Epidemiological Epigenomics on Nutrition and Health

Dear Colleagues,

Human health is strongly determined by environmental factors such as dietary patterns, foods, nutrients, pollutants, toxics, or social stress, besides genetics. It is well established that the molecular mechanisms by means of which environmental factors alter biological processes are epigenetic mechanisms. These epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation marks, histone modifications, non-coding RNA (microRNA, long non-coding RNA) and sirtuin expression, epigenetic clock, mitochondrial DNA methylation, and telomere length. Epigenetics play a relevant role in physiological and pathological conditions by regulating gene expression. In this context, there has been growing interest in studying the associations between epigenetic variations and disease susceptibility. However, the elucidation of epigenetic biomarkers and the characterization of epigenetic therapeutic targets are still limited, which make the epidemiological epigenetics an emerging and fruitful field in clinical settings.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to add to the research which uses epigenetics only or in combination with other omic-technologies (genetics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics) in the identification of biomarkers of disease and exposure, or of susceptible populations, as well as in the characterization of modulators of epigenetic mechanisms. This could help to design methods for the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, neurological disorders, and cancer, and promote healthy aging.

Submissions may include population-based studies of variation in epigenetic marks, as well as studies regarding the effects of specific diets, dietary patterns, foods, nutrients, bioactive compounds, endocrine disruptors, or toxics (alcohol, tobacco, and abuse drugs) on changes in epigenomics parameters that could be associated with the biological responses and/or the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases and aging. The identification of epigenetic marks as biomarkers or drivers of disease could help to design more precise and personalized programs for disease prevention and management. This identification can be performed in body fluids (plasma, saliva, urine, and sperm) or tissues and at the nuclear or mitochondrial genome.

This Special Issue welcomes the submission of manuscripts describing original research or reviews of the scientific literature in humans (interventional, observational, or cohort studies).

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ana B. Crujeiras
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• epigenetics
• nutriepigenomics
• mitoepigenetics
• DNA methylation
• microRNA
• long non-coding RNA
• inflammation
• oxidative stress
• dietary patterns
• bioactive compounds
• vitamins
• antioxidants
• disease
• aging
• longevity