Hippocrates once famously quoted, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
NUTRIGENOMICS is a cutting-edge field of study that has lately gained popularity in the area of human health and nutrition. The word is a portmanteau of nutritional genomics, which describes the relation and effect of diet/nutrition on the genome of an organism.
In other words, this discipline explores the relationship between our genes and the foods we eat; giving insight on how each person’s unique genetic make-up influences his or her response to nutrition.
Nutrigenomics has the potential to revolutionize the way one views nutrition and well-being by offering personalized dietary recommendations based on individual genetic profiles. At its core, nutrigenomics investigates how different nutrients and bioactive compounds in food interact with our gene sequences in our genome to influence our health and well-being.
The role of genetic variants in dietary metabolism
Variations in our DNA sequence, which are known as genetic variants, or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), can have an effect on how our bodies process (or break down) various nutrients.
Genetic variants are variations in the DNA sequence that occur naturally among individuals. SNPs are the most common type of genetic variant, representing single base pair changes in the DNA. These SNPs can influence how genes function, including those involved in nutrient metabolism, absorption, utilization, and elimination.
Nutrigenomics is a field of study that explores the interaction between nutrition and an individual's genetic makeup. It investigates how genetic variants, also known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), can affect an individual's response to specific nutrients and dietary components. Understanding these genetic variants can provide insights into personalized nutrition recommendations and help optimize health outcomes.
Managing and preventing illness due to faulty dietary intake
Nutrigenomics has a significant impact on disease treatment and prevention. By understanding how an individual's genetic profile influences one’s response to dietary factors, healthcare providers are able to provide specific dietary suggestions to reduce the risk of developing particular health conditions.
Nutrigenomics, for instance, can identify individuals who might benefit from specific cell reinforcement supplementation and direct people who are at risk for cardiovascular disease toward calorie-rich heart-solid supplements. Personalized nutrition based on genetic variants can also be used to manage conditions like diabetes, obesity, and inflammatory disorders, resulting in more effective treatments or therapies and better outcomes for patients.
By analysing an individual's genetic variants through techniques like genetic testing or genome-wide association studies (GWAS), researchers and healthcare professionals can gain insights into how specific nutrients or dietary patterns may affect an individual's health and tailor personalized dietary recommendations accordingly.
Personalized Nutrition in the near future
As nutrigenomics research expands, the future of personalized nutrition looks quite promising. With the development of advanced genetic testing techniques and bioinformatics, the field is becoming more accessible and refined.
By combining an individual’s genetic information with dietary recommendations, it is possible to optimize well-being, develop guidelines on dietary control, prevent disease, and improve overall health.
However, as nutrigenomics advances, ethical considerations related to genetic privacy and counselling have come to the forefront. Considering the ongoing research and transdisciplinary collaborations, nutrigenomics has the potential to revolutionize the approach to nutrition and make it a truly personalized experience for each individual. It has also broadened the horizons of how one views the impact of food on the physical and mental status of an individual.
In conclusion, the advancing discipline of nutrigenomics, which integrates genetic information with nutrition, has made it work to provide individualized meal recommendations based on a person’s genetic profile. With the potential to enhance health outcomes, prevent illnesses, and change nutrition, this emerging discipline paves the way for a day when tailored nutrition becomes the norm and wellness is promoted individually.
However, it is important to note that nutrigenomics is still a rapidly evolving field, and further research is needed to fully understand the complex interactions between genetics, nutrition, and health outcomes.
Authors:
Ms. Akarsha Singh (First Year, B. Tech. in Biotechnology) & Dr. Arvind Goja*, Assistant Professor
Edited by:
Dr. Viniti Vaidya#
Acknowledgments:
Dr. Satish Sasikumar* for his valuable inputs
*Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Center (GMBRC),
#Microbial Diversity Research Centre (MDRC),
Dr. D. Y. Patil Biotechnology & Bioinformatics Institute,
Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University),
Survey No. 87-88, Bengaluru-Mumbai Express Highway,
Tathawade, Pune-411033, Maharashtra, India.
Phone: +91 20 67919444/400 (Extension-9458)
Email: akarsha04@gmail.com, arvind.goja@dpu.edu.in