In April, 2003, the publicly funded Human Genome Project (HGP), whose quest was to sequence all 3 billion base pairs found in the human DNA, was completed. The elucidation of the human genome created opportunities for the development of several scientific fields and tools to be able to understand and treat chronic disease based on our genes. One of those fields is nutrigenomics.
So what is Nutrigenomics?
Nutrigenomics is the study of how foods affect the expression of genetic information in an individual and how individual differences affect the way we metabolize and respond to the nutrients and bioactive compounds in the foods we eat. Nutrigenomics helps us understand how our genetic variation can explain why individuals respond differently to the same foods; and helps us to understand the interaction of nutrient-gene effects in the development and prevention of chronic disease.
How do we use nutrigenomics in practice?
DNA, Genomic & SNP testing
You’ve probably seen a lot of press lately with the battle between the FDA and the DNA testing company 23 And Me. The thing that gets missed in the news is that the FDA is not denying the role and function of DNA testing in understanding our genetic susceptibility to disease. They were, however, contesting 23 And Me’s research to support their claims and the subsequent recommendations they were giving.
Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, had this to say regarding 23 And Me: “FDA understands and supports people’s interest in having access to their genetic information and believes such information can help them make more informed choices about their health — so long as that genetic information is accurate — and the results are correct, meaningful and written in a way that consumers can understand.”
DNA (genomic or SNP) genotyping is done to find a specific type of mutation called SNP. SNP stands for single nucleotide polymorphism, and are mutations found on or closely associated with genes that have been known to cause chronic diseases or that affect drug metabolism. Thus they serve as biomarkers so that when we see particular SNPs we can make certain assumptions about an individual’s disease and drug metabolism risk.
Nutrigenomics and Health
According the US Centers for Disease Control “Genomics plays a role in nine of the Ten Leading Causes of Death in the United States” particularly chronic diseases. These diseases are in part due to the interaction between genes and environment, more specifically our food and lifestyle.
Genes do not cause disease in and of themselves per se. Disease develops when gene mutations occur which prevents the gene from functioning properly in the way it gives instruction for protein synthesis (i.e. gene expression). By changing a gene’s instructions, a mutation can cause the protein to malfunction or to be missing entirely. When a mutation alters a protein that plays a critical role in the body, it can disrupt normal development or cause a medical condition.
Nutrients act as dietary signals and can affect gene expression directly or indirectly by regulating various metabolic pathways and systems involved with the etiology, development, and severity of chronic disease. Further, the bioactive compounds in our foods have been shown to affect hormone regulation, cell differentiation, cell growth cycle, carcinogen metabolism, apoptosis and the inflammatory response—all of which can influence our health status. All the evidence shows that nutrition therapy and genomic testing will become a standard part of healthcare. The health practitioner of the future armed with knowledge in nutrigenomics will have the greatest impact and we will enter into an era where “food will be thy medicine, and our medicine will be our food”
Paula Littlejohn, MHS, CHES is a Certified Health Education Specialist and nutrigenomics educator who’s passionate about educating Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) professionals on how to use genomics research and testing to improve the health outcome of their patients via gene-based nutrition therapy. Nutrigenomics is revolutionizing healthcare and the way we approach health and disease. Read more at https://nutrigenomicsonlineeducation.com or email at info@nutrigenomics101.com
FDA reference: https://www.politico.com/morningehealth/0614/morningehealth14446.html
Nutrition-related education:
Personal Fitness Chef Certification
Fitness Nutrition Coach Certification
Nutrition Science for Fitness and Wellness Professionals: Certificate of Advanced Achievement
