Epigenetic mechanisms elicited by nutrition in early life.
A growing number of studies focusing on the developmental origin of health and disease hypothesis have identified links among early nutrition, epigenetic processes and diseases also in later life. Different epigenetic mechanisms are elicited by dietary factors in early critical developmental ages that are able to affect the susceptibility to several diseases in adulthood. The studies here reviewed suggest that maternal and neonatal diet may have long-lasting effects in the development of non-communicable chronic adulthood diseases, in particular the components of the so-called metabolic syndrome, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, and CVD. Both maternal under- and over-nutrition may regulate the expression of genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Early postnatal nutrition may also represent a vital determinant of adult health by making an impact on the development and function of gut microbiota. An inadequate gut microbiota composition and function in early life seems to account for the deviant programming of later immunity and overall health status. In this regard probiotics, which have the potential to restore the intestinal microbiota balance, may be effective in preventing the development of chronic immune-mediated diseases. More recently, the epigenetic mechanisms elicited by probiotics through the production of SCFA are hypothesised to be the key to understand how they mediate their numerous health-promoting effects from the gut to the peripheral tissues.
Department of Pediatrics and European Laboratory for the Investigation of Food Induced Diseases, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy. berni@unina.it
Roberto Berni
RB
Canani
Margherita Di
MD
Costanzo
Ludovica
L
Leone
Giorgio
G
Bedogni
Paolo
P
Brambilla
Stefano
S
Cianfarani
Valerio
V
Nobili
Angelo
A
Pietrobelli
Carlo
C
Agostoni
D004032:Diet; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000235:genetics; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000235:genetics*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000235:genetics; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*