In the intricate dance of life, our genes play a pivotal role in determining how our bodies respond to our environment, including the food we consume. The field of nutrigenomics, a fascinating intersection of nutrition and genetics, delves into the ways our unique genetic makeup influences how we process and utilize nutrients from our food and supplement consumption. In this blog post, we embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries of nutrigenomics, exploring its significance, applications, and the promise it holds for real personalized health care.

Understanding Nutrigenomics

At its core, nutrigenomics investigates the interplay between our genes and the nutrients we consume. The basic premise is that our genetic code can influence how our bodies metabolize and respond to different foods. While traditional nutrition focuses on general dietary guidelines for the population, nutrigenomics tailors recommendations to an individual's specific needs and makeup (1).

How Does Nutrigenomics Work?

Our genes contain instructions for building and maintaining our bodies. Variations in these genes, known as genetic polymorphisms, can affect how efficiently certain processes occur. Nutrigenomic testing analyzes these genetic variations to provide insights into an individual's unique nutritional needs and responses (2).

For example, consider a gene responsible for metabolizing a particular vitamin. If someone has a variation that affects this gene, it might positively or negatively influence their ability to absorb and utilize that vitamin efficiently. Nutrigenomics aims to identify such variations and tailor dietary recommendations accordingly.

Personalized Nutrition: A Game-Changer

I think one of the most exciting aspects of nutrigenomics is its potential to revolutionize the concept of personalized nutrition, also known as precision nutrition/medicine. Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, individuals can receive customized dietary advice based on their genetic profile. In combination with other functional testing, we can measure the changes these customized interventions produce. This not only maximizes the effectiveness of nutrition interventions but also addresses the unique requirements of each individual (3).

Applications of Nutrigenomics

1. Nutrient Metabolism: It can provide insights into how your body metabolizes and processes certain nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This information can help in designing a personalized diet and other support that aligns with your genetic profile. It does not tell you how much of the nutrients you have, your nutrient status. Micronutrient testing is a separate test for that (4).

2. Food Sensitivities: Nutrigenomic testing may reveal information about your sensitivity or intolerance to certain foods. For example, it might indicate how well your body handles lactose or gluten. Do you produce more histamines (gene HNMT) or do you have an insufficient production of the diamine oxidase enzyme (gene DAO) to break histamines down? However, it does not tell you if you have sensitivities to sulfites; benzoates; various fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, spices, and so forth.  Food sensitivity testing will give you that information but it is complicated and you need to work with a qualified practitioner to better understand the difference between allergy and intolerances. In addition, be aware some labs are marketing directly to consumers that do very poor testing.

3. Dietary Preferences: It might shed light on your predisposition to certain taste preferences, such as a preference for sweet or salty foods. This information can be used to tailor dietary recommendations to your taste preferences.

4. Weight Management: Some nutrigenomic tests can provide information about your genetic predisposition to weight gain or obesity. It can provide information on blood sugar regulation, mood and behavior, appetite/satiety/hunger, pro-inflammatory fat, and much more. This information can be used to create personalized weight management strategies that are not included in standard calorie-in calorie-out approaches (5).

5. Risk for Chronic Diseases: Certain genetic variations may be associated with an increased risk of developing specific chronic diseases. Nutrigenomic testing may provide insights into your genetic predisposition to conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or autoimmune diseases allowing for targeted preventive measures through diet and lifestyle modification (6).

Challenges and Considerations

As a Certified Genomic Medicine Clinician, I appreciate the information nutrigenomic testing provides in explaining in more detail specific challenges or advantages someone has so I can provide a more personalized medicine plan for healing. Taking blood pressure as an example, the general recommendations are to reduce salt intake.  However, not everyone has salt sensitive hypertension.  It is true that over-consumption of salt intake is common from eating restaurant foods which are typically high in salt, and consumption of ultra processed foods which also tends to be high in salt, but it can also be from under-consumption of potassium rich foods in the form of vegetables and fruits. But genetic predisposition, hormonal influences and kidney function play a more significant role in the development and maintenance of high blood pressure.

