are with the Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital, Institute of Biomedical Research in Malaga (IBIMA), University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain.
are with the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Nutr Rev. 2023 Mar 10;81(4):455-479. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuac065.
Gene expression altering epigenomic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromosome remodeling is crucial to regulating many biological processes. Several lifestyle factors, such as diet and natural, bioactive food compounds, such as vitamins, modify epigenetic patterns. However, epigenetic dysregulation can increase the risk of many diseases, including cancer. Various studies have provided supporting and contrasting evidence on the relationship between vitamins and cancer risk. Though there is a gap in knowledge about whether dietary vitamins can induce epigenetic modifications in the context of colorectal cancer (CRC), the possibility of using them as epidrugs for CRC treatment is being explored. This is promising because such studies might be informative about the most effective way to use vitamins in combination with DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and other approved therapies to prevent and treat CRC. This review summarizes the available epidemiological and observational studies involving dietary, circulating levels, and supplementation of vitamins and their relationship with CRC risk. Additionally, using available in vitro, in vivo, and human observational studies, the role of vitamins as potential epigenetic modifiers in CRC is discussed. This review is focused on the action of vitamins as modifiers of DNA methylation because aberrant DNA methylation, together with genetic alterations, can induce the initiation and progression of CRC. Although this review presents some studies with promising results, studies with better study designs are necessary. A thorough understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of vitamin-mediated epigenetic regulation of CRC genes can help identify effective therapeutic targets for CRC prevention and treatment.
基因表达改变表观基因组修饰，如 DNA 甲基化、组蛋白修饰和染色体重塑，对于调节许多生物过程至关重要。几种生活方式因素，如饮食和天然、生物活性食物化合物，如维生素，会改变表观遗传模式。然而，表观遗传失调会增加许多疾病的风险，包括癌症。许多研究提供了关于维生素与癌症风险之间关系的支持和对比证据。尽管关于饮食维生素是否可以在结直肠癌（CRC）的背景下诱导表观遗传修饰存在知识空白，但正在探索将它们用作 CRC 治疗的表观药物的可能性。这是有希望的，因为此类研究可能有助于了解最有效的维生素使用方式，结合 DNA 甲基转移酶抑制剂和其他批准的疗法，以预防和治疗 CRC。
本综述总结了涉及饮食、循环水平和维生素补充的与 CRC 风险相关的现有流行病学和观察性研究。此外，还利用现有的体外、体内和人体观察性研究，讨论了维生素作为 CRC 中潜在表观遗传修饰物的作用。本综述重点关注维生素作为 DNA 甲基化修饰物的作用，因为异常的 DNA 甲基化与遗传改变一起，可以诱导 CRC 的发生和发展。
尽管本综述介绍了一些有前景的研究，但仍需要设计更好的研究。深入了解维生素介导的 CRC 基因表观遗传调控的潜在分子机制，可以帮助确定 CRC 预防和治疗的有效治疗靶点。
