Impact of Consuming Extra-Virgin Olive Oil or Nuts within a Mediterranean Diet on DNA Methylation in Peripheral White Blood Cells within the PREDIMED-Navarra Randomized Controlled Trial: A Role for Dietary Lipids.

Ana Arpón, Fermín I Milagro, Cristina Razquin, Dolores Corella, Ramón Estruch, Montserrat Fitó, Amelia Marti, Miguel A Martínez-González, Emilio Ros, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, José-Ignacio Riezu-Boj, J Alfredo Martínez

Journal: Nutrients 2018;10(1):15

PMID: 29295516

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Plain Language Summary

Our genes are not fixed. They interact constantly with the environment through dietary and lifestyle factors, which affect whether genes are expressed or not. This is often referred to as epigenetic modulation. DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that adds a methyl group to DNA, thereby modifying the function of the genes and affecting gene expression. Epigenetic alterations have been associated with conditions, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and immunological conditions. It is suggested that epigenetic marks are reversible and can be modulated by nutrient status and certain dietary components. The aim of the current study was to explore methylation changes in genes of peripheral white blood cells in a subset of participants from the PREDIMED-Navarra randomised controlled trial. 36 participants were allocated to three groups, all consuming a Mediterranean diet. In the first group, the diet was supplemented with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), in the second group, with mixed nuts, and the third group, which served as the control group, were advised to consume a low-fat diet. Changes in DNA methylation were analysed from blood samples at baseline and at five-year follow-up. The authors observed methylation changes in several genes, related to metabolism, glucose and energy regulation, diabetes and inflammation, after the consumption of EVOO and nuts. They concluded that the beneficial effects of Mediterranean diets that include EVOO and nuts, may, at least in part, be mediated via epigenetic mechanisms. As these foods are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, the quality of fat may be playing an important role in this mediation.

Abstract

DNA methylation could be reversible and mouldable by environmental factors, such as dietary exposures. The objective was to analyse whether an intervention with two Mediterranean diets, one rich in extra-virgin olive oil (MedDiet + EVOO) and the other one in nuts (MedDiet + nuts), was influencing the methylation status of peripheral white blood cells (PWBCs) genes. A subset of 36 representative individuals were selected within the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED-Navarra) trial, with three intervention groups in high cardiovascular risk volunteers: MedDiet + EVOO, MedDiet + nuts, and a low-fat control group. Methylation was assessed at baseline and at five-year follow-up. Ingenuity pathway analysis showed routes with differentially methylated CpG sites (CpGs) related to intermediate metabolism, diabetes, inflammation, and signal transduction. Two CpGs were specifically selected: cg01081346-/ and cg17071192-, being associated with intermediate metabolism. Furthermore, cg01081346 was associated with PUFAs intake, showing a role for specific fatty acids on epigenetic modulation. Specific components of MedDiet, particularly nuts and EVOO, were able to induce methylation changes in several PWBCs genes. These changes may have potential benefits in health; especially those changes in genes related to intermediate metabolism, diabetes, inflammation and signal transduction, which may contribute to explain the role of MedDiet and fat quality on health outcomes.

Address: Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. [email protected].; Centre for Nutrition Research, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. [email protected].; Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. [email protected].; Centre for Nutrition Research, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. [email protected].; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain. [email protected].; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain. [email protected].; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. [email protected].; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNa), 31008 Pamplona, Spain. [email protected].; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain. [email protected].; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain. [email protected].; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain. [email protected].; Department of Internal Medicine, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. [email protected].; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain. [email protected].; Institut de Recerca Hospital del Mar de Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), 08003 Barcelona, Spain. [email protected].; Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. [email protected].; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain. [email protected].; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNa), 31008 Pamplona, Spain. [email protected].; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain.; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNa), 31008 Pamplona, Spain.; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain. [email protected].; Lipid Clinic, Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.. [email protected].; Human Nutrition Department, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan, Institut d'Investigació Sanitaria Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43201 Reus, Spain.; Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.; Centre for Nutrition Research, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.; Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. [email protected].; Centre for Nutrition Research, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. [email protected].; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain. [email protected].; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNa), 31008 Pamplona, Spain. [email protected].; Madrid Institute of Advanced Studies (IMDEA), IMDEA Food, 28049 Madrid, Spain. [email protected].

DOI: 10.3390/nu10010015

Patient Centred Factor

Mediators: Unsaturated fatty acids

Clinical Imbalances

Detoxification and Biotransformation

Laboratory Testing

Blood

Modifiable Lifestyle Factors

Diet

Allocation Concealment

Nutrition Evidence Keywords

Diabetes Inflammation Polyunsaturated fatty acids Extra virgin olive oil Gene expression PUFA Monounsaturated fatty acids EVOO MUFA Glucose regulation Gene-environment interaction Epigenetic alterations Epigenetic modifications

Bioactive Substances

Polyunsaturated fatty acids PUFA Monounsaturated fatty acids MUFA

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https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?term=AREA%5BRefe...

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https://scite.ai/reports/29295516

Molecular Biology Databases:

https://data.niaid.nih.gov/resources?id=gse107205

MeSH Terms: Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Comorbidity, CpG Islands, DNA Methylation, Diet, Healthy, Diet, Mediterranean, Energy Metabolism, Epigenesis, Genetic, Female, Humans, Leukocytes, Male, Middle Aged, Nuts, Olive Oil, Protective Factors, Risk Factors, Spain, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome