Paolo Vineis1, Silvia Stringhini2, Miquel Porta3. 1. MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College, St. Mary׳s Campus Norfolk Place, W2 1PG London, United Kingdom; Human Genetics Foundation, Torino (HuGeF), Italy. Electronic address: p.vineis@imperial.ac.uk. 2. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, 1010 Lausanne, Switzerland. 3. Hospital del Mar Institute of Medical Research (IMIM), CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain; School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasing worldwide. We hypothesize that environmental factors (including social adversity, diet, lack of physical activity and pollution) can become "embedded" in the biology of humans. We also hypothesize that the "embedding" partly occurs because of epigenetic changes, i.e., durable changes in gene expression patterns. Our concern is that once such factors have a foundation in human biology, they can affect human health (including NCDs) over a long period of time and across generations. OBJECTIVES: To analyze how worldwide changes in movements of goods, persons and lifestyles (globalization) may affect the "epigenetic landscape" of populations and through this have an impact on NCDs. We provide examples of such changes and effects by discussing the potential epigenetic impact of socio-economic status, migration, and diet, as well as the impact of environmental factors influencing trends in age at puberty. DISCUSSION: The study of durable changes in epigenetic patterns has the potential to influence policy and practice; for example, by enabling stratification of populations into those who could particularly benefit from early interventions to prevent NCDs, or by demonstrating mechanisms through which environmental factors influence disease risk, thus providing compelling evidence for policy makers, companies and the civil society at large. The current debate on the '25 × 25 strategy', a goal of 25% reduction in relative mortality from NCDs by 2025, makes the proposed approach even more timely. CONCLUSIONS: Epigenetic modifications related to globalization may crucially contribute to explain current and future patterns of NCDs, and thus deserve attention from environmental researchers, public health experts, policy makers, and concerned citizens.
BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasing worldwide. We hypothesize that environmental factors (including social adversity, diet, lack of physical activity and pollution) can become "embedded" in the biology of humans. We also hypothesize that the "embedding" partly occurs because of epigenetic changes, i.e., durable changes in gene expression patterns. Our concern is that once such factors have a foundation in human biology, they can affect human health (including NCDs) over a long period of time and across generations. OBJECTIVES: To analyze how worldwide changes in movements of goods, persons and lifestyles (globalization) may affect the "epigenetic landscape" of populations and through this have an impact on NCDs. We provide examples of such changes and effects by discussing the potential epigenetic impact of socio-economic status, migration, and diet, as well as the impact of environmental factors influencing trends in age at puberty. DISCUSSION: The study of durable changes in epigenetic patterns has the potential to influence policy and practice; for example, by enabling stratification of populations into those who could particularly benefit from early interventions to prevent NCDs, or by demonstrating mechanisms through which environmental factors influence disease risk, thus providing compelling evidence for policy makers, companies and the civil society at large. The current debate on the '25 × 25 strategy', a goal of 25% reduction in relative mortality from NCDs by 2025, makes the proposed approach even more timely. CONCLUSIONS: Epigenetic modifications related to globalization may crucially contribute to explain current and future patterns of NCDs, and thus deserve attention from environmental researchers, public health experts, policy makers, and concerned citizens.
Authors: Nandita Bhan; Christopher Millett; S V Subramanian; Amit Dias; Dewan Alam; Joseph Williams; Preet K Dhillon Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2017-07-29 Impact factor: 3.380
Authors: Muhammad Mansoor Asghar; Zhaohua Wang; Bo Wang; Syed Anees Haider Zaidi Journal: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int Date: 2019-12-13 Impact factor: 5.190
Authors: Lidyane V Camelo; Luana Giatti; Jorge Alexandre Barbosa Neves; Paulo A Lotufo; Isabela M Benseñor; Dóra Chor; Rosane Härter Griep; Maria de Jesus Mendes da Fonseca; Pedro Guatimosim Vidigal; Ichiro Kawachi; Maria Inês Schmidt; Sandhi Maria Barreto Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-10-13 Impact factor: 3.240