An Industrialized Diet As a Determinant of Methylation in the 1F Region of the Gene Promoter

Objective: Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and gene methylation in users of the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS).

Methods: We recruited 250 adult volunteers and evaluated their socioeconomic status, psychosocial characteristics, lifestyle, and anthropometrics. Peripheral blood was collected and evaluated for cortisol levels, glycemia, lipid profile, and insulin resistance; methylation of CpGs 40-47 of the 1F region of the gene was also measured. Factors associated with degree of methylation were evaluated using generalized linear models ( < 0.05). Lifestyle variables and health variables were included as confounding factors.

Results: The findings of our cross-sectional study indicated an association between DNA methylation and intake of processed foods. We also observed relevant associations of average DNA across the segment analyzed, methylation in component 1 (40-43), and methylation in component 2 (44-47) with a pattern of consumption of industrialized products in relation to BMI, serum cortisol levels, and lipid profile. These results may indicate a relationship between methylation and metabolic changes related to the stress response.

Conclusion: These findings suggest an association of methylation and metabolic alterations with stress response. In addition, the present study highlights the significant role of diet quality as a stress-inducing factor that influences methylation. This relationship is further linked to changes in psychosocial factors, lifestyle choices, and cardiometabolic variables, including glucose levels, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia.

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