ACE, AGT, ALDH2, APOA5, APOE, CETP, CRP, ENOS, F2, F5, HO-1, HPA-1, IL-6, LPL, MTHFR (1298 A>C), MTHFR (677 C>T), OGG1, PPARA, VEGF are just some of the genes that help explain an individual’s propensity for vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, nitric oxide production, cholesterol particle size and density, methylation capability, mitochondrial function, necessary nutritional support, et cetera, to produce an effective personalized nutritional approach for treatment and prevention. While nutrigenomics holds immense promise, it is crucial to approach it with a balanced perspective. The field is still evolving, and the science behind some genetic associations with nutrition is not always definitive. Additionally, other factors, such as lifestyle and environmental influences, also contribute significantly to health outcomes (7).

The Future of Nutrigenomics

I believe as technology advances and our understanding of genetics deepens, the applications of nutrigenomics are likely to expand. Integrating genetic information with other health data, such as microbiome analysis, may provide a more comprehensive picture of an individual's nutritional needs (8). However, having a solid nutrition foundation can positively impact the microbiome as it is a 2-way communication.

Conclusion: Embracing Personalized Wellness

In the quest for optimal health, embracing the principles of nutrigenomics opens doors to personalized wellness. By recognizing and respecting the unique genetic blueprint of everyone, we move towards a future where nutrition is not just about what we eat but about what our bodies truly need. We have come a long way from giving generic nutritional and lifestyle recommendations to being able to explain complicated health challenges and my favorite, prevention. Knowledge is power. We all have some predispositions that work for us and some that are potentially more challenging for us.

As nutrigenomics continues to unveil the secrets encoded in our genes, it empowers us to make informed choices that resonate with our individual biology. The journey towards personalized nutrition is an exciting frontier, promising a future where health recommendations are as unique as our fingerprints.

References

1. Ordovas, J. M. (2004). Nutrigenomics. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 63(1), 35–42.

2. Fenech, M. (2012). Nutriomes and nutrient arrays – the key to personalized nutrition for DNA damage prevention and cancer growth control. Genes & Nutrition, 7(2), 109–113.

3. Celis-Morales, C., Marsaux, C. F., Livingstone, K. M., Navas-Carretero, S., San-Cristobal, R., Fallaize, R., ... & Macready, A. L. (2017). Can genetic-based advice help you lose weight? Findings from the Food4Me European randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 105(5), 1204–1213.

4. Vimaleswaran, K. S., Cavadino, A., Berry, D. J., Whittaker, J. C., Power, C., Jarvelin, M. R., ... & Hyppönen, E. (2013). Association of vitamin D status with arterial blood pressure and hypertension risk: a mendelian randomisation study. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 1(4), 273–280.

5. Qi, Q., Chu, A. Y., Kang, J. H., Jensen, M. K., Curhan, G. C., Pasquale, L. R., ... & Hu, F. B. (2012). Sugar-sweetened beverages and genetic risk of obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 367(15), 1387–1396.

6. Corella, D., Coltell, O., Sorlí, J. V., Estruch, R., Quiles, L., Martínez-González, M. Á., ... & Ordovás, J. M. (2017). Polymorphism of the Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Gene (TCF7L2) Interacts with Obesity on Type-2 Diabetes in the PREDIMED Study Emphasizing the Heterogeneity of Genetic Variants in Type-2 Diabetes Risk Prediction: Time for Obesity-Specific Genetic Risk Scores. Nutrients, 9(4), 318.

7. Meiliana, Anna & Wijaya, Andi. (2020). Nutrigenetics, Nutrigenomics and Precision Nutrition. The Indonesian Biomedical Journal, 12. 189-200. 10.18585/inabj.v12i3.1158.

8. Petrosino JF. The microbiome in precision medicine: the way forward. Genome Med 2018 Feb 22;10(1):doi: 10.1186/s13073-018-0525-6.