Genes and Diet in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases in Future Generations

Paternal trans fatty acid and vitamin E diet affect the expression pattern of androgen signaling pathway genes in the testis of rat offspring

Numerous studies have shown that an improper diet in parents has a negative impact on offspring's health. Furthermore, the negative effects of trans fatty acids (TFA) in maternal diets on fertility and health and their impact on future generations have been documented. However, there is limited research on the negative effects of TFA in paternal diets on male children. The current work used qRT-PCR to investigate the effects of trans fatty acids and vitamin E in the paternal diet on the expression pattern of androgen signaling pathway genes such as STAR, CYP11a1, HSD3B, SRD5a2, and SCARB1 in offspring testes. In this experiment, parental rats were randomly separated into four groups, each with ten father rats, and were fed for eight weeks (60 days) as follows. 1: Standard diet group plus liquid sunflower oil (control). 2: Standard diet group containing trans fatty acids (CTH). 3: The regular diet group received 2.5 times the recommended quantity of vitamin E supplement. 4: Standard diet group with vitamin E and trans fatty acid supplementation (ETH). The testis tissue samples from 35 offspring were then used. Following RNA extraction from tissues and cDNA synthesis, quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate the expression levels of androgen signaling pathway genes such as STAR, CYP11A1, HSD3B, SCARB1, and SRD5A2. Our findings showed that the expression of CYP11A1 was considerably reduced in the progeny of paternal rats given ETH compared to the CTH group. The expression levels of the STAR gene were significantly lower in the progeny of paternal rats administered TFA, ETH, and vitamin E compared to the controls. Although the CTH group had lower SCARB1 expression than the other groups, the difference was not statistically significant. Paternal vitamin E consumption substantially affected SRD5A2 expression when compared to offspring of paternal rats fed vitamin E + trans fatty acid or those fed a conventional diet containing trans fatty acid. Furthermore, the vitamin E group showed a statistically significant increase in HSD3B expression compared to the other groups. Bioinformatics analyses, such as protein-protein interaction networks and gene ontology term enrichment, revealed that these genes play roles in lipid biosynthesis, hormone metabolism, male sex differentiation, reproductive development, and steroid biosynthesis. Our data indicate that paternal trans fatty acid consumption influences the expression of particular androgen signaling pathway genes in offspring testis, with vitamin E potentially mitigating some of these effects.

Observational methods for human studies of transgenerational effects

There are substantial challenges in studying human transgenerational epigenetic outcomes resulting from environmental conditions. The task requires specialized methods and tools that incorporate specific knowledge of multigenerational relationship combinations of probands and their ancestors, phenotype data for individuals, environmental information of ancestors and their descendants, which can span historical to present datasets, and informative environmental data that chronologically aligns with ancestors and descendants over space and time. As a result, there are few epidemiologic studies of potential transgenerational effects in human populations, thus limiting the knowledge of ancestral environmental conditions and the potential impacts we face with modern human health outcomes. In an effort to overcome some of the challenges in studying human transgenerational effects, we present two transgenerational study designs: transgenerational space-time cluster detection and transgenerational case-control study design. Like other epidemiological methods, these methods determine whether there are statistical associations between phenotypic outcomes (e.g., adverse health outcomes) among probands and the shared environments and environmental factors facing their ancestors. When the ancestor is a paternal grandparent, a statistically significant association provides some evidence that a transgenerational inheritable factor may be involved. Such results may generate useful hypotheses that can be explored using epigenomic data to establish conclusive evidence of transgenerational heritable effects. Both methods are proband-centric: They are designed around the phenotype of interest in the proband generation for case selection and family pedigree creation. In the examples provided, we incorporate at least three generations of paternal lineage in both methods to observe a potential transgenerational effect.

Dawn-to-dusk intermittent fasting is associated with overexpression of autophagy genes: A prospective study on overweight and obese cohort

AIM AND BACKGROUND

A growing body of evidence supports the impact of intermittent fasting (IF) on longevity and healthy aging via the modulation of autophagy genes. The activation of the catabolic autophagic machinery (LAMP2, LC3B, ATG5, and ATG4D) has protective effects against degenerative aging and chronic diseases. This research examined the changes in the expression of the aforementioned genes upon the observance of dawn-to-dusk IF among metabolically healthy participants with overweight and obesity.

METHODS

Fifty-one (51) participants (36 males and 15 females, 38.84 ± 11.73 years) with overweight and obesity (BMI = 29.75 ± 5.04 kg/m2) were recruited and monitored before and at the end of the commencement of the four-week IF. Six healthy subjects with normal BMI (21.4 ± 2.20 kg/m2) were recruited only to standardize the reference for normal levels of gene expressions. At the two time points, anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary assessments were performed, and LAMP2, LC3B, ATG5, and ATG4D gene expressions were assessed using qRT-PCR on RNA extracted from whole blood samples.

RESULTS

At the end of IF, and compared to the pre-fasting levels, the relative gene expressions among participants with overweight/obesity were significantly increased for the three autophagy genes LAMP2, LC3B, and ATG5, with increments of about 4.2 folds, 1.9-fold, and 1.4-fold, respectively. In contrast, the increase in the ATG4D gene was not significant. Concomitantly, significant decreases were found in body weight, BMI, fat mass, body fat percent, hip and waist circumferences, LDL, IL-6, and TNF-a (P < 0.05), While HDL, IL-10, and CD163 significantly increased (P < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis for genetic expressions showed no significant association between high-energy intake, waist circumference, or obesity and the four gene expressions.

CONCLUSIONS

Four consecutive weeks of dawn-to-dusk IF of Ramadan is associated with the upregulation of autophagy gene expressions in participants with overweight/obesity, and this may explain, at least in part, its favorable short-term temporal metabolic and health-improving effects on early aging-related markers. Hence, IF presumably may entail a protective impact against early markers of aging and metabolic diseases in participants with overweight/obesity.

From Mother to Child: Epigenetic Signatures of Hyperglycemia and Obesity during Pregnancy

BACKGROUND

In utero exposure to maternal hyperglycemia and obesity can trigger detrimental effects in the newborn through epigenetic programming. We aimed to assess the DNA methylation levels in the promoters of MC4R and LPL genes from maternal blood, placenta, and buccal swab samples collected in children born to mothers with and without obesity and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

A total of 101 Caucasian mother-infant pairs were included in this study. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical parameters, physical activity, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were evaluated in the third trimester of pregnancy. Clinical parameters of the newborns were recorded at birth.

RESULTS

A negative relationship between MC4R DNA methylation on the fetal side of the GDM placenta and birth weight (r = -0.630, p = 0.011) of newborns was found. MC4R DNA methylation level was lower in newborns of GDM women (CpG1: 2.8% ± 3.0%, CpG2: 3.8% ± 3.3%) as compared to those of mothers without GDM (CpG1: 6.9% ± 6.2%, CpG2: 6.8% ± 5.6%; p < 0.001 and p = 0.0033, respectively), and it was negatively correlated with weight (r = -0.229; p = 0.035), head circumference (r = -0.236; p = 0.030), and length (r = -0.240; p = 0.027) at birth. LPL DNA methylation was higher on the fetal side of the placenta in obese patients as compared to normal-weight patients (66.0% ± 14.4% vs. 55.7% ± 15.2%, p = 0.037), and it was associated with maternal total cholesterol (r = 0.770, p = 0.015) and LDL-c (r = 0.783, p = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the role of maternal MC4R and LPL methylation in fetal programming and in the future metabolic health of children.

The nutritional metabolic risk index as a predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: A national cohort study

BACKGROUND

Recent studies show that malnutrition increases all-cause mortality by 1.11 times and cardiovascular mortality by 2.60 times. Similarly, metabolic syndrome raises overall mortality by 40% and cardiovascular mortality by 37%. This research assesses the Nutritional Metabolic Risk Index (NMRI) for predicting these mortality risks.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 14,209 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2018, where the NMRI was calculated based on the ratio of GNRI to TyG-WHtR. The relationship between NMRI and mortality was investigated using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression models, with restricted cubic splines (RCS) employed to examine non-linear associations. The predictive capabilities of NMRI, GNRI, and TyG-WHtR for mortality were assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up period of 89 months, there were 1358 all-cause deaths and 345 cardiovascular deaths recorded. Cox regression analysis indicated that each unit increase in NMRI was associated with an 8% reduction in all-cause mortality risk and a 15% reduction in cardiovascular mortality risk. RCS analysis found a nonlinear negative correlation between NMRI and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. NMRI demonstrated superior predictive accuracy for all-cause mortality (AUC: 0.696, 95% CI: 0.682-0.710) and cardiovascular mortality (AUC: 0.713, 95% CI: 0.689-0.737) compared to GNRI and TyG-WHtR (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The NMRI is inversely associated with the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in American adults.

Prenatal Nutritional Factors and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Narrative Review

According to the DSM-5, neurodevelopmental disorders represent a group of heterogeneous conditions, with onset during the developmental period, characterized by an alteration of communication and social skills, learning, adaptive behavior, executive functions, and psychomotor skills. These deficits determine an impairment of personal, social, scholastic, or occupational functioning. Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by an increased incidence and a multifactorial etiology, including genetic and environmental components. Data largely explain the role of genetic and environmental factors, also through epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and miRNA. Despite genetic factors, nutritional factors also play a significant role in the pathophysiology of these disorders, both in the prenatal and postnatal period, underscoring that the control of modifiable factors could decrease the incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders. The preventive role of nutrition is widely studied as regards many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, but actually we also know the effects of nutrition on embryonic brain development and the influence of prenatal and preconceptional nutrition in predisposition to various pathologies. These factors are not limited only to a correct caloric intake and a good BMI, but rather to an adequate and balanced intake of macro and micronutrients, the type of diet, and other elements such as exposure to heavy metals. This review represents an analysis of the literature as regards the physiopathological mechanisms by which food influences our state of health, especially in the age of development (from birth to adolescence), through prenatal and preconceptional changes, underlying how controlling these nutritional factors should improve mothers' nutritional state to significantly reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. We searched key words such as "maternal nutrition and neurodevelopmental disorders" on Pubmed and Google Scholar, selecting the main reviews and excluding individual cases. Therefore, nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics teach us the importance of personalized nutrition for good health. So future perspectives may include well-established reference values in order to determine the correct nutritional intake of mothers through food and integration.

DAMP-ing IBD: Extinguish the Fire and Prevent Smoldering

In inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), the most promising therapies targeting cytokines or immune cell trafficking demonstrate around 40% efficacy. As IBD is a multifactorial inflammation of the intestinal tract, a single-target approach is unlikely to solve this problem, necessitating an alternative strategy that addresses its variability. One approach often overlooked by the pharmaceutically driven therapeutic options is to address the impact of environmental factors. This is somewhat surprising considering that IBD is increasingly viewed as a condition heavily influenced by such factors, including diet, stress, and environmental pollution-often referred to as the "Western lifestyle". In IBD, intestinal responses result from a complex interplay among the genetic background of the patient, molecules, cells, and the local inflammatory microenvironment where danger- and microbe-associated molecular patterns (D/MAMPs) provide an adjuvant-rich environment. Through activating DAMP receptors, this array of pro-inflammatory factors can stimulate, for example, the NLRP3 inflammasome-a major amplifier of the inflammatory response in IBD, and various immune cells via non-specific bystander activation of myeloid cells (e.g., macrophages) and lymphocytes (e.g., tissue-resident memory T cells). Current single-target biological treatment approaches can dampen the immune response, but without reducing exposure to environmental factors of IBD, e.g., by changing diet (reducing ultra-processed foods), the adjuvant-rich landscape is never resolved and continues to drive intestinal mucosal dysregulation. Thus, such treatment approaches are not enough to put out the inflammatory fire. The resultant smoldering, low-grade inflammation diminishes physiological resilience of the intestinal (micro)environment, perpetuating the state of chronic disease. Therefore, our hypothesis posits that successful interventions for IBD must address the complexity of the disease by simultaneously targeting all modifiable aspects: innate immunity cytokines and microbiota, adaptive immunity cells and cytokines, and factors that relate to the (micro)environment. Thus the disease can be comprehensively treated across the nano-, meso-, and microscales, rather than with a focus on single targets. A broader perspective on IBD treatment that also includes options to adapt the DAMPing (micro)environment is warranted.

Phenolic Compounds Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Plant-Based Protein Supplements

The study aimed to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of five protein supplements of plant origin. The content and profile of phenolics were determined using the UHPLC-DAD-MS method, while antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH assays) and total phenolic content (TPC) were evaluated using spectrophotometric tests. In the analyzed proteins, twenty-five polyphenols were detected, including eleven phenolic acids, thirteen flavonoids, and one ellagitannin. Hemp protein revealed the highest individual phenolics content and TPC value (1620 μg/g and 1.79 mg GAE/g, respectively). Also, hemp protein showed the highest antioxidant activity determined via ABTS (9.37 μmol TE/g) and DPPH (9.01 μmol TE/g) assays. The contents of p-coumaric acid, m-coumaric acid, kaempferol, rutin, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and TPC value were significantly correlated with antioxidant activity assays. Our findings indicate that plant-based protein supplements are a valuable source of phenols and can also be used in research related to precision medicine, nutrigenetics, and nutrigenomics. This will benefit future health promotion and personalized nutrition in the prevention of chronic diseases.

Individual differences in cephalic-phase insulin response are stable over time and predict glucose tolerance in mice

Oral stimulation by glucose triggers a rapid insulin response, which enhances glucose tolerance. This so-called cephalic-phase insulin response (CPIR) has been documented in many mammal species, but its functional properties are poorly characterized. Here, we studied CPIR in lean C57BL/6 mice. Experiment 1 asked whether the large individual differences in CPIR magnitude were real or reflected experimental noise. We measured CPIR magnitude four times across a period of 30 days in the same mice. The individual differences in CPIR magnitude were remarkably stable across the repeated trials, indicating that they were real. Experiment 2 examined the functional consequences of individual differences in CPIR magnitude. We found that higher CPIR magnitudes contributed to larger postprandial insulin responses and greater glucose tolerance. Experiment 3 examined the observation that the CPIRs in Experiments 1 and 2 were associated with a rapid rise in blood glucose. To determine whether the rapid rise in blood glucose caused the CPIRs, we asked whether mice would generate a CPIR if we prevented cephalic-phase stimulation of beta cells by either delivering the glucose intragastrically or blocking parasympathetic input to the pancreatic beta cells with atropine. The mice subjected to these treatments experienced a rapid rise in blood glucose, but they did not exhibit a CPIR. This indicates that it was the oral glucose stimulation, and not the rise in blood glucose, that triggered the CPIRs in Experiments 1 and 2. We conclude that (i) individual differences in CPIR magnitude are stable over time; (ii) CPIR magnitudes predicted postprandial insulin responses and glucose tolerance; and (iii) a rapid rise in blood glucose is not sufficient to trigger a CPIR in mice.

