Sperm DNA Methylation at Metabolism-Related Genes in Vegan Subjects

Overview

Journal Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2021 Mar 26

PMID 33767672

Citations 5

Authors

Marica Franzago

Iva Sabovic

Sara Franchi

Maria De Santo

Andrea Di Nisio

Alice Luddi

Paola Piomboni

Ester Vitacolonna

Liborio Stuppia

Carlo Foresta

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate if epigenome of sperm cells could be dynamically affected by nutrition.

Design And Methods: We assessed 40 healthy volunteers with different dietary habits and collected their demographic characteristics, as well as clinical and anthropometric parameters. We compared methylation profiles in sperm quantified by bisulfite pyrosequencing, at promoter-associated CpG sites of genes involved in metabolism including fat mass and obesity-associated () and melanocortin-4 receptor () from six vegans and 34 omnivores. In addition, the rs9939609 (T>A) was genotyped.

Results: Higher DNA methylation levels were detected in the sperm of vegan at gene CpG1 (p=0.02), CpG2 (p=0.001), CpG3 (p=0.004), and CpG4 (p=0.003) sites and at -CpG2 site [p=0.016] as compared to sperm of omnivores. This association was not related to genotype.

Conclusions: Although limited by the small number of investigated cases, our data provide insight into the role of diet on sperm DNA methylation in genes involved in metabolism.

Citing Articles

The Contribution of Precision Nutrition Intervention in Subfertile Couples.

Monteiro J, Bicho M, Valente A Nutrients. 2025; 17(1.

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Comment on Jakše et al. Vegan Diets for Children: A Narrative Review of Position Papers Published by Relevant Associations. 2023, , 4715.

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Do Popular Diets Impact Fertility?.

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How Food Choices Impact on Male Fertility.

Pecora G, Sciarra F, Gangitano E, Venneri M Curr Nutr Rep. 2023; 12(4):864-876.

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The Obesogenic Environment: Epigenetic Modifications in Placental Melanocortin 4 Receptor Gene Connected to Gestational Diabetes and Smoking.

Franzago M, Porreca A, DArdes M, Di Nicola M, Di Tizio L, Liberati M Front Nutr. 2022; 9:879526.

PMID: 35571924 PMC: 9100829. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.879526.

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