Genet Mol Biol. 2026 Jul 17;49Suppl 4(Suppl 4):e20250113. doi: 10.1590/1678-4685-GMB-2025-0113. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
The complex interaction between nutrition, epigenetics, and epigenomics in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cancer highlights the crucial role of nutrition as an environmental factor influencing gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and regulation through non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). The aim of this review is to explore the importance of interactions between nutrition-epigenetics interactions in the pathogenesis of NCDs and in the development of personalized prevention and treatment strategies. These nutriepigenetic and nutriepigenomic processes are fundamental for understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of NCDs development. Diet plays a central role in modulating gene expression, and studies indicate how nutrients and bioactive compounds in food can directly affect epigenetic patterns, influencing the risk and progression of NCDs. For example, dietary effects on DNA methylation and miRNA expression have been associated with changes in susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and T2DM. Additionally, phytochemicals such as curcumin, genistein, quercetin, equol, among others found in certain foods can epigenetically modulate gene expression, playing a role in cancer prevention. The complexity of nutriepigenetic and nutriepigenomic systems highlights the need for a personalized approach to disease prevention and treatment. Understanding how diet influences epigenetic patterns can provide crucial insights for the development of more targeted and effective therapeutic strategies, ultimately underscoring the growing translational value of nutriepigenetics and nutriepigenomics in advancing precision medicine and informing population-level interventions, reinforcing their clinical, preventive, and societal impact in mitigating the burden of NCDs.
PMID:42467859 | DOI:10.1590/1678-4685-GMB-2025-0113