Data_Sheet_1_An industrialized diet as a determinant of methylation in the 1F region of the NR3C1 gene promoter.PDF

BackgroundDietary composition can modify gene expression, favoring the development of chronic diseases via epigenetic mechanisms.
ObjectiveOur study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and NR3C1 gene methylation in users of the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS).
MethodsWe 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 NR3C1 gene was also measured. Factors associated with degree of methylation were evaluated using generalized linear models (p < 0.05). Lifestyle variables and health variables were included as confounding factors.
ResultsThe findings of our cross-sectional study indicated an association between NR3C1 DNA methylation and intake of processed foods. We also observed relevant associations of average NR3C1 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.
ConclusionThese 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 NR3C1 methylation. This relationship is further linked to changes in psychosocial factors, lifestyle choices, and cardiometabolic variables, including glucose levels, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia.

背景：饮食组成可改变基因表达，并通过表观遗传机制促进慢性病的发生发展。
研究目的：本研究旨在探究巴西公共统一卫生系统（SUS）使用者的饮食模式与NR3C1基因甲基化之间的关联。
研究方法：本研究招募250名成年志愿者，对其社会经济状况、心理社会特征、生活方式及人体测量学指标进行评估。采集外周血样本，检测皮质醇水平、血糖、血脂谱及胰岛素抵抗情况；同时测定NR3C1基因1F区域CpG位点（CpG）40–47的甲基化水平。采用广义线性模型（generalized linear models）分析与甲基化程度相关的影响因素（P<0.05），并将生活方式变量与健康变量作为混杂因素纳入分析。
研究结果：本项横断面研究结果显示，NR3C1基因DNA甲基化水平与加工食品摄入量存在关联。此外，本研究还观察到，在所分析的区段中，NR3C1基因平均DNA甲基化水平、组分1（40–43）甲基化水平及组分2（44–47）甲基化水平，均与工业化食品消费模式、体质量指数（Body Mass Index，BMI）、血清皮质醇水平及血脂谱存在显著关联。上述结果提示，甲基化水平与应激反应相关的代谢改变之间存在关联。
研究结论：上述研究结果表明，甲基化水平与代谢改变及应激反应之间存在关联。此外，本研究凸显了饮食质量作为影响NR3C1基因甲基化的应激诱导因子的重要作用。该关联还与心理社会因素、生活方式选择及心脏代谢相关变量（包括血糖水平、胰岛素抵抗及高脂血症）的改变相关。