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Lookup NU author(s): Khalil ElGendy, Dr Fiona MalcomsonORCiD, David Bradburn, Professor John Mathers
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© 2018 The Authors. DNA methylation is a key component of the epigenetic machinery that is responsible for regulating gene expression and, therefore, cell function. Patterns of DNA methylation change during development and ageing, differ between cell types, are altered in multiple diseases and can be modulated by dietary factors. However, evidence about the effects of dietary factors on DNA methylation patterns in humans is fragmentary. This study was initiated to collate evidence for causal links between dietary factors and changes in DNA methylation patterns. We carried out a systematic review of dietary intervention studies in adult humans using Medline, EMBASE and Scopus. Out of 22 149 screened titles, sixty intervention studies were included, of which 65% were randomised (n 39). Most studies (53%) reported data from blood analyses, whereas 27% studied DNA methylation in colorectal mucosal biopsies. Folic acid was the most common intervention agent (33%). There was great heterogeneity in the methods used for assessing DNA methylation and in the genomic loci investigated. Meta-analysis of the effect of folic acid on global DNA methylation revealed strong evidence that supplementation caused hypermethylation in colorectal mucosa (P=0·009). Meta-regression analysis showed that the dose of supplementary folic acid was the only identified factor (P<0·001) showing a positive relationship. In summary, there is limited evidence from intervention studies of effects of dietary factors, other than folic acid, on DNA methylation patterns in humans. In addition, the application of multiple different assays and investigations of different genomic loci makes it difficult to compare, or to combine, data across studies.
Author(s): Elgendy K, Malcomson FC, Lara JG, Bradburn DM, Mathers JC
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: British Journal of Nutrition
Year: 2018
Volume: 120
Issue: 9
Pages: 961-976
Print publication date: 14/11/2018
Online publication date: 24/10/2018
Acceptance date: 20/07/2018
ISSN (print): 0007-1145
ISSN (electronic): 1475-2662
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S000711451800243X
DOI: 10.1017/S000711451800243X
PubMed id: 30355391
