| The term, nutritional genomics, is a new science that | | | | overreaction of the human immune system in the |
| deals with analyzing the interplay between human | | | | gut, thus causing an excessive immunity related |
| health and nutrition, with respect to the human | | | | inflammatory response. Since the nature of the |
| genome. There are two main categories when | | | | genes involved is known, nutritional suggestions can |
| looking at nutritional genomics. These are | | | | be made. Pro-biotics can be ingested to have an |
| nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics. There is a distinct | | | | impact on microbial flora. Omega 3-fatty acids and |
| difference between the two. Nutrigenomics is | | | | polyphenols can reduce inflammation in the gut. Green |
| concerned with the effect that particular nutrients | | | | tea polyphenols have also been used to treat irritable |
| have on the genome, metabolome, and the | | | | bowel syndrome. (3) |
| proteome. Nutrigenetics focuses on genetic | | | | Nutrigenetics This branch of nutrigenomics is highly |
| differences between individuals and the correlating | | | | interested in the genetic makeup of individuals. It is |
| health concerns that may arise from a particular | | | | highly regarded in the area of individual based |
| genetic modification. (4,5) | | | | medicine. The main goal of nutrigenetics is to |
| Nutrigenomics | | | | personalize nutrition. This means that, based upon |
| A wide variety of nutrients can have profound | | | | one's genetic makeup, a certain diet can be |
| effect on the regulation of gene expression within | | | | constructed that prevents disease, enhances |
| different cells of the body. There are many different | | | | immunity, increases life span, and betters quality of |
| pathways of metabolism and ways of maintaining the | | | | life. In the present day, nutrigenetics has not evolved |
| body's homeostasis within the human body. The new | | | | to be beneficial on a large scale. There is still much |
| science of nutrigenomics seeks to understand this | | | | work to be done on the subject. Once nutrigenomics |
| relationship between nutrition and health. One must | | | | is able to say what a particular nutrient does to a |
| look at gene products and the physiological function | | | | gene, then the scientists can start to prescribe |
| of these products when faced with a particular | | | | certain individual based diets. (5) |
| nutrient. Certain genes may produce different | | | | Examples of Nutrigenetics in Action: |
| products or proteins, depending on the way that the | | | | Type 2 Diabetes mellitus is caused by a wide |
| cell recognizes the nutrient. Every cell in the human | | | | interplay of genes and pathways. It deals with the |
| body has a built in sensory system. Depending on the | | | | bodies lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Some |
| levels of nutrients detected, the protein expression | | | | genes involved in this form of diabetes are sterol |
| of the cell varies. In order to more fully understand | | | | response element binding protein and intronic single |
| the ways in which nutrients may affect the | | | | nucleotide polymorphism. Mutations in these genes |
| expression of genes, more studies need to be done | | | | have been related to increase in occurrence of type |
| in the areas of protein expression and metabolite | | | | 2 diabetes. The SREBP 1-c gene has been found to |
| production (4) | | | | be highly responsive to high fructose diets. MRNA |
| Example of Nutrigenomics in Action: | | | | expression was highly induced in mice having one |
| An example of the use of nutrigenomics in modern | | | | polymorphism by high fructose diets. (1) |
| medicine can be displayed by a few studies. Take, | | | | Another disease that is under the survallience of |
| for instance, the study by Ferguson, that seeks to | | | | nutrigenetics is cardiovascular related diseases. |
| analyze nutrition and genetic polymorphisms, in | | | | Diseases like hyperlipidemia have been linked to genes |
| relation to Crohn's disease. In Crohn's disease, studies | | | | encoding for apolipoproteins. People with the E4 allele |
| confirm the importance of caspase-activated | | | | in the apolipoprotein E gene show a higher bad |
| recruitment domain 15 and major histocompatability | | | | cholesterol levels with increased dietary fat |
| complex II molecules, but also reveal strong | | | | consumption, when compared with people with E1, |
| associations with the pro-inflammatory cytokine | | | | E2, or E3 alleles. Also, one polymorphism in the |
| interleukin-23 receptor and autophagy related 16-like | | | | hepatic lipase gene is correlated with an increase in |
| gene. So far, genes identified to date in Crohn's | | | | protective HDL levels compared with the TT |
| disease can be linked into two related pathways: | | | | genotype. (1) |
| receptor-mediated cytokine induction or | | | | The science is clear, there is a direct correlation |
| autophagocytosis. Nutrients that display | | | | between a person's genetics and certain markers for |
| anti-inflammatory actions, such as omega 3 fatty | | | | disease. |
| acids, are being studied as a possible way to treat | | | | References: |
| this disease. (2) | | | | 1. Ferguson L.R. "Nutrigenomics in the whole-genome |
| Another example of the use of nutrigenomics can be | | | | scanning era: Crohn's disease as an example." Cellular |
| displayed by another one of Ferguson's studies. This | | | | and Molecular Life Sciences 2007 |
| study deals with bowel disease. Inflammatory bowel | | | | 2. "Genes, diet and inflammatory bowel disease" |
| disease is known to be caused by a genetic | | | | Mutation Res. 2007, 622 (1-2):70-83 |
| predisposition, arising from certain genetic | | | | 3. Kaput J. "Diet-Disease Gene Interactions." Nutrition |
| polymorphisms. These abnormalities change the way | | | | 2004; 20:26-31 |
| the body reacts to luminal bacteria. The gene | | | | 4. Munoz de Chavez. "Nutrigenomics in public health |
| associated with this disease is the Caspase-activated | | | | nutrition: short-term perspectives." European Journal |
| recruitment domain (CARD15) gene. Other genes | | | | of Clinical Nutrition. 57 (Suppl.) 97-100 |
| responsible for the abnormal reaction to luminal | | | | 5. Ordovas JM. "Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics." Curr |
| bacteria are autophagy-related 16-like 1 and human | | | | Opin Lipidol. 2004: 101-108. |
| defensin genes. These genes seem to induce the | | | | |