Association of dietary niacin intake with the prevalence and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Evidence regarding the association between dietary niacin intake and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is limited. Our study investigates the relationship between dietary niacin intake and the prevalance and incidence of COPD in the adult population of the United States, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003 to 2018. Data on niacin intake were extracted through dietary intake interviews. COPD diagnoses were based on lung function, medical history, and medication usage. We analyzed the association between niacin consumption and COPD using multiple logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models. The study included 7055 adult participants, divided into COPD (n = 243; 3.44%) and non-COPD (n = 6812; 96.56%) groups. Those with COPD had lower average niacin intake (21.39 ± 0.62 mg/day) compared to the non-COPD group (25.29 ± 0.23 mg/day, p < 0.001). In the adjusted multivariable model, the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for COPD in the highest versus lowest quartile of dietary niacin intake were 0.55 (0.33 to 0.89, P for trend = 0.009). Subgroup analysis, after adjustment for various variables, revealed no significant interaction effects. Dietary niacin intake was inversely associated with COPD prevalence in US adults. Participants with the highest dietary niacin intake demonstrated the lowest odds of COPD. The potential of dietary niacin supplementation as a strategy to mitigate COPD warrants further investigation.

Precision Medicine in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Utility and Limitations

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most widespread diseases in Western countries, and its incidence is constantly increasing. Epidemiological studies have shown that in the next 20 years. The number of subjects affected by T2DM will double. In recent years, owing to the development and improvement in methods for studying the genome, several authors have evaluated the association between monogenic or polygenic genetic alterations and the development of metabolic diseases and complications. In addition, sedentary lifestyle and socio-economic and pandemic factors have a great impact on the habits of the population and have significantly contributed to the increase in the incidence of metabolic disorders, obesity, T2DM, metabolic syndrome, and liver steatosis. Moreover, patients with type 2 diabetes appear to respond to antihyperglycemic drugs. Only a minority of patients could be considered true non-responders. Thus, it appears clear that the main aim of precision medicine in T2DM is to identify patients who can benefit most from a specific drug class more than from the others. Precision medicine is a discipline that evaluates the applicability of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors to disease development. In particular, it evaluated whether these factors could affect the development of diseases and their complications, response to diet, lifestyle, and use of drugs. Thus, the objective is to find prevention models aimed at reducing the incidence of pathology and mortality and therapeutic personalized approaches, to obtain a greater probability of response and efficacy. This review aims to evaluate the applicability of precision medicine for T2DM, a healthcare burden in many countries.

The Epigenetic Legacy of Maternal Protein Restriction: Renal Ptger1 DNA Methylation Changes in Hypertensive Rat Offspring

Nutrient imbalances during gestation are a risk factor for hypertension in offspring. Although the effects of prenatal nutritional deficiency on the development of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood have been extensively documented, its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the precise role and functional significance of epigenetic modifications in the pathogenesis of hypertension. To this end, we integrated methylome and transcriptome data to identify potential salt-sensitive hypertension genes using the kidneys of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) pups exposed to a low-protein diet throughout their fetal life. Maternal protein restriction during gestation led to a positive correlation between DNA hypermethylation of the renal prostaglandin E receptor 1 (Ptger1) CpG island and high mRNA expression of Ptger1 in offspring, which is consistently conserved. Furthermore, post-weaning low-protein or high-protein diets modified the Ptger1 DNA hypermethylation caused by fetal malnutrition. Here, we show that this epigenetic variation in Ptger1 is linked to disease susceptibility established during fetal stages and could be reprogrammed by manipulating the postnatal diet. Thus, our findings clarify the developmental origins connecting the maternal nutritional environment and potential epigenetic biomarkers for offspring hypertension. These findings shed light on hypertension prevention and prospective therapeutic strategies.

Precision Nutrition: The Hype Is Exceeding the Science and Evidentiary Standards Needed to Inform Public Health Recommendations for Prevention of Chronic Disease

As dietary guidance for populations shifts from preventing deficiency disorders to chronic disease risk reduction, the biology supporting such guidance becomes more complex due to the multifactorial risk profile of disease and inherent population heterogeneity in the diet-disease relationship. Diet is a primary driver of chronic disease risk, and population-based guidance should account for individual responses. Cascading effects on evidentiary standards for population-based guidance are not straightforward. Precision remains a consideration for dietary guidance to prevent deficiency through the identification of population subgroups with unique nutritional needs. Reducing chronic disease through diet requires greater precision in (a) establishing essential nutrient needs throughout the life cycle in both health and disease; (b) considering effects of nutrients and other food substances on metabolic, immunological, inflammatory, and other physiological responses supporting healthy aging; and (c) considering healthy eating behaviors. Herein we provide a template for guiding population-based eating recommendations for reducing chronic diseases in heterogenous populations.

Plant-Derived Nutraceuticals Involved in Body Weight Control by Modulating Gene Expression

Obesity is the most prevalent health problem in the Western world, with pathological body weight gain associated with numerous co-morbidities that can be the main cause of death. There are several factors that can contribute to the development of obesity, such as diet, sedentary lifestyle, and genetic make-up. Genetic predispositions play an important role in obesity, but genetic variations alone cannot fully explain the explosion of obesity, which is why studies have turned to epigenetics. The latest scientific evidence suggests that both genetics and environmental factors contribute to the rise in obesity. Certain variables, such as diet and exercise, have the ability to alter gene expression without affecting the DNA sequence, a phenomenon known as epigenetics. Epigenetic changes are reversible, and reversibility makes these changes attractive targets for therapeutic interventions. While anti-obesity drugs have been proposed to this end in recent decades, their numerous side effects make them not very attractive. On the other hand, the use of nutraceuticals for weight loss is increasing, and studies have shown that some of these products, such as resveratrol, curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, ginger, capsaicin, and caffeine, can alter gene expression, restoring the normal epigenetic profile and aiding weight loss.

Differential impact of environmental factors on systemic and localized autoimmunity

The influence of environmental factors on the development of autoimmune disease is being broadly investigated to better understand the multifactorial nature of autoimmune pathogenesis and to identify potential areas of intervention. Areas of particular interest include the influence of lifestyle, nutrition, and vitamin deficiencies on autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. In this review, we discuss how particular lifestyles and dietary patterns may contribute to or modulate autoimmunity. We explored this concept through a spectrum of several autoimmune diseases including Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Alopecia Areata (AA) affecting the central nervous system, whole body, and the hair follicles, respectively. A clear commonality between the autoimmune conditions of interest here is low Vitamin D, a well-researched hormone in the context of autoimmunity with pleiotropic immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. While low levels are often correlated with disease activity and progression in MS and AA, the relationship is less clear in SLE. Despite strong associations with autoimmunity, we lack conclusive evidence which elucidates its role in contributing to pathogenesis or simply as a result of chronic inflammation. In a similar vein, other vitamins impacting the development and course of these diseases are explored in this review, and overall diet and lifestyle. Recent work exploring the effects of dietary interventions on MS showed that a balanced diet was linked to improvement in clinical parameters, comorbid conditions, and overall quality of life for patients. In patients with MS, SLE and AA, certain diets and supplements are linked to lower incidence and improved symptoms. Conversely, obesity during adolescence was linked with higher incidence of MS while in SLE it was associated with organ damage. Autoimmunity is thought to emerge from the complex interplay between environmental factors and genetic background. Although the scope of this review focuses on environmental factors, it is imperative to elaborate the interaction between genetic susceptibility and environment due to the multifactorial origin of these disease. Here, we offer a comprehensive review about the influence of recent environmental and lifestyle factors on these autoimmune diseases and potential translation into therapeutic interventions.

