Gene-Diet Interactions in Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of mortality worldwide, results from a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Genetic studies identified genetic variants providing insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of the disease. However, the mechanisms linking the genotypic and phenotypic expression remain to be elucidated. Gene-diet interaction studies attempt to elucidate how a modifiable factor interacts with the genetic background. The knowledge gained thus far confers to small increments of CVD risk and cannot explain the molecular mechanisms of the disease. Epigenetic studies attempt to elucidate the molecular pathways affected by an environmental stimulus, such as dietary exposure. The epigenomic changes and their link to gene-diet interactions remain a challenging area for research. Understanding the complex interplay among the epigenome, genome, and dietary exposure should lead to accurate prediction, prevention, or treatment of the disease. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.