Document Detail


The vegetarian lifestyle and DNA methylation.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16197315     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Vegetarians have a lower intake of vitamin B12 than omnivores do. Vitamin B12 deficiency (holotranscobalamin II <35 pmol/L or methylmalonic acid >271 nmol/L) was found in 58% of 71 vegetarians studied. Higher homocysteine levels (>12 micromol/L) found in 45% indicate disturbed remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. The methylation of DNA is strongly linked to homocysteine metabolism. Since DNA methylation is an important epigenetic factor in the regulation of gene expression, alteration of the methylation pattern has been associated with aging, cancer, atherosclerosis and other diseases. Three observations indicate that DNA methylation could be diminished by a vegetarian lifestyle. The vegetarian diet has a low content of methionine, remethylation of homocysteine is reduced by vitamin B12 deficiency and elevated homocysteine levels can induce the generation of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), a potent inhibitor of methyltransferases. In our study we observed a significant correlation between SAH and whole-genome methylation (r=-0.36, p<0.01). This observation underlines the role of SAH as a potent inhibitor of methyltransferases. The methylation status was not correlated with homocysteine or S-adenosylemethionine (SAM). These results indicate that the degree of methylation does not depend on the supply of methyl groups and that the reverse generation of SAH has no influence. In addition to whole-genome methylation, the specific promoter methylation of the p66Shc gene was studied. However, the latter did not correlate with SAH, SAM or homocysteine. Obviously, the promoter methylation of the p66Shc gene is controlled in a specific way, without following the general regulating influence of SAH. In conclusion, an inhibitory effect of SAH on whole-genome methylation was found, but from our data no interaction between vegetarian lifestyle and DNA methylation could be determined.
Authors:
Jürgen Geisel; Heike Schorr; Marion Bodis; Sonia Isber; Ulrich Hübner; Jean-Pierre Knapp; Rima Obeid; Wolfgang Herrmann
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine : CCLM / FESCC     Volume:  43     ISSN:  1434-6621     ISO Abbreviation:  Clin. Chem. Lab. Med.     Publication Date:  2005  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-10-03     Completed Date:  2005-12-02     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9806306     Medline TA:  Clin Chem Lab Med     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1164-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Saarland Medical School, Homburg, Germany. kchjgei@uniklinik-saarland.de
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
Adult
Aged
Biological Markers / blood
DNA / genetics,  metabolism
DNA Methylation*
Diet, Vegetarian / adverse effects*
Humans
Middle Aged
Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / blood,  genetics
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; 0/Biological Markers; 0/SHC1 protein, human; 0/Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins; 9007-49-2/DNA

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