The effect of nutrition and exercise on epigenetics and the development of cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Epigenetics is defined as the study of heritable alterations in gene expression or cellular phenotype. The term defines the difference from just a genetic approach. A more precise definition is that epigenetics is all the meiotically and mitotically inherited changes in gene expression that are not encoded in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence itself. Major epigenetic mechanisms are modifications of histone proteins in chromatin and DNA methylation (which does not alter the DNA sequence). There is increasing evidence for the involvement of epigenetics in human disease such as inflammatory disease and cancer. Other chronic diseases are also susceptible to epigenetic modification such as metabolic diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus. There is much evidence for the modification of epigenetics by nutrition and exercise. Through these modifications, there is infinite potential for benefit for the fetus, the newborn, and the individual as well as population effects. Association with cardiovascular (CV) disease including coronary heart disease (CHD) and peripheral arterial disease is evident through epigenetic relationships and modification by major CV risk factors such as tobacco abuse. Aging itself may be altered by epigenetic modification. Knowledge of the subject and its relevance is in a very preliminary stage.