Epigenetic Effects of Diet on Aging

Created on Dec. 15, 2012, midnight by Hevok & updated by Hevok on May 2, 2013, 4:57 p.m.

Aging affects the epigenetic status of some genes and these effects can be modulated by diet and body fatness. Levels of age-related CpG island methylation in healthy human rectal mucosa are influenced by gender, the availability of folate, vitamin D and selenium, an perhaps factors related to systemic inflammation. The biggest influence on gene methylation is age. Men have higher frequency of epigenetic changes than women. CpG island methylation is higher in males than in females. Individuals with higher vitamin D status tend to have lower levels of methylation. Similar is the relation with selenium status. B vitamin folate is essential for health, but high folate status is associated with increased levels of epigenetic changes linked with cancer. Age is consistent predictor of CpG island methylation for 9/11 genes. Several genes also exhibit significantly positive association with folate status and negative associations with vitamin D and selenium status [23157586].

DNAFngr.jpg

Tags: aging, nutrients, DNA methylation, epigenetics
Categories: News
Parent: Aging

Update entry (Admin) | See changes

Comment on This Data Unit