Nutrients 2015, 7(2), 922-947; doi:10.3390/nu7020922
The Interaction between Epigenetics, Nutrition and the Development of Cancer
1
Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, FM&HS, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
2
Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 28 July 2014 / Revised: 4 January 2015 / Accepted: 19 January 2015 / Published: 30 January 2015
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Epigenetics)
Abstract
Unlike the genome, the epigenome can be modified and hence some epigenetic risk markers have the potential to be reversed. Such modifications take place by means of drugs, diet or environmental exposures. It is widely accepted that epigenetic modifications take place during early embryonic and primordial cell development, but it is also important that we gain an understanding of the potential for such changes later in life. These “later life” epigenetic modifications in response to dietary intervention are the focus of this paper. The epigenetic modifications investigated include DNA methylation, histone modifications and the influence of microRNAs. The epigenotype could be used not only to predict susceptibility to certain cancers but also to assess the effectiveness of dietary modifications to reduce such risk. The influence of diet or dietary components on epigenetic modifications and the impact on cancer initiation or progression has been assessed herein. View Full-TextKeywords:
epigenetics; prostate cancer; breast cancer; colon cancer; methyl donors; nutrition
▼
Figures
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. (CC BY 4.0).
Share & Cite This Article
MDPI and ACS Style
Bishop, K.S.; Ferguson, L.R. The Interaction between Epigenetics, Nutrition and the Development of Cancer. Nutrients 2015, 7, 922-947.
Related Articles
Article Metrics
Comments
[Return to top]
Nutrients
EISSN 2072-6643
Published by MDPI AG, Basel, Switzerland
RSS
E-Mail Table of Contents Alert