrol found in red grapes and their products, Isothiocyanate and sulforaphane found in cruciferous vegetables, lignans in flaxseed, selenium and some vitamins are considered epigenetic nutrients.
Regular functioning of the living body ensures that DNA is maintained in a stable manner. and that gene expression does not change unnaturally, in other words, it remains the same. These changes can cause chemical or metabolic mutations and modifications, leading to cytotoxic and carcinogenic effects (Portela and Esteller, 2010).
Hereditary changes that occur in gene expression independently of the DNA sequence are called "epigenetics". This term was defined by Conrad Waddington in the 1940s as "the branch of science that studies how the genotype creates the phenotype during development" (Dolinoy, 2007; Waddington 1940). Today, this term is defined as "changes in gene function that can be inherited by mitosis and/or meiosis and cannot be explained by the DNA sequence" (Youngson and Whitelaw, 2008). Some of these changes may be acquired throughout life, some may be reversible, but are partially stable (Bishop and Ferguson, 2015). Studies have revealed the existence of a relationship between people's nutritional habits and gene expression changes that cause epigenetic changes.
It has been shown that the nutritional status of the mother and the nutritional habits of the father, especially during pregnancy, play a role in the emergence of non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and cancer) in unborn children (Supic et al., 2013; van Dijk et al., 2015) It is known that the incidence of diseases due to epigenetic changes, especially cardiovascular diseases and obesity, can be reduced, and the occurrence of epigenetic changes that lead to cancer can be prevented by eating foods containing compounds such as selenium, vitamin E, zinc, omega 3, α-linoleic acid, polyphenol, folic acid and isothiocinate. .
These supplements contain prescription medications that should only be administered by a doctor. It should be applied after examination and, if deemed necessary, tests.
Read: 0
