Fatty acids, epigenetic mechanisms and chronic diseases: a systematic review

González-Becerra, K. and Ramos-Lopez, O. and Barrón-Cabrera, E. and Riezu-Boj, J. I. and Milagro, F. I. and Martínez-López, E. and Martínez, J. A.

Lipids Health Dis (2019) 18: 178

DOI: 10.1186/s12944-019-1120-6

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chronic illnesses like obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases, are worldwide major causes of morbidity and mortality. These pathological conditions involve interactions between environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors. Recent advances in nutriepigenomics are contributing to clarify the role of some nutritional factors, including dietary fatty acids in gene expression regulation. This systematic review assesses currently available information concerning the role of the different fatty acids on epigenetic mechanisms that affect the development of chronic diseases or induce protective effects on metabolic alterations. METHODS: A targeted search was conducted in the PubMed/Medline databases using the keywords "fatty acids and epigenetic". The data were analyzed according to the PRISMA-P guidelines. RESULTS: Consumption fatty acids like n-3 PUFA: EPA and DHA, and MUFA: oleic and palmitoleic acid was associated with an improvement of metabolic alterations. On the other hand, fatty acids that have been associated with the presence or development of obesity, T2D, pro-inflammatory profile, atherosclerosis and IR were n-6 PUFA, saturated fatty acids (stearic and palmitic), and trans fatty acids (elaidic), have been also linked with epigenetic changes. CONCLUSIONS: Fatty acids can regulate gene expression by modifying epigenetic mechanisms and consequently result in positive or negative impacts on metabolic outcomes.

Citation

González-Becerra, K., Ramos-Lopez, O., Barrón-Cabrera, E., Riezu-Boj, J. I., Milagro, F. I., Martínez-López, E., & Martínez, J. A. (2019). Fatty acids, epigenetic mechanisms and chronic diseases: a systematic review. Lipids Health Dis, 18(1), 178. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-019-1120-6 Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Humans, DNA Methylation, Chronic Disease, *Epigenesis, Genetic, Lipid Metabolism/drug effects/*genetics, Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Butyrate, Cardiovascular Diseases/*genetics/metabolism/pathology/prevention & control, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*genetics/metabolism/pathology/prevention & control, Dietary Fats/*administration & dosage, Epigenetic, Fatty Acids, Omega-3/administration & dosage, Fatty Acids, Omega-6/administration & dosage, Fatty Acids/administration & dosage/adverse effects, Gene-Environment Interaction, Metabolic alterations, N-3 fatty acids, Obesity/*genetics/metabolism/pathology/prevention & control, Trans Fatty Acids/administration & dosage/adverse effects

Keywords

• Animals
• Disease Models
• Animal
• Humans
• DNA Methylation
• Chronic Disease
• *Epigenesis
• Genetic
• Lipid Metabolism/drug effects/*genetics
• Obesity
• Insulin Resistance
• Butyrate
• Cardiovascular Diseases/*genetics/metabolism/pathology/prevention & control
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Type 2/*genetics/metabolism/pathology/prevention & control
• Dietary Fats/*administration & dosage
• Epigenetic
• Fatty Acids
• Omega-3/administration & dosage
• Fatty Acids
• Omega-6/administration & dosage
• Fatty Acids/administration & dosage/adverse effects
• Gene-Environment Interaction
• Metabolic alterations
• N-3 fatty acids
• Obesity/*genetics/metabolism/pathology/prevention & control
• Trans Fatty Acids/administration & dosage/adverse effects