Adherence to the Mediterranean diet partially mediates socioeconomic differences in leukocyte LINE-1 methylation: evidence from a cross-sectional study in Italian women.

ABSTRACT: Although previous research demonstrated that socioeconomic status (SES) might affect DNA methylation, social inequalities alone do not completely explain this relationship. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 349 women (Catania, Italy) to investigate whether behaviors might mediate the association between SES and long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1) methylation, a surrogate marker of global DNA methylation. Educational level, used as an indicator of SES, and data on behaviors (i.e. diet, smoking habits, physical activity, and weight status) were collected using structured questionnaires. Adherence to Mediterranean diet (MD) was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS). Leukocyte LINE-1 methylation was assessed by pyrosequencing. Mediation analysis was conducted using the p

SUBMITTER: Maugeri A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7463235 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature