Dr. Alfredo Galvez, the Center of Excellence in Nutritional Genomics at University of California – Davis shows how lunasin the world’s first epigenetic superfood affects multiple genes in multiple pathways versus cancer drugs in the slideshare presentation below.
What makes lunasin different from drugs in affecting chronic diseases?
“Drugs target specific physiological pathways and specific genes in the body, treating the symptoms instead of treating the underlying causes of chronic diseases. Lunasin, as a bioactive dietary nutrient, in combination with proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle affect multiple pathways and multiple genes to more effectively promote health and protect the body from chronic diseases.”
How can nutrition promote optimal functioning of the epigenome and limit environmental damage?
“The epigenome changes as we age and as we interact with our environment. Nutrition plays a big part in changing the epigenome because the chemical compounds that attaches and modifies the epigenome can be derived from dietary sources. Unhealthy foods and eating habits will result in changes in the epigenome of different cells and can turn on or off genes that predispose individuals to chronic diseases.”
“However, unlike changes to the genome (mutations) that are permanent, unwanted changes to the epigenome due to bad diet and damaging environmental conditions, such as smoking, chronic stress and sedentary lifestyle, can be reversed so as to promote optimal functioning of the cell. Current research is now revealing that good nutrition and supplementation with natural bioactive agents have the ability to promote changes to the epigenome that could lead to healthier cells and bodies.”
How does lunasin turn on health-promoting genes?
“Lunasin can turn on and increase the expression of health-promoting genes, such as those involved with cancer prevention, by enhancing the acetylation of Lysine 16 in histone H4 [1]. H4-Lysine 16 acetylation is the epigenetic mark associated with the opening up of condensed chromatin (DNA + histones) to allow easier access of the cellular transcription machinery to activate and increase gene expression. Loss of H4-Lysine 16 acetylation has been shown to be a common hallmark of human cancer cells [2].”
How does lunasin turn off disease-causing genes?
“Lunasin can turn off disease-causing genes by binding and inhibiting the specific acetylation of Lysine 14 in histone H3 by the histone acetylase enzyme, PCAF [1]. H3 acetylation, which includes H3-lysine 14 acetylation, is an epigenetic mark required to activate genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, inflammation, hormone response and cancer formation. By impeding the expression of these genes, lunasin can help prevent formation of chronic diseases.”
Learn more about lunasin and the epigenetic revolution.
References:
1. Galvez, A.F., et al., Nutrition and Cancer, 2011. 63:623-36.
2. Fraga, M.F., et al., Nature Genetics, 2005. 37(4):391-400.
3. Galvez, A. Circulation Research, 2012. 126: p. A10693.