REVIEW article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutrigenomics
This article is part of the Research TopicExploring Nutrigenomics in Managing Metabolic InflammationView all 3 articles
Chrono Epigenetic Nutrition: Reprogramming the Gut-Brain Axis Through Polyphenol-Omega-3 Synergy and Time-Restricted Feeding
Provisionally accepted
- Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Select one of your emails
You have multiple emails registered with Frontiers:
Notify me on publication
Please enter your email address:
If you already have an account, please login
You don't have a Frontiers account ? You can register here
Nutritional epigenetics is emerging as a critical field in understanding how dietary exposures shape long-term health outcomes through heritable modifications of gene expression. Increasing evidence indicates that the gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system integrating microbial, immune, metabolic, and neuronal pathways, is profoundly influenced by both dietary composition and circadian timing of food intake. This review synthesizes current evidence on the concept of chrono-epigenetic nutrition, the interplay between diet-derived bioactives, circadian rhythms, and epigenetic reprogramming of neuroimmune cells. Special attention is given to the synergistic actions of polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids, two nutrient classes with robust anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, under conditions of time-restricted feeding. Evidence from cellular models, animal experiments, and human clinical studies demonstrates that these interventions modulate DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA networks, thereby influencing hypothalamic regulation of energy balance, neuroinflammation, and cognitive resilience. We further highlight translational implications for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diet-related cognitive decline, while outlining the challenges of integrating chrono-nutrition with precision epigenomics. By framing polyphenol omega-3 interventions within the context of circadian and epigenetic regulation, this review introduces a novel paradigm for developing next-generation nutritional strategies targeting the gut-brain axis.
Keywords: Chrono-epigenetic nutrition, gut brain axis, metabolic and Cognitive health, Nutritional epigenetics, omega 3 fatty acids, Polyphenols
Received: 27 Aug 2025; Accepted: 31 Jan 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Rana. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Anvi Rana
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.