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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300633

Title: Dietary effects on adipocyte metabolism and epigenetics

Author
item Larson, Kate
item Zeng, Huawei
item Combs, Gerald

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2014
Publication Date: 1/1/2015
Citation: Claycombe, K.J., Zeng, H., Combs, G.F. 2015. Dietary effects on adipocyte metabolism and epigenetics. In: Ho, E. Domann, F. Nutrition and Epigenetics. Boca Raton, FL. CRC Press. p. 323-335.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Obesity risk appears to be perpetuated across generations by way of programmed DNA alterations that occur in utero and that affect gene expression throughout the life span. Studies have demonstrated associations of maternal obesity and epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling, linked to adipose tissue growth and chronic disease risk in offspring. Diet has emerged as important in this regard, affecting epigenetic pathways in adipocytes. Understanding the metabolic bases by which diet affects the embryonic/fetal environment to regulate obesigenic epigenetic events is important for identifying maternal practices that can reduce obesity risk across generations. This overview summarizes current understanding of effects of diet on epigenetic control mechanisms in epigenetic regulation relevant to obesity.