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

• Published in: Lipids in health and disease Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 178 - 18
• Main Authors: González-Becerra, K., Ramos-Lopez, O., Barrón-Cabrera, E., Riezu-Boj, J. I., Milagro, F. I., Martínez-López, E., Martínez, J. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 15.10.2019; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Animals; Arteriosclerosis; Butyrate; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - genetics; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Care and treatment; Chronic Disease; Chronic diseases; Chronic illnesses; Data analysis; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - genetics; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - pathology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Disease Models, Animal; DNA; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Epigenetic; Epigenetic inheritance; Epigenetics; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids - adverse effects; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - administration & dosage; Gene expression; Gene regulation; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genetic aspects; Humans; Inflammation; Insulin Resistance; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Lipid Metabolism - genetics; Metabolism; Morbidity; N-3 fatty acids; Nutrition research; Obesity; Obesity - genetics; Obesity - metabolism; Obesity - pathology; Obesity - prevention & control; Palmitoleic acid; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Review; Risk factors; Studies; Systematic review; Trans fats; Trans Fatty Acids - administration & dosage; Trans Fatty Acids - adverse effects; Mexico; Spain; Obesity; DNA methylation; Insulin resistance; Metabolic alterations; Epigenetic; N-3 fatty acids; Butyrate
• ISSN: 1476-511X; 1476-511X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12944-019-1120-6

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. 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. 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. Fatty acids can regulate gene expression by modifying epigenetic mechanisms and consequently result in positive or negative impacts on metabolic outcomes.