Polyphenols, epigenetics, and methionine metabolism: unlocking therapeutic potential

Polyphenols, abundant in tea, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-derived foods, have emerged as key bioactive ingredients in the field of nutritional epigenetics. These polyphenols can modulate epigenetic modifications through endogenous metabolic pathways that are highly sensitive to food signals. Among these, the methionine cycle plays a central role in maintaining the homeostasis of DNA, histone, and RNA methylation by controlling the cellular supply of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the universal methyl donor. Dietary polyphenols influence this cycle through multiple mechanisms, including the regulation of methionine adenosyltransferase activity, modulation of SAM biosynthesis, and promotion of S-adenosylhomocysteine clearance. These actions help restore methylation balance and contribute to the dietary prevention of metabolic, inflammatory, and age-related diseases. Furthermore, polyphenols are biotransformed in the gut microbiota to produce metabolites that further influence methionine metabolism and its associated epigenetic modifications. This review provides an overview of dietary polyphenols as functional food supplements that play a role in methionine metabolic homeostasis and epigenetic modification. This review provides new perspectives for the development of precision nutrition strategies, functional foods, and chronic disease prevention approaches.