Nutrition in Epigenetics

The study of epigenetics, or how heritable changes in geneexpression are regulated without modifying the coding DNA sequence,has become an increasingly important field of study in recentyears. Rapid developments in our understanding of the way in whichgene function is modulated by the environment has revolutionizedthe way we think about human development and health. Nutritionin Epigenetics reviews the latest research looking at theinteraction between genes and nutrients and the role they playtogether in maintaining human health.

Nutrition in Epigenetics is divided into two primaryparts. The first part provides key principles such as epigeneticmechanisms, developmental epigenetics, and the role of epigeneticsin disease. The second part looks specifically at the applicationof epigenetics to the field of human nutrition. Chapters review therole of specific nutrients in modulating epigenetic status and theeffect on health and disease.

Nutrition in Epigenetics is an indispensable resource forresearchers, professionals and advanced students with an interestin human nutrition, epigenetics, and biomedical research.

Contributors.

1. Introduction (Mihai D. Niculescu and PaulHaggarty).

PART I: Fundamental Principles in Epigenetics.

SECTION A: Epigenetic Mechanisms.

2. DNA Methylation (Natalia V. Cucu).

3. Chromatin Modifications (Sandra B. Hake).

4. Roles of RNAi and Other MicroRNAs in the Regulation ofEpigenetic Processes (Muller Fabbri).

5. Epigenetic Inheritance: Both Mitotic and Meiotic(Nina J. Kaminen–Ahola, Arttu I. Ahola, and EmmaWhitelaw).

SECTION B: Development Epigenetics.

6. Developmental Epigenetics: Roles in EmbryonicDevelopment (Liliana Burliba a and LucianGavril ).

SECTION C: Epigenetic Mechanisms in Disease.

7. Epigenetics, Nutrition, and Cancer (Amy R.Johnson).

8. Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, and Diabetes (Karen D.Corbin).

9. Autoimmunity (Donna Ray and Raymond Yung).

10. Cardiovascular Diseases (Aurelian Bidulescu andMethode Bacanamwo).

PART II: Nutritional Status and Specific Nutrients.

SECTION A: Maternal Nutrition and Fetal Development.

11. Maternal Nutrition and Developmental Outcomes(Shannon L. Haley, Laurie J. Moyer–Mileur, Robert H. Lane, andLisa A. Joss–Moore).

SECTION B: Role of Specific Nutrients.

12. Folate, Vitamin B12, and VitaminB6 (Patrick J. Stover).

13. Dietary Choline, Betaine, Methionine, and EpigeneticMechanisms Influencing Brain Development (Steven H.Zeisel).

14. Epigenetic Regulation by Retinoids (AmandioVieira).

15. We are WhatWe Eat: How Nutritional Compounds Such AsIsoflavones Shape Our Epigenome (Carlos M. Guerrero–Bosagnaand Susan J. Clark).

16. Isothiocyanates and Polyphenols (Nigel J. Belshawand Ian T. Johnson).

SECTION C: Macronutrient Intakes.

17. The Effect of Maternal Macronutrient Intake on PhenotypeInduction and Epigenetic Gene Regulation (Karen A.Lillycrop, Mark A. Hanson, and Graham C. Burdge).

SECTION D: Environmental Exposures.

18. Epigenetic Manifestation of Environmental Exposures(Dana C. Dolinoy, Olivia S. Anderson, and Laura S.Rozek).

SECTION E: Epidemiology of Nutritional Epigenetics.

19. Epigenetics, Nutrition, and Reproduction: Short– andLong–Term Consequences (Paul Haggarty).

20. Nutrition, Epigenetics, and Cancer: An EpidemiologicalPerspective (Audrey Jung and Ellen Kampman).

Index.

Mihai D. Niculescu is an Assistant Professor of Nutrition atthe University of North Carolina s Gillings School of GlobalPublic Health in Chapel Hill, and at the UNC Nutrition ResearchInstitute in Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA.

Paul Haggarty is Head of the Lifelong Health Programme,and the Nutrition and Epigenetics Group, at the Rowett Institute ofNutrition and Health in the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen,Scotland.