One-carbon metabolism nutrients and epigenetics: A mechanistic link between aberrant one-carbon metabolism and cancer risk?

Abstract

In relation to the genome, investigation of the epigenome is emerging as an equal, if not more influential factor in modulating human health and disease. Since epigenetic modifications are gradual in onset and potentially reversible, determining factors that modulate the epigenome is critical for possible preventive and therapeutic interventions. The development and progression of cancer is mechanistically linked to a number of epigenetic changes, including global DNA hypomethylation and gene-specific CpG promoter DNA hypermethylation. Environmental factors, including diet, have been shown to affect cancer risk, via epigenetic and non-epigenetic mechanisms. In this regard, one-carbon nutrients are prototypic dietary factors that may modulate cancer risk via epigenetic mechanisms. This chapter will discuss the role of nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism and their effect on cancer risk via epigenetic modifications with a particular focus on DNA methylation.