Integration of nutrigenomics, melatonin, serotonin and inflammatory cytokines in the pathophysiology of pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus is an important public health problem and has been associated with the development of pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence. The interaction is related to hyperglycemia, and inflammatory and hormonal patterns, which favor functional alterations in different organs and systems. Several genes associated with human diseases have been identified and partially characterized. Most of these genes are known to cause monogenic diseases. However, about 3 % of diseases do not fit the monogenic theory due to the complex interactions between multiple genes and environmental factors, as in chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes. The nutritional, immunological, and hormonal patterns associated with changes in maternal metabolism may influence and contribute to greater susceptibility to urinary tract disorders. However, early systematic reviews have not yielded consistent findings for these associations. This literature review summarizes important new findings from integrating nutrigenomics, hormones, and cytokines in women with Gestational diabetes mellitus and pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence. Changes in maternal metabolism due to hyperglycemia can generate an inflammatory environment with increased inflammatory cytokines. This environment modulated by inflammation can alter tryptophan uptake through food and thus influence the production of serotonin and melatonin. As these hormones seem to have protective effects against smooth muscle dysfunction and to restore the impaired contractility of the detrusor muscle, it is assumed that these changes may favor the onset of urinary incontinence specific to pregnancy.

Diet and Fertility Status: Relevance in Health and Disease

The prevalence of obesity and other metabolic disorders is increasing worldwide [...].

Current challenges and future implications of exploiting the omics data into nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics for personalized diagnosis and nutrition-based care

Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, combined with the omics technologies, are a demanding and an increasingly important field in personalizing nutrition-based care to understand an individual's response to nutrition-guided therapy. Omics is defined as the analysis of the large data sets of the biological system featuring transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics and providing new insights into cell regulation. The effect of combining nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics with omics will give insight into molecular analysis, as human nutrition requirements vary per individual. Omics measures modest intraindividual variability and is critical to exploit these data for use in the development of precision nutrition. Omics, combined with nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, is instrumental in the creation of goals for improving the accuracy of nutrition evaluations. Although dietary-based therapies are provided for various clinical conditions such as inborn errors of metabolism, limited advancement has been done to expand the omics data for a more mechanistic understanding of cellular networks dependent on nutrition-based expression and overall regulation of genes. The greatest challenge remains in the clinical sector to integrate the current data available, overcome the well-established limits of self-reported methods in research, and provide omics data, combined with nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics research, for each individual. Hence, the future seems promising if a design for personalized, nutrition-based diagnosis and care can be implemented practically in the health care sector.

Chrono-Nutrition: Circadian Rhythm and Personalized Nutrition

The human circadian system has a period of approximately 24 h and studies on the consequences of "chornodisruption" have greatly expanded. Lifestyle and environmental factors of modern societies (i.e., artificial lighting, jetlag, shift work, and around-the-clock access to energy-dense food) can induce disruptions of the circadian system and thereby adversely affect individual health. Growing evidence demonstrates a complex reciprocal relationship between metabolism and the circadian system, in which perturbations in one system affect the other one. From a nutritional genomics perspective, genetic variants in clock genes can both influence metabolic health and modify the individual response to diet. Moreover, an interplay between the circadian rhythm, gut microbiome, and epigenome has been demonstrated, with the diet in turn able to modulate this complex link suggesting a remarkable plasticity of the underlying mechanisms. In this view, the study of the impact of the timing of eating by matching elements from nutritional research with chrono-biology, that is, chrono-nutrition, could have significant implications for personalized nutrition in terms of reducing the prevalence and burden of chronic diseases. This review provides an overview of the current evidence on the interactions between the circadian system and nutrition, highlighting how this link could in turn influence the epigenome and microbiome. In addition, possible nutritional strategies to manage circadian-aligned feeding are suggested.

Interactions dietary components with expression level of breast cancer-related genes

Background

Dietary components can influence the effects of genetic background in breast cancer (BC). This review study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary components on the expression level of BC-related genes.

Methods

In this narrative review, Embase, PubMed, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane databases were used to collect the related papers with interactions of BC, genetics, and dietary intake. Appropriate keywords such as BC, gene expression, mutation, nutrient, and diet (alone and together) were applied for data collection.

Results

The association of BC with some genes including the BC1 gene (BRCA1), the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene can be affected by dietary components. Moderate B12 supplementation may be protective against BC in people with the inherited mutation of BRCA. The olive oil may have a protective effect against BC through several mechanisms such as suppressing HER-2 expression. Furthermore, high glycemic index foods may increase the risk of BC by the activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway and the up-regulation of FTO gene expression.

Conclusion

There are interactions between BC, BC-related genes, and dietary intake. Dietary components such as macronutrients, micronutrients, and phytochemicals may regulate the expression level of BC-related genes. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the associations between BC-related genes and diet and to discover the underlying mechanisms.

Nutrition knowledge, food choices and diet quality of genotyped and non-genotyped individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Severe obesity (body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2) and non-communicable diseases, both influenced by diet, have been associated with COVID-19. Genotype-based personalised nutrition advice may improve nutrition knowledge and enhance behaviour change towards better diet quality compared with conventional recommendations. Aim: To investigate the nutrition knowledge, food choices and diet quality in genotyped and non-genotyped individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: One hundred and twenty-three healthy UK adults were recruited using convenience sampling through social networks. The online questionnaire consisted of the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire, the Food Choices Questionnaire, and the EPIC-Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). FFQ was used to calculate participant diet quality with the Diet Quality Index-International and socio-demographic and anthropometric data. Results: Median general nutrition knowledge, diet variety and diet balance scores were higher in genotyped compared with non-genotyped individuals (71.0 ± 11.0 vs. 61.0 ± 15.0, p = <.001, 18.00 ± 5.00 vs. 15.00 ± 5.00, p = .007 and 2.00 ± 4.00 vs. 0.00 ± 2.00, p = .025, respectively). Pooled sample multiple regression showed that health motive positively influenced while familiarity motive negatively influenced diet quality index scores (β = .428, t = 4.822, p = <.001 and β = -.356, t = -4.021, p = .001, respectively). Conclusions: Nutrition knowledge and diet quality indices of balance and variety were higher among genotyped compared with non-genotyped individuals; overall diet quality was similar between groups. This may be due to pandemic-specific factors, such as altered motives of food choice and availability.

Implementation of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Research and Training Activities for Developing Precision Nutrition Strategies in Malaysia

Nutritional epidemiological studies show a triple burden of malnutrition with disparate prevalence across the coexisting ethnicities in Malaysia. To tackle malnutrition and related conditions in Malaysia, research in the new and evolving field of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics is essential. As part of the Gene-Nutrient Interactions (GeNuIne) Collaboration, the Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Research and Training Unit (N2RTU) aims to solve the malnutrition paradox. This review discusses and presents a conceptual framework that shows the pathway to implementing and strengthening precision nutrition strategies in Malaysia. The framework is divided into: (1) Research and (2) Training and Resource Development. The first arm collects data from genetics, genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, gut microbiome, and phenotypic and lifestyle factors to conduct nutrigenetic, nutrigenomic, and nutri-epigenetic studies. The second arm is focused on training and resource development to improve the capacity of the stakeholders (academia, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the food industry) to utilise the findings generated by research in their respective fields. Finally, the N2RTU framework foresees its applications in artificial intelligence and the implementation of precision nutrition through the action of stakeholders.

A perspective on diet, epigenetics and complex diseases: where is the field headed next?

Dietary factors can regulate epigenetic processes during life, modulating the intracellular pools of metabolites necessary for epigenetic reactions and regulating the activity of epigenetic enzymes. Their effects are strong during the prenatal life, when epigenetic patterns are written, allowing organogenesis. However, interactions between diet and the epigenome continue throughout life and likely contribute to the onset and progression of various complex diseases. Here, we review the contribution of dietary factors to the epigenetic changes observed in complex diseases and suggest future steps to better address this issue, focusing on neurobehavioral, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and Type 2 diabetes, cancer and inflammatory skin diseases.

