AUTHOR=Vieira Tamires dos Santos , Freitas Flávia Vitorino , Silva Neto Luiz Cláudio Barreto , Borçoi Aline Ribeiro , Mendes Suzanny Oliveira , Olinda Amanda Sgrancio , Moreno Ivana Alece Arantes , Quaioto Bárbara Risse , de Souza Marcele Lorentz Mattos , Barbosa Wagner Miranda , Arpini Juliana Krüger , Sorroche Bruna Pereira , de Assis Pinheiro Julia , Archanjo Anderson Barros , dos Santos Joaquim Gasparini , Arantes Lidia Maria Rebolho Batista , de Oliveira Daniela Rodrigues , da Silva Adriana Madeira Alvares 

TITLE=An industrialized diet as a determinant of methylation in the 1F region of the NR3C1 gene promoter

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1168715

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2024.1168715

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=Background: A diet's composition can modify gene expression, favoring the development of chronic diseases through epigenetic mechanisms.Objective: Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and NR3C1 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 anthropometry. Peripheral blood was collected and evaluated cortisol levels, glycemia, lipidogram and insulin resistance, and methylation of CpGs 40 to 47 of 1F region of the NR3C1 gene. Factors associated with methylation levels were evaluated using generalized linear models (p<0.05). Lifestyle variables and health variables were used as confounding factors. Results: Our cross-sectional study obtained an association between NR3C1 DNA methylation measured and intake of processed foods. We also found a relevant association between NR3C1 DNA methylation in the average of the segment analyzed, components 1 and 2 (40-43 and 44-47, respectively) and industrialized products consumption pattern 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 association between methylation and metabolic alterations with stress response. In addition, the present study highlights the significant role of diet quality as a stressinducing 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. 9 Variable Aderence healthy pattern pvalue Aderence Industrialized pattern pvalue Aderence mixed pattern pvalue Total No Yes No Yes No Yes Socioeconomic Gender n (%)