New trends and perspectives in nutrition science. Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics.
1. Nutrition Science: The study of how nutrients and food components influence health, growth, and disease prevention.
2. Nutrigenetics
Focus: How genetic variation affects nutrient metabolism and individual responses to diet.
Applications:
- Detect food intolerances (e.g. lactose, gluten)
- Predict risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease based on gene–diet interactions
- Guide personalized vitamin/mineral supplementation
For example, a mutation in the MTHFR gene reduces enzyme activity, impairing folate metabolism and raising homocysteine levels. This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and neural tube defects in pregnancy. The intervention is personalized folate supplementation to normalize homocysteine levels
High homocysteine levels cause endothelial damage, which increases the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Folate deficiency or low folate intake impairs proper neural tube formation during early pregnancy, leading to defects such as spina bifida.
3. Nutrigenomics
Focus: How nutrients and diet influence gene expression, epigenetics, and metabolism.
Mechanisms:
- Gene regulation: Nutrients interact with transcription factors, turning genes on/off.
- Epigenetic changes: Diet alters DNA methylation or histone modification—affecting gene activity without changing DNA sequence.
Examples:
- Anti-inflammatory diets ↓ expression of inflammation-related genes
- Omega-3 fatty acids downregulate atherosclerosis-related genes
- Polyphenols (from fruits/vegetables) activate antioxidant and detoxification genes
4. Public Health and Personalized Nutrition Significance
- Prevents chronic diseases (obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer)
- Enables personalized interventions for populations with genetic predispositions
- Supports functional food development based on gene–nutrient interaction