مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري

Abstract :

Obesity not only is the product of an energy imbalance, but that different epigenetic mechanisms are involved. These mechanisms would interact with age, the genetic background, dietary factors and other environmental influences to create interindividual differences in appetite regnlation and obesity predisposition. In recent years, it is becoming evident that interindividual differences in obesity susceptibility depend also on epigenetic factors. Epigenetics represents a phenomenon of altered heritable phenotypic expression of genetic information occurriog without changes in DNA sequence. These processes include DNA methylation, covalent histone modifications, chromatin folding and, more recently described, the regnlatory action of miRNAs. Nutritional factors play a life-long role in human health. Indeed, there is growing evidence that one of the mechanisms by which nutrientsand bioactive compounds affect metabolic traits is epigenetics. Complex interactions among food components and epigenetics modifications lead to a dynamic regulation of gene expression that controls the cellnlar phenotype. The methylation pattern differencies is observed in obese and over-weight healthy individuals. This compilation is focused on the importance of epigenetic mechanism on the development and etiology of obesity. The effects of the diet and enviromental factors on epigenetic mechanism is emphasized by this compilation. Epigenetic mechanism is an acceptable approach for the explanation, prevention and diaguosis of obesity pathogenesis.