Differential Effect of Fat Intake on Blood Pressure in Healthy Japanese Women with and without the Variant of Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene

A high-fat diet is believed to be a risk factor for hypertension through inducing obesity. It has been reported that variants of the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) and beta-3 adrenergic receptor (B3AR) genes are associated with obesity and blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary fat on blood pressure with or without the variant of the FTO and B3AR genes. A total of 227 healthy Japanese women aged 18 to 64 years were recruited for measurement of nutrient intake and blood pressure. The single nucleotide polymorphism rs9939609 of the FTO gene and rs4994 of the B3AR gene were genotyped. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was applied to investigate the relationship between fat intake and blood pressure. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to determine whether the genotype interacts with fat intake to affect blood pressure. No significant correlations were found between fat intake and either systolic or diastolic blood pressure. A significant negative correlation was found between fat intake and both blood pressures in the FTO-gene-variant group, but not in the normal-FTO-gene group. In hierarchical multiple regression analysis, the interaction of fat intake and the gene variant showed significance, and the change in coefficient of determination (R ²) was significantly increased with increases of the interaction variable. These results indicate that the effect of fat intake on blood pressure may be modified by the variant of the FTO gene such that a high-fat diet intake may be associated with a decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in healthy Japanese women with the FTO variant. Our results did not support the hypothesis that a high-fat diet increases blood pressure.

Impaired Mucosal Homeostasis in Short-Term Fiber Deprivation Is Due to Reduced Mucus Production Rather Than Overgrowth of Mucus-Degrading Bacteria

The gut mucosal environment is key in host health; protecting against pathogens and providing a niche for beneficial bacteria, thereby facilitating a mutualistic balance between host and microbiome. Lack of dietary fiber results in erosion of the mucosal layer, suggested to be a result of increased mucus-degrading gut bacteria. This study aimed to use quantitative analyses to investigate the diet-induced imbalance of mucosal homeostasis. Seven days of fiber-deficiency affected intestinal anatomy and physiology, seen by reduced intestinal length and loss of the colonic crypt-structure. Moreover, the mucus layer was diminished, muc2 expression decreased, and impaired mucus secretion was detected by stable isotope probing. Quantitative microbiome profiling of the gut microbiota showed a diet-induced reduction in bacterial load and decreased diversity across the intestinal tract, including taxa with fiber-degrading and butyrate-producing capabilities. Most importantly, there was little change in the absolute abundance of known mucus-degrading bacteria, although, due to the general loss of taxa, relative abundance would erroneously indicate an increase in mucus degraders. These findings underscore the importance of using quantitative methods in microbiome research, suggesting erosion of the mucus layer during fiber deprivation is due to diminished mucus production rather than overgrowth of mucus degraders.

The epigenetic aging, obesity, and lifestyle

The prevalence of obesity has dramatically increased worldwide over the past decades. Aging-related chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are more prevalent in individuals with obesity, thus reducing their lifespan. Epigenetic clocks, the new metrics of biological age based on DNA methylation patterns, could be considered a reflection of the state of one's health. Several environmental exposures and lifestyle factors can induce epigenetic aging accelerations, including obesity, thus leading to an increased risk of age-related diseases. The insight into the complex link between obesity and aging might have significant implications for the promotion of health and the mitigation of future disease risk. The present narrative review takes into account the interaction between epigenetic aging and obesity, suggesting that epigenome may be an intriguing target for age-related physiological changes and that its modification could influence aging and prolong a healthy lifespan. Therefore, we have focused on DNA methylation age as a clinical biomarker, as well as on the potential reversal of epigenetic age using a personalized diet- and lifestyle-based intervention.

Food for healthier aging: power on your plate

Inflammageing is a persistent low-level inflammatory burden that accompanies age-related dysregulation of the immune system during normative aging and within the diseasome of aging. A healthy diet containing a balanced amount of macronutrients, vitamins and minerals, adequate in calories and rich in poly(phenols), has an essential role in mitigating the effects of inflammageing and extending healthspan through modulation of the activity of a range of factors. These include transcription factors, such as nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-kB), the inflammasome and the activities of the gut microbiota. The aim of this narrative review is to discuss the potential of food to ameliorate the effects of the diseasome of aging.

Influence of epigenetics on periodontitis and peri-implantitis pathogenesis

Periodontitis is a disease characterized by tooth-associated microbial biofilms that drive chronic inflammation and destruction of periodontal-supporting tissues. In some individuals, disease progression can lead to tooth loss. A similar condition can occur around dental implants in the form of peri-implantitis. The immune response to bacterial challenges is not only influenced by genetic factors, but also by environmental factors. Epigenetics involves the study of gene function independent of changes to the DNA sequence and its associated proteins, and represents a critical link between genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetic modifications have been shown to contribute to the progression of several diseases, including chronic inflammatory diseases like periodontitis and peri-implantitis. This review aims to present the latest findings on epigenetic influences on periodontitis and to discuss potential mechanisms that may influence peri-implantitis, given the paucity of information currently available.

A mobile health + health coaching application for the management of chronic non-cancer pain in older adults: Results from a pilot randomized controlled study

Introduction

The rapid growth of mobile health (mHealth) devices holds substantial potential for improving care and care outcomes in aging adults with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), however, research evaluating these devices in older adults remains limited.

Objective

To ascertain the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an mHealth intervention (Mymee) that combines symptom, diet, and behavior tracking via a smartphone application with data analytics to detect associations between symptoms and lifestyle factors along with weekly health coaching sessions to mitigate CNCP in adults 55 years of age and older.

Methods

Participants (N = 31) in this pilot study were recruited from one primary care practice in New York City and randomized to an intervention [app + up to 12 health coaching sessions (scheduled approximately once weekly) + usual care] or a control (app + usual care) arm. Feasibility measures included recruitment (proportion of eligible persons who enrolled) and retention rates (proportion of subjects completing a follow-up assessment) as well as adherence with the weekly coaching sessions and logging daily data on the app. Efficacy outcomes (e.g., pain intensity, self-efficacy, disability, anxiety) were assessed at baseline and follow-up (~16 weeks after baseline). Descriptive statistics were obtained and general linear mixed models used for primary analyses.

Results

Participants had a mean (standard deviation) age of 67.32 (9.17) and were mostly female (61%). Feasibility outcomes were mixed as evidenced by recruitment and retention rates of 74% and 65%, respectively. The mean number of weekly coaching sessions attended by intervention participants was 6.05 (SD = 5.35), while the average number of days logging data on the app was 44.82 (34.02). We found a consistent trend in favor of the intervention, where pain intensity, affect, and quality of life measures improved considerably more among intervention (vs. control) participants. Finally, the proportion of participants with GAD-7 scores at follow up decreased by 0.35 to 0, whereas controls did not change, a significant effect in favor of the intervention (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

This study supports the need for future research that seeks to enhance feasibility outcomes and confirm the efficacy of the Mymee intervention among aging adults with CNCP.

Female infertility and diet, is there a role for a personalized nutritional approach in assisted reproductive technologies? A Narrative Review

Female infertility is a major public health concern and a global challenge. It is a disorder of the reproductive system, defined as the inability to achieve a clinical pregnancy. Nutrition and other environmental factors are found to impact reproductive health in women as well as the outcome of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Dietary factors, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), fiber as well as the intake of Mediterranean diet appear to exert beneficial effects on female reproductive outcomes. The exact mechanisms associating diet to female fertility are yet to be identified, although genomic, epigenomic, and microbial pathways may be implicated. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the impact of dietary components on female reproduction and ART outcomes, and to discuss the relevant interplay of diet with genome, epigenome and microbial composition.

Magnesium Status and Ca/Mg Ratios in a Series of Children and Adolescents with Chronic Diseases

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential divalent cation involved in various enzymatic reactions that regulate vital biological functions. The main goal was to evaluate Mg status and its association with nutritional indicators in 78 children and adolescents with chronic diseases. We assessed anthropometric, biochemical, diet, body composition, and bone densitometry valuations. Serum Mg and Ca levels were determined using the standardized method and diet calcium (Ca) and Mg consumption by a prospective 72 h diet survey. Mean serum Ca (9.9 mg/dL), Mg (2.08 mg/dL) dietary Ca (102% DRI: Dietary Reference Intake), and Mg intake (105% DRI) were normal. A total of 45% had hypomagnesemia, 12% had hypermagnesemia, and 26% and 24% had inadequate and high Mg intake, respectively. Only 6% of patients had poor Mg intake and hypomagnesemia, and 54% and 90% of our series had an elevated serum Ca/Mg ratio > 4.70 (mean 4.79) and a low Ca/Mg intake ratio < 1.70 (mean 1.06), respectively. Both Ca/Mg ratios were linked with the risk of developing other chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, syndrome metabolic, and even several cancers. Therefore, 79% of children and adolescents with chronic diseases were at elevated risk of having abnormal Mg status and developing other chronic illnesses.

Flaxseed Polysaccharide Alters Colonic Gene Expression of Lipid Metabolism and Energy Metabolism in Obese Rats

Obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges. Recently, we found that flaxseed polysaccharides (FPs) had an anti-obesity effect through promoting lipid metabolism, but the obesity-inhibiting pathway of FP is still unclear. In this study, after FP intervention in an obese rat model, a transcriptome study was performed to further investigate how FP intervention alters the gene expression of colonic epithelial tissues (CETs). The results showed that there were 3785 genes differentially expressed due to the FP intervention, namely 374 downregulated and 3411 upregulated genes. After analyzing all the differentially expressed genes, two classical KEGG pathways were found to be related to obesity, namely the PPAR-signaling pathway and energy metabolism, involving genes Fabp1–5, Lpl, Gyk, Qqp7, Pparg, Rxrg, Acsl1, Acsl4, Acsl6, Cpt1c, Car1–4, Ca5b, Car8, Car12–14, Cps1, Ndufa4l2, Cox6b2, Atp6v1g2, Ndufa4l2 and Cox4i2. QRT-PCR results showed a consistent expression trend. Our results indicate that FP promotes lipid metabolism by changing the expression of some key genes of CETs, thus inhibiting obesity.

Supplementation of diet with Brazil nut modulates body composition, bone parameters, and lipid peroxidation in Wistar rats

Oxidative stress, adipose tissue, and bone compartments can be disturbed in chronic diseases. Non-pharmacological strategies, such as Brazil nuts (BNs), can improve these parameters. This study evaluated the effects of BN supplementation at different concentrations on body composition, lipid profile, and peroxidation in healthy rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (CT), Brazil nut 5% (BN5), and Brazil nut 10% (BN10) groups. Body composition, brown adipose tissue (BAT), plasma lipid peroxidation, and lipid profile were evaluated in the three groups. The BN5 group showed an improvement in all bone parameters compared with that of the CT group (p  < .0001). The BN5 and BN10 groups showed reduced plasma lipid peroxidation compared with that of the CT group (p = .0009), whereas the BN10 group presented lower BAT lipid peroxidation than that of the other groups (p = .01). High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) levels were higher in the BN5 group than in the CT group (p = .01). Conclusively, the use of BNs in a controlled manner promoted improvement in bone parameters, HDL-c levels, and lipid peroxidation in healthy rats. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Nuts has been included in the diet because of their versatility, acceptance, and easy access. Among them, Brazil nut (BN) is considered one of the major known food sources of selenium as well as a source of fibers, unsaturated fatty acids, and phenolic compounds. Studies have shown that BN supplementation is effective in reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid peroxidation, and selenium deficiency when used as a non-pharmacological strategy in experimental models of chronic diseases and in clinical trials. The present study showed that controlled administration of BN improved bone parameters, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, and lipid peroxidation in healthy rats. Therefore, BN is a promising non-pharmacological agent for the prevention of the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases.

A Gene Variation at the ZPR1 Locus (rs964184) Interacts With the Type of Diet to Modulate Postprandial Triglycerides in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: From the Coronary Diet Intervention With Olive Oil and Cardiovascular Prevention Study

Background and Aims

rs964184 variant in the ZPR1 gene has been associated with blood lipids levels both in fasting and postprandial state and with the risk of myocardial infarction in high-risk cardiovascular patients. However, whether this association is modulated by diet has not been studied.

Objective

To investigate whether the type of diet (low-fat or Mediterranean diets) interacts with genetic variability at this loci to modulate fasting and postprandial lipids in coronary patients.

Materials and Methods

The genotype of the rs964184 polymorphism was determined in the Cordioprev Study population (NCT00924937). Fasting and Postprandial triglycerides were assessed before and after 3 years of dietary intervention with either a Mediterranean or a low-fat diet. Postprandial lipid assessment was done by a 4-h oral fat tolerance test (OFTT). Differences in triglycerides levels were identified using repeated-measures ANCOVA.

Results

From 523 patients (85% males, mean age 59 years) that completed the OFTT at baseline and after 3 years of intervention and had complete genotype information, 125 of them were carriers of the risk allele G. At the start of the study, these patients showed a higher fasting and postprandial triglycerides (TG) plasma levels. After 3 years of dietary intervention, G-carriers following a Mediterranean Diet maintained higher fasting and postprandial triglycerides, while those on the low-fat diet reduced their postprandial triglycerides to similar values to the population without the G-allele.

Conclusion

After 3 years of dietary intervention, the altered postprandial triglyceride response induced by genetic variability in the rs964184 polymorphism of the ZPR1 gene can be modulated by a low-fat diet, better than by a Mediterranean diet, in patients with coronary artery disease.

The Obesogenic Environment: Epigenetic Modifications in Placental Melanocortin 4 Receptor Gene Connected to Gestational Diabetes and Smoking

Background

Maternal metabolic insults as well as Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) influence the fetal health and may affect ‘offspring’s susceptibility to chronic diseases via epigenetic modifications. GDM, the most common metabolic disorder in pregnancy, can be considered the result of complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. A critical point in this view is the identification of genes which are epigenetically modified under the influence of GDM. The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene plays a crucial role in nutritional health by suppressing appetite and participating in energy control regulation. The correlations between pregnant ‘women’s metabolic profiles and placental epigenetic modifications of this gene have been poorly investigated.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of GDM and maternal clinical parameters at the third trimester of pregnancy to DNA methylation levels in the placenta at CpG sites of MC4R gene.

Design and Methods

Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, Mediterranean diet adherence, smoking habits, and physical activity were assessed at the third trimester of pregnancy of 60 Caucasian pregnant women, of which 33 with GDM. Clinical parameters of the newborns were recorded at birth. MC4R DNA methylation on maternal and fetal sides of the placenta was analyzed using bisulfite pyrosequencing.

Results

MC4R DNA methylation levels at CpG1 and CpG2 were lower on the fetal side of the placenta in GDM-affected women than in non-GDM-affected recruits (p = 0.033). Moreover, DNA methylation levels on the maternal side at CpG1 were positively related to glucose concentration at 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). On the other hand, CpG2 DNA methylation was positively related to both 1-h and 2-h during OGTT. Maternal DNA methylation level at CpG2 was also associated with low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at the third trimester of pregnancy (rho = 0.340, p < 0.05), while CpG1 methylation was negatively related to maternal weight variations at delivery (rho = −0.316, p < 0.05). Significant associations between MC4R DNA methylation on the maternal side and lipid profile at third trimester of pregnancy in women smokers were found.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that MC4R methylation profile in the placenta is related to maternal metabolic and nutritional conditions, potentially affecting fetal programming and the future metabolic health of the newborn.

