Biology: DNA Methylation and Lifestyle Factors

Epigenetic clocks use DNA methylation to estimate biological age. Whether body composition and physical activity are associated with these clocks is not well understood. Using blood samples collected at enrollment (2003–2009) from 2,758 women in the US nationwide Sister Study, we calculated 6 epigenetic age acceleration metrics using 4 epigenetic clocks (Hannum, Horvath, PhenoAge, GrimAge). Recreational physical activity was self-reported, and adiposity measures were assessed by trained medical examiners (body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WtH), waist circumference).

Plant growth and development can be significantly impacted by drought stress. Plants will adjust the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites to improve survival in times of water constraint. Simultaneously, drought stress can lead to modifications in the DNA methylation status of plants, and these modifications can directly impact gene expression and product synthesis by changing the DNA methylation status of functional genes involved in secondary metabolite synthesis.

Alcohol consumption in pregnancy can affect genome regulation in the developing offspring but results have been contradictory. We employed a physiologically relevant murine model of short-term moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) resembling common patterns of alcohol consumption in pregnancy in humans. Early moderate PAE was sufficient to affect site-specific DNA methylation in newborn pups without altering behavioural outcomes in adult littermates.

Nutrition has powerful impacts on our health and longevity. One of themechanisms bywhich nutrition might influence our health is by inducing epigeneticmodifications, modulating the molecular mechanisms that regulate aging. Observational studies have provided evidence of a relationship between nutrition and differences in DNA methylation. However, these studies are limited in that they might not provide an accurate control of the interactions between different nutrients, or between nutrition and other lifestyle behaviors.

Breast cancer significantly affects women globally, but physical activity (PA) has been shown to improve the quality of life, aid recovery, and enhance survival rates in patients. Studies reveal that PA influences DNA methylation, both globally and at gene-specific levels, potentially reversing abnormal methylation linked to cancer. This review compiles research on PA's impact on DNA methylation in breast cancer patients.

Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy is related to a lower risk of preterm birth and to better offspring cardiometabolic health. DNA methylation may be an underlying biological mechanism. We evaluated whether maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with offspring cord blood DNA methylation. We meta-analysed epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and offspring cord blood DNA methylation in 2802 mother–child pairs from five cohorts.

Obesity poses a public health threat, reaching epidemic proportions. Our hypothesis suggests that some of this epidemic stems from its transmission across generations via paternal epigenetic mechanisms. To investigate this possibility, we focused on examining the paternal transmission of CpG methylation.

Obesity is a public health problem. The usual treatment is a reduction in calorie intake and an increase in energy expenditure, but not all individuals respond equally to these treatments. Epigenetics could be a factor that contributes to this heterogeneity. The aim of this research was to determine the association between DNA methylation at baseline and the percentage of BMI loss (%BMIL) after two dietary interventions, in order to design a prediction model to evaluate %BMIL based on methylation data.

Physical activity (PA) prior to and during pregnancy may have intergenerational effects on offspring health through placental epigenetic modifications. We are unaware of epidemiologic studies on longitudinal PA and placental DNA methylation. Objectives We evaluated the association between PA before and during pregnancy and placental DNA methylation. Methods Placental tissues were obtained at delivery and methylation was measured using HumanMethylation450 Beadchips for participants in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Fetal Growth Studies–Singletons among 298 participants.

Environmental stress significantly affects plant growth, development, and survival. Plants respond to stressors such as temperature fluctuations, water scarcity, nutrient deficiencies, and pathogen attacks through intricate molecular and physiological adaptations. Epigenetic mechanisms are crucial in regulating gene expression in response to environmental stress. This review explores the current understanding of epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, and their roles in modulating gene expression patterns under environmental stress conditions.