⏱ 3 min read
Epigenetics studies changes in gene activity that do not alter the DNA sequence but rather the way it is read: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs that turn genes on or off depending on the environment. It is the bridge between what we inherit and what we live: diet, exercise, sleep, stress, and toxins leave epigenetic marks that modulate which genes are expressed.
It matters in health because many lifestyle interventions and several compounds act, at least in part, through epigenetic pathways: methyl donors (folate, choline, betaine), polyphenols such as sulforaphane, resveratrol, or EGCG, and fasting modify methylation patterns and the activity of enzymes such as sirtuins or HDACs. The epigenetic clock —biological age estimated by methylation— has become one of the most widely used measures of aging.
For educational purposes, not medical advice. A good part of the evidence on epigenetic modulation by diet or supplements is preliminary.
Information, not medical advice.