Inositols, Probiotics, and Gestational Diabetes: Clinical and Epigenetic Aspects

There is growing interest in the potential role of different stereoisomers of inositol or their combination as well as probiotics supplementation in healthy glucose metabolism during pregnancy and in promoting offspring health. The aim of this review is to clarify the effects of several inositol and probiotics-based supplements in the prevention and treatment of gestational diabetes (GDM). Moreover, we will discuss the epigenetic aspects and their short- and long-term effects in response to probiotic intervention as well as the possible implications of these findings in guiding appropriate supplementation regimens in pregnancy.

DNA methylation changes in cord blood and the developmental origins of health and disease – a systematic review and replication study

Background

Environmental exposures in utero which modify DNA methylation may have a long-lasting impact on health and disease in offspring. We aimed to identify and replicate previously published genomic loci where DNA methylation changes are attributable to in utero exposures in the NutriGen birth cohort studies Alliance.

Methods

We reviewed the literature to identify differentially methylated sites of newborn DNA which are associated with the following five traits of interest maternal diabetes, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), diet during pregnancy, smoking, and gestational age. We then attempted to replicate these published associations in the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) and the South Asian birth cohort (START) cord blood epigenome-wide data.

Results

We screened 68 full-text articles and identified a total of 17 cord blood epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of the traits of interest. Out of the 290 CpG sites reported, 19 were identified in more than one study; all of them associated with maternal smoking. In CHILD and START EWAS, thousands of sites associated with gestational age were identified and maintained significance after correction for multiple testing. In CHILD, there was differential methylation observed for 8 of the published maternal smoking sites. No other traits tested (i.e., folate levels, gestational diabetes, birthweight) replicated in the CHILD or START cohorts.

Conclusions

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and gestational age are strongly associated with differential methylation in offspring cord blood, as assessed in the EWAS literature and our birth cohorts. There are a limited number of reported methylation sites associated in more than two independent studies related to pregnancy. Additional large studies of diverse populations with fine phenotyping are needed to produce robust epigenome-wide data in order to further elucidate the effect of intrauterine exposures on the infants’ methylome.

Ramadan Diurnal Intermittent Fasting Is Associated With Attenuated FTO Gene Expression in Subjects With Overweight and Obesity: A Prospective Cohort Study

Aim and Background

A growing body of evidence supports the impact of intermittent fasting (IF) on normalizing body weight and that the interaction between body genes and environmental factors shapes human susceptibility to developing obesity. FTO gene is one of these genes with metabolic effects related to energy metabolism and body fat deposition. This research examined the changes in FTO gene expression upon Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) in a group of metabolically healthy subjects with overweight and obesity.

Methods

Sixty-three (63) subjects were recruited, of which 57 (17 males and 40 females, mean age 38.4 ± 11.2 years) subjects with overweight and obesity (BMI = 29.89 ± 5.02 kg/m2were recruited and monitored before and at the end of Ramadan month), and 6 healthy subjects with normal BMI (21.4 ± 2.20 kg/m2) recruited only to standardize the reference for normal levels of FTO gene expression. In the two-time points, anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary assessments were undertaken, and FTO gene expression tests were performed using RNA extracted from the whole blood sample.

Results

In contrast to normal BMI subjects, the relative gene expressions in overweight/obese were significantly decreased at the end of Ramadan (-32.30%, 95% CI-0.052 -0.981) in comparison with the pre-fasting state. Significant reductions were found in body weight, BMI, fat mass, body fat percent, hip circumference, LDL, IL-6, TNF-α (P<0.001), and in waist circumference (P<0.05), whilst HDL and IL-10 significantly increased (P<0.001) at the end of Ramadan in comparison with the pre-fasting levels. Binary logistic regression analysis for genetic expressions showed no significant association between high-energy intake, waist circumference, or obesity and FTO gene expression.

Conclusions

RIF is associated with the downregulation of the FTO gene expression in subjects with obesity, and this may explain, at least in part, its favorable metabolic effects. Hence, RIF presumably may entail a protective impact against body weight gain and its adverse metabolic-related derangements in subjects with obesity.

Nutrigenetic variants and response to diet/lifestyle intervention in obese subjects: a pilot study

AIMS

Nutritional and lifestyle interventions can contribute to prevent and treat obesity and its complications; however, genetic background may influence the success of a therapy. The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the effects of the interaction between nutrigenetic variants and nutritional intervention, as well as the changes in clinical parameters and the adherence to Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and to physical activity, of 18 overweight or obese subjects affected by T2D or dysglycemia included in a nutritional program.

METHODS

The subjects' clinical parameters as well as their PREDIMED score and physical activity levels were recorded and compared at baseline, at 6 months and at the end of the intervention. Rs9939609 in FTO, rs17782313 near MC4R, rs326 in LPL, rs16147 in NPY, rs2943641 near IRS-1 were genotyped.

RESULTS

The subjects carrying the A allele in FTO lost less weight (p = 0.022) and had a lower BMI decrease from baseline to 12 months (p-interaction = 0.047) than TT carriers. In addition, there was a significant PREDIMED score modification over time, according to genotypes for FTO rs9939609 (p = 0.025) and NPY rs16147 (p = 0.039), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary findings show a significant interaction between genetic variants and the PREDIMED score, suggesting that individuals carrying the FTO variant may lose less weight than non-carriers through diet/lifestyle intervention.

Design and rationale of a nationwide screening analysis from the LIPIDOGRAM2015 and LIPIDOGEN2015 studies

INTRODUCTION

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The LIPIDOGRAM2015 study was performed to estimate the prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerotic diseases as well as cardiovascular and related disorders in the primary care setting in Poland. The LIPIDOGEN2015 sub-study was designed to include a random cohort of patients in order to analyse parameters related to lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, autoimmune disorders, and gene variants that confer susceptibility to cardiometabolic and atherosclerotic diseases.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The recruitment was carried out by 438 primary care physicians in Poland. The expected number of patients recruited for the LIPIDOGRAM2015 study was 13,000-14,000 with 13-15% (1700-2000) also participating in the LIPIDOGEN2015 sub-study. Each patient had to complete a questionnaire concerning medical and family history, concomitant diseases, and pharmacotherapy. Anthropometric measurements were performed at the doctor's office. For the LIPIDOGEN2015 sub-study, saliva samples for DNA isolation and blood samples for measurement of glycated haemoglobin, oxidative stress parameters, autoantibody levels, and inflammatory cytokine profile and apolipoprotein profile were collected. Follow-up data will be obtained from the National Health Fund in Poland.

RESULTS

The LIPIDOGRAM2015 and LIPIDOGEN2015 study cohort reflects the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and concomitant diseases, markers of oxidative stress, the presence of autoantibodies, inflammatory cytokine profile, and apolipoprotein profile, as well as genetic variants potentially conferring susceptibility to cardiometabolic and atherosclerotic diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents the prevalence of different CV risk factors, with special emphasis on lipid disorders, and it assesses the relationship between inflammation, oxidative stress, and mutations in genes encoding proteins regulating lipid metabolism, as well as genes conferring susceptibility to cardiovascular, cardiometabolic, and related diseases.

Dietary Intake in the Lifelines Cohort Study: Baseline Results from the Flower Food Frequency Questionnaire among 59,982 Participants

The role of nutrition in health and disease is well established. However, more research on this topic is needed to fill gaps in our current knowledge. The Lifelines cohort study, a large Dutch prospective cohort study, was established as a resource for international researchers, aiming to obtain insight into the aetiology of healthy ageing. The study started with 167,729 participants, covering three generations, aiming to follow them for thirty years. This article describes the habitual dietary intake, assessed using the Flower Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), among Lifelines cohort study participants at baseline, stratified by sex and different categories of age, socioeconomic status (SES) and body mass index (BMI). A total of 59,982 adults (23,703 men and 36,279 women), who completed the Flower FFQ and reported plausible habitual dietary intake, were included in the analyses. Median daily energy intake was higher in men (2368 kcal) than in women (1848 kcal), as well as macronutrient intake. Energy and macronutrient intake decreased with increasing age and BMI categories; no differences were observed between SES categories. Intake of most micronutrients was higher in men than in women. Differences were observed between age categories, but not between SES and BMI categories. Food groups were consumed in different amounts by men and women; differences between age, SES and BMI categories were observed as well. The Lifelines cohort study provides extensive dietary intake data, which are generalisable to the general Dutch population. As such, highly valuable dietary intake data are available to study associations between dietary intake and the development of chronic diseases and healthy aging.

