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The newest discoveries in epigenetics have led to the emergence of epigenetic clock models. These models identify DNA methylation signatures, allowing us to accurately measure or predict a person’s chronological age, disease, and mortality. These clocks have huge potential for developing our understanding of the disparity between increased average lifespan and improvements in health span.
This review found studies that confirm the significant contribution of the epigenetic clock in nutritional epigenomics and its impact on health outcomes and specific age-related health problems. It showed that epigenetic clocks can offer brilliant insight into the effect of imbalances in a person’s supply of nutrients and polymorphisms. Of particular importance are the dietary factors that are emerging as key modifiers of biological age, epigenetic age, and health issue susceptibility. These include folate and related B-vitamin levels, and polymorphisms in the regulatory enzymes involved in 1-carbon metabolism, the main metabolic pathway for generating methyl groups for DNA methylation.
Suboptimal B-vitamin status may be associated with accelerated aging of the brain, declining cognitive function, and cardiovascular disease; and low dietary B-vitamin intake reports are highly prevalent in older adults.
Common polymorphisms in genes involved in 1-carbon metabolism, such as the MTHFR C677T polymorphism, can influence enzyme activities and, therefore, metabolite and substrate concentrations on the pathway, which is thought to lead to lower levels of DNA methylation.
Studies have shown that DNA methylation affects aging and health, though the exact mechanisms are not yet well understood. Potential mechanisms include effects on immunity and inflammation as well as the effect of diet and lifestyle habits on those factors.
Epigenetic clocks such as the Hannum methylation clock and the Horvath clock have proved an interesting tool to measure biological aging, as they are able to produce a DNA methylation age that correlates accurately with chronological age. They also help to discover if epigenetic age acceleration is occurring, independent of age-related changes such as immune system decline and blood composition, as well as functional decline in the immune system. Further longitudinal studies and randomized nutritional interventions are required to advance the field, according to the article's authors.
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