For most people, the role of diet in long-term health is readily apparent. Eat the right amount of food to get the appropriate proportions of needed micronutrients, control portions of the dietary requirement to avoid excessive weight gain, and consume certain foods in moderation to prevent health problems in the future. A good number of people are also aware of the often deadly risks that come from food allergies.
However, the science behind healthy eating is not always so clear cut. A rapidly developing medical discipline, nutritional genomics (or nutrigenomics) studies the relationship between diet and genetic variations that affect the way people respond to certain nutrients. It has come to attention in recent years due to its potential in preventing and treating chronic diseases through minor yet significant changes in dietary habits.
However, the science behind healthy eating is not always so clear cut. A rapidly developing medical discipline, nutritional genomics (or nutrigenomics) studies the relationship between diet and genetic variations that affect the way people respond to certain nutrients. It has come to attention in recent years due to its potential in preventing and treating chronic diseases through minor yet significant changes in dietary habits.
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Nutrigenomics is built on the principle that under certain circumstances and in certain patients, diet can be a contributing risk factor in the development and progression of a number of diseases. Individual genetic differences mean that the effects of some dietary chemicals would significantly vary from person to person. Some nutrients can significantly affect how some genes are expressed whereas some genes can influence how the human body responds to a nutrient.
Some well-known conditions studied by nutrigenomics include lactose intolerance, where the body's ability to create the enzyme lactase leads to an inability to process dairy products, and phenylketonuria, where the body's inability to break down phenylalanine leads to a buildup of phenylpyruvic acid, which can have serious effects on long-term mental health.
Some well-known conditions studied by nutrigenomics include lactose intolerance, where the body's ability to create the enzyme lactase leads to an inability to process dairy products, and phenylketonuria, where the body's inability to break down phenylalanine leads to a buildup of phenylpyruvic acid, which can have serious effects on long-term mental health.
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An understanding of a patient's reactions to certain types of food can make a significant difference in chronic disease management and prevention. A dietary intervention can be formulated from patient data, which would play a key role in preventing, mitigating, or in some cases treating the onset of certain chronic diseases in the patient.
On a larger scale, nutrigenomics can be incorporated into long-term healthcare management by comparing the diet/gene reactions in key populations. Insights gained can be useful in the fight against disease and malnutrition.
On a larger scale, nutrigenomics can be incorporated into long-term healthcare management by comparing the diet/gene reactions in key populations. Insights gained can be useful in the fight against disease and malnutrition.
For the past few years, Dr. Lowell Gerber has focused on personalized lifestyle medicine, proactive prevention, nutrigenomics, and healthy aging. Follow this Twitter account for more updates on personalized health and wellness interventions.