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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207422
Title: NUTRITION AND DIET IN THE ERA OF GENOMICS

Author
item Ordovas, Jose
item CORELLA, DOLORES - UNIV OF VALENCIA, SPAIN

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/5/2006
Publication Date: 10/1/2008
Citation: Ordovas, J.M., Corella, D. 2008. Nutrition and Diet in the Era of Genomics. In: Willard, H.F. and Ginsburg, G.S, editors. Genomic and Personalized Medicine. vol. 1-2. New York, NY: Elsevier.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Several new genomic technologies can be applied in nutritional sciences in the era of genomics. Propelled by these technologies, nutrition science has developed the new field of "nutritional genomics," that has tremendous potential to change the future of dietary guidelines and personal recommendations. In this field, two terms are used: nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics. Nutrigenetics will provide the basis for personalized dietary recommendations based on the individual’s genetic make up. However, before this concept can be applied to the population, it needs to be validated by robust scientific evidence. Therefore we review the key points of causality and epidemiological errors as well as the main examples of gene-diet interactions involving classical monogenic (phenylketonuria, galactosemia, lactose intolerance) and common multifactorial disorders (cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc.). Based on decades of experimental results, these classical monogenic diseases are considered one of the best examples of gene-diet interactions because the disease phenotype in subjects with mutations in the corresponding genes involved is easily preventable with the specific dietary modification. Therefore, the challenge is to implement a similar approach for common multifactorial disorders to prevent common diseases decades before their manifestation. The preliminary results involving gene-diet interactions for lipid metabolism are promising and success in this area will require the integration of different disciplines and technologies. This will aid in rapidly enhancing our knowledge of the complex mechanisms responsible for gene-diet interactions and designing a new paradigm for dietary prevention and treatment of disease based on this integrated knowledge.