Significance of Sex Differences in ncRNAs Expression and Function in Pregnancy and Related Complications

In the era of personalized medicine, fetal sex-specific research is of utmost importance for comprehending the mechanisms governing pregnancy and pregnancy-related complications. In recent times, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have gained increasing attention as critical players in gene regulation and disease pathogenesis, and as candidate biomarkers in human diseases as well. Different types of ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), participate in every step of pregnancy progression, although studies taking into consideration fetal sex as a central variable are still limited. To date, most of the available data have been obtained investigating sex-specific placental miRNA expression. Several studies revealed that miRNAs regulate the (patho)-physiological processes in a sexually dimorphic manner, ensuring normal fetal development, successful pregnancy, and susceptibility to diseases. Moreover, the observation that ncRNA profiles differ according to cells, tissues, and developmental stages of pregnancy, along with the complex interactions among different types of ncRNAs in regulating gene expression, strongly indicates that more studies are needed to understand the role of sex-specific ncRNA in pregnancy and associated disorders.

Impact of various types of heat processing on the energy and nutritional values of goose breast meat

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of various types of heat processing used by consumers (water bath cooking WBC, oven convection roasting OCR, grilling G, pan frying PF) on the energy and the nutritional value of goose breast meat (with and without skin). The material used in the study comprised 72 breast muscles cut from carcasses of 17-wk-old White Koluda geese. The energy value (MJ), the chemical composition (water, fat, protein, ash) and mineral composition (phosphorus P, sodium Na, calcium Ca, potassium K, magnesium Mg, iron Fe, zinc Zn, cooper Cu, manganese Mn) were determined in both raw and thermally processed muscles. It has been concluded that various methods of heat processing have a significant impact on the energy and nutritional values of meat. From a dietary point of view, the most beneficial was OCR meat without skin, and WBC, OCR, PF meat with skin as well, since it had the lowest energy value as well as content and retention of fat, phosphorus, and sodium. However, as for the content of the other minerals and their retention, WBC seems to be the optimal form of heat treatment of skinless muscles. 100 g of such meat provides 3.1; 33.7; 145; 180 and 9% Nutrient Reference Values-Requirements (NRVs-R) for Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, and Mn respectively in a diet of an adult person. As for meat with skin, the optimal method of heat processing to retain minerals is grilling. 100 g of meat processed in this way provides 3.9; 39.7; 125.7; 175; 6 and 12.7% NRVs-R of Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, and Mn. It follows from the above information that goose breast meat, as analyzed here, cannot be considered as a source of calcium since it provides less than 4% of NRVs-R. The results of the study will be useful for the consumers’ nutritional choices. The geese breast meat, depending on the heat processing used and the content of skin, may be a valuable component of a varied diet, providing nutrients and minerals.

Lesion Genotype Modifies High-Fat Diet Effects on Endometriosis Development in Mice

Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent gynecologic disorder that affects reproductive-aged women and to a lesser extent, post-menopausal women on hormone therapy. The condition is associated with systemic and local immune dysfunctions. While its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, endometriosis has a genetic component and propensity for the disease is subject to environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle influences. Previously, we showed that high-fat diet (HFD) increased ectopic lesion numbers, concurrent with systemic and peritoneal changes in inflammatory and oxidative stress status, in immunocompetent recipient mice ip administered with endometrial fragments null for Krüppel-like factor 9 gene. Herein, we determined whether HFD modifies lesion parameters, when recipient peritoneal environment is challenged with ectopic wild-type (WT) endometrial fragments, the latter simulating retrograde menstruation common in women during the menstrual period. WT endometrium-recipient mice fed HFD (45% kcal from fat) showed reduced lesion incidence, numbers, and volumes, in the absence of changes in systemic ovarian steroid hormone and insulin levels, relative to those fed the control diet (CD, 17% kcal from fat). Lesions from HFD- and CD-fed recipients demonstrated comparable gene expression for steroid hormone receptors (Esr and Pgr) and cytokines (Il-6, Il-8, and CxCL4) and similar levels of DNA oxidative biomarkers. HFD moderately altered serum (3-nitrotyrosine and methionine/homocysteine) and peritoneal (reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione) pro-oxidative status but had no effect on peritoneal inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor α and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1) mediators. Results indicate that lesion genotype modifies dietary effects on disease establishment and/or progression and if translated, could be important for provision of nutritional guidelines to women with predisposition to, or affected by endometriosis.

Epigenetic linkage of systemic lupus erythematosus and nutrition

The term "epigenetics" refers to a series of meiotically/mitotically inheritable alterations in gene expression, related to environmental factors, without disruption on DNA sequences of bases. Recently, the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases (ADs) has been closely linked to epigenetic modifications. Actually, epigenetic mechanisms can modulate gene expression or repression of targeted cells and tissues involved in autoimmune/inflammatory conditions acting as keys effectors in regulation of adaptive and innate responses. ADs, as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a rare disease that still lacks effective treatment, is characterized by epigenetic marks in affected cells.Taking into account that epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed as a winning strategy in the search of new more specific and personalized therapeutics agents. Thus, pharmacology and pharmacoepigenetic studies about epigenetic regulations of ADs may provide novel individualized therapies. Focussing in possible implicated factors on development and predisposition of SLE, diet is feasibly one of the most important factors since it is linked directly to epigenetic alterations and these epigenetic changes may augment or diminish the risk of SLE. Nevertheless, several studies have guaranteed that dietary therapy could be a promise to SLE patients via prophylactic actions deprived of side effects of pharmacology, decreasing co-morbidities and improving lifestyle of SLE sufferers.Herein, we review and discuss the cross-link between epigenetic mechanisms on SLE predisposition and development, as well as the influence of dietary factors on regulation epigenetic modifications that would eventually make a positive impact on SLE patients.

Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene epigenetic modifications in gestational diabetes: new insights and possible pathophysiological connections

AIMS

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can lead to short- and long-term complications for the child. Epigenetic alterations could contribute to explaining the metabolic disturbances associated with foetal programming. Although the role of the FTO gene remains unclear, it affects metabolic phenotypes probably mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. The aim of this study was to assess whether placental DNA epigenetic modifications at FTO promoter-associated cysteine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites are correlated with GDM. A secondary aim was to evaluate the association between the placental FTO DNA methylation and the maternal metabolic traits in women with and without GDM.

METHODS

Socio-demographic characteristics, clinical parameters at the third trimester of pregnancy, Mediterranean diet adherence, and physical activity were assessed in 33 GDM women and 27 controls. Clinical information about the newborns was registered at birth. The FTO rs9939609 (T > A) was genotyped.

RESULTS

No association between FTO DNA methylation and GDM was found. DNA methylation on the maternal side at the CpG1 was associated with maternal smoking in GDM (p = 0.034), and DNA methylation at the CpG3 was correlated with smoking or former smoking in controls (p = 0.023). A higher level of TGs was correlated with higher foetal placental DNA methylation at the CpG2 (p = 0.036) in GDM. An inverse association between HDL-C and maternal placental DNA methylation at the CpG3 in controls (p = 0.045) was found. An association between FTO rs9939609 and neonatal birthweight (p = 0.033) was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

In the awareness that the obesity pathophysiology is complex, the study adds a piece to this intricate mosaic.