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Table 2 Effects of saturated and trans FA on metabolic outcomes through epigenetic mechanisms

From: Fatty acids, epigenetic mechanisms and chronic diseases: a systematic review

FA

Dose

Study model

Epigenetic mechanism

Epigenetic signature

 

Metabolic outcomes

Reference

HUMANS

 Trans FA

  Industrial TFA

10.2 g/2500 kcal, 3.7% of daily energy

9 healthy men

miRNAs

5 miRNAs in purified HDLs

13 HDL-carried miRNAs to the plasmatic miRNA pool

Related to carcinogenesis, FA biosynthesis and alteration in FA metabolism

[28]

ANIMAL MODELS

 Transgenerational

  Elaidic acid

 

20 pregnancy mice and THP-1 cells

DNA methylation

1–50 μM 5.2% increase in 5mC up to 200 μM

+

-

Favors the accumulation of adipose tissue, obesity, and hepatic steatosis

[27]

IN VITRO MODELS

 SFA

  Palmitic acid

750 μM palmitate

In vitro urinary human podocyte cell line and male Sprague-Dawley rats

Histone methylation and acetylation

H3K27me3 and H3K36me2 on promoter region of FOXO1

Related to insulin resistance and decrease of glucose tolerance, favors gluconeogenesis.

[29]

  Palmitic acid

1 mM palmitate

In vitro human pancreatic islets

DNA methylation

4561 sites increased DNA methylation (2753 unique genes and 1429 intergenic sites)

129 sites decreased DNA methylation (99 unique genes, and 30 intergenic sites.

+

-

Associated with insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, T2D, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, dysregulation in FA metabolism related to obesity.

[30]

  Palmitate

0.4 mmol/l palmitate

Pancreatic beta cell line and diabetic rats

DNA methylation

No changes in DNA methylation

 

No change in DNA methylation of Ins1 promoter under normal or high glucose conditions

[31]

  Oleato-palmitate

250 μM oleate-palmitate ratio 1:1

Human skeletal muscle cells from severely obese women

DNA methylation

PPARδ

(sites - 71 and 61 bp)

+

Changes in methylation of PPARD, increases FA uptake and oxidation, favors abnormal accumulation of lipids in oxidative tissues.

[32]

  Stearate and palmitate

3.75 mM. Stearate-palmitate ratio 4:1

Raw264.7 macrophage cell line

DNA methylation

PPARg promoter

+

Promote metabolic disorders and inflammation, increase insulin resistance and obesity.

[33]

  1. FA Fatty acids, TFA Trans fatty acids, FA Fatty acids, THP-1 Human monocytic cell line, HDL High density lipoprotein
  2. ↑ Increase
  3. ↓ Decrease
  4. + hypermethylated
  5. - hypomethylated