A Brief Introduction to Diet and DNA Methylation

Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, which include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA pathways, are independent of DNA sequence changes. These mechanisms, acting in concert, modulate gene expression and influence phenotypic plasticity. Environmental factors like diet can exert profound effects on epigenetic modifications, thereby affecting gene expression and cellular processes. A growing body of evidence is nowadays revealing how nutrients modify our epigenetic landscape, especially acting on DNA methylation marks to alter gene expression. This knowledge can be harnessed to develop personalized strategies, either by incorporating specific natural compounds in the diet or by using epigenetic-based therapeutic compounds, for the prevention and treatment of diseases.