Nutri News September 2022

30
Nutrigenetics application can be clearly
seen in diseases originating from a single
gene mutation. A classic example is
galactosemia disease; people affected by
this mutation cannot properly process a
type of sugar called galactose, so galactose
builds up in the blood and is toxic. People
with galactosemia benefit from diets low in
galactose, which is found in foods like milk
and dairy products. This is an example that
nutrigenetics can be very useful in providing
each person with a tailored diet according
to their genetic profile.
However, the challenge is in treating
multifactorial diseases, which represent the
leading causes of death globally like
obesity, dyslipidaemia, diabetes,
cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The
development of these diseases depends on
genetic and external factors, like physical
inactivity, consumption of toxic substances,
environmental pollution, and type of diet. A
genetic factor only increases disease
susceptibility, but it does not mean that
disease will develop.
Considering the complexity of multifactorial
diseases, would nutrigenetics be equally
useful to treat this type of disease? Would it
be correct to carry out dietary interventions
using only the genetic component? Should
nutrigenetics be integrated into clinical
practice? Are we ready for it?
The reality is that nutrigenetics cannot be
applied at this moment rigorously and in
isolation because personalized nutrition not
only depends on our genetic profile, but
there are also many other factors such as
psycho-emotional, social factors, and other
external factors previously mentioned.
Therefore, knowing the genetic profile it's
not enough to create new interventions or
nutritional recommendations.
So, which would be the utility for
nutrigenetics in our present? On the one
hand, knowing about the genetic risk for
certain diseases can be a motivator to
make lifestyle changes and thus prevent
the development of diseases. On the other
hand, nutrigenetics could be helpful to
people who do not respond to specific
dietetic treatments; in this sense, it could
help modify the strategy to provide a more
precise and efficient treatment.
In conclusion, the information that offers
nutrigenetic science is essential to provide
a more precise and efficient nutritional
intervention and predict the predisposition
to future health problems, which represents
a promising preventive tool. However, it is
crucial to consider that the ideal diet for
each person should not only consider the
genetic factor because diet depends on
other non-biological factors like food
availability, psychosocial, cultural, and
economic factors. For this reason, other
disciplines should support nutrigenetics and
be made up of a multidisciplinary team that
correctly translates the scientific
information into nutritional counselling that
provides real benefits for patients.
References:
1. Camp KM, Trujillo E. Position of the academy of nutrition and dietetics: Nutritional
genomics. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114(2):299-312. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2013.12.001
2. Peña-Romero AC, Navas-Carrillo D, Marín F, Orenes-Piñero E. The future of nutrition:
Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics in obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Crit Rev Food Sci
Nutr. 2018;58(17):3030-3041. doi:10.1080/10408398.2017.1349731
3. Floris M, Cano A, Porru L, et al. Direct-to-consumer nutrigenetics testing: An overview.
Nutrients. 2020;12(2):1-13. doi:10.3390/nu12020566
4. Vesnina A, Prosekov A, Kozlova O, Atuchin V. Genes and eating preferences, their roles in
personalized nutrition. Genes (Basel). 2020;11(4). doi:10.3390/genes11040357
5. Barrea L, Annunziata G, Bordoni L, Muscogiuri G, Colao A, Savastano S. Nutrigenetics—
personalized nutrition in obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Int J Obes Suppl. 2020;10(1):1-
13. doi:10.1038/s41367-020-0014-4
6. Guasch-Ferré M, Dashti HS, Merino J. Nutritional genomics and direct-to-consumer genetic
testing: An overview. Adv Nutr. 2018;9(2):128-135. doi:10.1093/advances/nmy001
7. Ferguson LR, De Caterina R, Görman U, et al. Guide and Position of the International
Society of Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics on Personalised Nutrition: Part 1 - Fields of Precision
Nutrition. J Nutrigenet Nutrigenomics. 2016;9(1):12-27. doi:10.1159/000445350
8. Vallée Marcotte B, Cormier H, Garneau V, Robitaille J, Desroches S, Vohl MC. Current
knowledge and interest of French Canadians regarding nutrigenetics. Genes Nutr.
2019;14(1):1-7. doi:10.1186/s12263-019-0629-7
9. Hannon BA, Khan NA, Teran-Garcia M. Nutrigenetic contributions to dyslipidemia: A focus
on physiologically relevant pathways of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Nutrients.
2018;10(10). doi:10.3390/nu10101404
10. Kohlmeier M, De Caterina R, Ferguson LR, et al. Guide and Position of the International
Society of Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics on Personalized Nutrition: Part 2 - Ethics, Challenges
and Endeavors of Precision Nutrition. J Nutrigenet Nutrigenomics. 2016;9(1):28-46.
doi:10.1159/000446347