Epigenetic Effects of Essential Fatty Acids

Abstract

In this review, the recent knowledge regarding the epigenetic effects of the four most important dietary fatty acids will be discussed. Besides as important sources of fuel for sustaining life, fatty acids are important biomolecules/precursors involved in diverse cellular activities. Insufficient amount of fatty acids present in the body, especially for those essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) which cannot be synthesized (alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid)/are inefficiently synthesized (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) by the body, could lead to various human diseases and developmental abnormities. The biological roles of these four essential PUFAs have been extensively studied and reviewed throughout the last decades, e.g., biosynthesis of long-chain PUFAs and eicosanoids, anti-inflammation, cardiovascular protection, inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, anti-metastasis, anti-angiogenesis, and regulation of cancer cell death; interestingly, it has been shown more recently that some of the above attributes could be explained by virtue of PUFAs’ influence on gene activities involving DNA methylation/demethylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression. Essential PUFAs are important biomolecules that mediate epigenetic control of gene expressions; therefore, understanding more about the epigenetic effects associated with these dietary fatty acids are crucial to finding ways for improving human health.