title: Higher Fruit Intake Is Related to TNF-α Hypomethylation and Better Glucose Tolerance in Healthy Subjects.
abstract: This study hypothesized an association between healthy dietary patterns, hypermethylation of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) promoter and decreased risk of metabolic changes.
  
  
  
  Forty normal-weight young women were involved in this cross-sectional study. DNA was isolated from white blood cells, and CpG site methylation in TNF-α was analyzed by Sequenom EpiTyper. The quality of the diet was assessed by Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2005).
  
  
  
  Contradicting our hypothesis, HEI-2005 score was negatively associated with CpG5 (r = -0.460, p = 0.003) and TNF-α total methylation (r = -0.355, p = 0.026). A higher intake of fruits was related to lower insulin, HOMA-IR, and TNF-α methylation. No other dietary pattern was related to TNF-α methylation. TNF-α total methylation correlated positively with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.323; p = 0.042) and CpG5 methylation with body mass index (r = 0.333, p = 0.036). Furthermore, fiber intake was negatively associated with the CpG5 (r = -0.324, p = 0.041) and TNF-α total methylation (r = -0.434, p = 0.005), whereas vitamin C intake was negatively associated with TNF-α total methylation (r = -0.411, p = 0.009). Intakes of apples and citrus fruits were negatively associated with TNF-α total methylation.
  
  
  
  A healthy dietary pattern and higher fruit intake (particularly apples and citrus fruits) were related to better glucose tolerance in healthy subjects, which could be mediated by lower TNF-α methylation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Social Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Júlia Cristina Cardoso
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carraro
authors.forename: Helen Hermana Miranda
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hermsdorff
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mansego
authors.forename: Maria Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Zulet
authors.forename: Fermín I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Milagro
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bressan
authors.forename: J Alfredo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martínez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D054647:Nutrigenomics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha