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. 2017 Mar;4(1):31-37.
doi: 10.1007/s40471-017-0096-x. Epub 2017 Jan 13.

Epigenetics and Health Disparities

Alexis D Vick  1 , Heather H Burris  2
Affiliations

Epigenetics and Health Disparities

Alexis D Vick et al. Curr Epidemiol Rep. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose of review: African Americans disproportionately suffer from leading causes of morbidity and mortality including cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and preterm birth. Disparities can arise from multiple social and environmental exposures, but how the human body responds to these exposures to result in pathophysiologic states is incompletely understood.

Recent findings: Epigenetic mechanisms, particularly DNA methylation, can be altered in response to exposures such as air pollution, psychosocial stress, and smoking. Each of these exposures has been linked to the above health states (CVD, cancer, and preterm birth) with striking racial disparities in exposure levels. DNA methylation patterns have also been shown to be associated with each of these health outcomes.

Summary: Whether DNA methylation mediates exposure-disease relationships and can help explain racial disparities in health is not known. However, because many environmental and adverse social exposures disproportionately affect minorities, understanding the role that epigenetics plays in the human response to these exposures that often result in disease, is critical to reducing disparities in morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: DNA methylation; breast cancer; cardiovascular disease; epigenetics; epigenomics; preterm birth; racial health disparities.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Alexis D. Vick and Heather H. Burris each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

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