Journal Article

Traditional Korean diet high in one-carbon nutrients increases global DNA methylation: implication for epigenetic diet

Kim, Min Jung, Hong, Moonju, Kim, Jin Hee, Friso, Simonetta, Choi, Sang-Woon, Shin, Phil-Kyung, Kwon, Dae Young, Park, Seon-Joo, Kim, Myung-Sunny, Chun, Sukyung, Yang, Hye Jeong, Lee, Kyun-Hee, Lee, Hae-Jeung

2024

Overview

Purpose DNA methylation is a major epigenetic phenomenon through which diet affects health and disease. This study aimed to determine the epigenetic influence of the traditional Korean diet (K-diet) on global DNA methylation via one-carbon metabolism. Methods A crossover study was conducted on 52 women. Two diets, a K-diet, high in plant foods and low in calories and animal fat, and a control diet, similar to the diet currently consumed in Korea, were provided to all subjects alternately for 4 weeks with a 4-week washout period. Clinical parameters were measured before and after each dietary intervention. Nutrient intake was calculated by using a computer-aided nutritional analysis program. One-carbon metabolites in the serum and global DNA methylation in peripheral mononuclear cells were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results The K-diet group consumed more folate (669.9 ± 6.7 µg vs. 502.7 ± 3.0, p  < 0.001), B6, B12, serine, and choline, and less methionine (992.6 ± 63 vs. 1048.3 mg ± 34.1, p  < 0.0001) than the control group did. In the K-diet group, the increment of plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (0.08 µg/mL ± 0.11 vs 0.02 ± 0.10, p  < 0.009) and decrement of L-homocysteine (− 70.7 ± 85.0 vs − 39.3 ± 69.4, p  < 0.0168) were greater than those of the control group. Global DNA methylation was significantly increased in the K-diet group (6.70 ± 3.02% to 9.45 ± 3.69, p  < 0.0001) but not in the control group. Conclusions A K-diet high in one-carbon nutrients can enhance the global DNA methylation status, suggesting an epigenetic mechanism by which the K-diet conveys health effects. Trial registration Korean Clinical Trial Registry (trial number: KCT0005340, 24/08/2020, retrospectively registered).

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adult / animal fats and oils / blood serum / Carbon / Carbon - metabolism / Chemistry / Chemistry and Materials Science / choline / Choline - administration & dosage / Choline - blood / clinical trials / Cross-Over Studies / Diet / Diet - methods / Diet - statistics & numerical data / Dietary intake / DNA Methylation / Epigenesis, Genetic / Epigenetics / Female / Folic acid / Folic Acid - blood / High fat diet / Homocysteine / Humans / Hypocaloric diet / KCT / KCT0005340 / Korean Peninsula / L-Homocysteine / Leukocytes (mononuclear) / Liquid chromatography / Low fat diet / Mass spectroscopy / metabolism / metabolites / Methionine / Methionine - administration & dosage / Middle Aged / Nutrient deficiency / nutrient intake / Nutrients / Nutrition / nutritional intervention / Original Contribution / Republic of Korea / serine / tandem mass spectrometry / Vitamin B 12 - blood / Vitamin B 6 - administration & dosage / Vitamin B 6 - blood