Nutrigenomics
Dear Friends:
Nutrigenomics refers to studying the effects of nutrients on the expression of an individual’s genetic makeup.
Currently, this definition is broadened to encompass nutritional factors that protect the gene pool from damage as well.
Ultimately, nutrigenomics is concerned with the impact of dietary components on the genome ( the complete set of genes in an organism), the proteome (the sum total of all proteins created within the cell and very relevant to health and the aging process), and the metabolome (the sum of all metabolites produced through metabolism).
As in pharmacogenomics crucial in drug research, where a drug will have diverse impacts on different segments of a population, science recognizes that a population can also be diverse in its response to nutrient interventions–some will respond positively, some may be unresponsive, while others potentially even adversely affected.
This may be why a certain diet or a set of supplements, worked wonders for your friend, but you didn’t lose any weight or improve some aspect of your health. Or why one twin develops Type II diabetes, but the other twin, who made different lifestyle and nutritional choices, doesn’t.
To understand this concept a little better, here are a few definitions to have in place:
- Genome means the genetic material that you’re born with–your DNA. This cannot be changed.
- Epigenome means the network of chemical compounds that interacts and attaches to a single gene ( thus the prefix “epi”–called SNP). Think of this as a “light switch”, basically “turns on” or “turns off” what the gene will do or not do with its intrinsic DNA and ultimately, how that will be expressed in your health. That specific gene or set of genes, that could possibly be activated or better controlled, that may make you more susceptible to Alzheimer’s, cancer, or heart disease or not, is largely and potentially in one’s hands greater than we realize. That fact we can affect the behavior of the epigenome through diet and other healthy practices is part of the teamwork we have with our DNA–this is of monumental significance in taking greater control of our health and life!
- Nutrigenomics being explained again in a slightly different manner below is a field that combines the study of nutrition and gene expression. Note the following:
Mark Hyman describes nutrigenomics from his book: [Ultra-metabolism: the simple plan for automatic weight loss. New York: Atria Books; 2006. p. 24.]
The new science of nutrigenomics teaches us what specific foods tell your genes. What you eat directly determines the genetic messages your body receives. These messages, in turn, control all the molecules that constitute your metabolism: the molecules that tell your body to burn calories or store them. If you can learn the language of your genes and control the messages and instructions they give your body and your metabolism, you can radically alter how food interacts with your body, lose weight, and optimize your health.
Nutrigenomics can help you understand yourself better. Pay close attention to what type of diet, exercise, or supplements work best for you.
This, in turn, will give you the best results, better control, and management, when working towards better health for a better quality of life for you and your family.
It can also potentially translate into greater efficiency and effectiveness when addressing expanded economic national dimensions, even to be part of a preventative and cost-saving strategy in our thinking regarding the ever demanding and challenged national healthcare costs.