NUTRITION + GENETICS = NUTRIGENOMICS
Nutrigenomics (or “nutritional genomics”) provides an understanding of how diet can alter how a person’s genes work, which in turn can affect health.
Nutrigenetics describes how a person’s genes impact how the body absorbs and metabolizes food, which can affect the actions of physiological processes.
How does Nutrigenomics work?
Genes can respond to environmental influences (epigenetics) – of which nutrition and nutritional supplementation are two influences.
- Improper diet and lack of certain nutrients in some individuals and under some conditions are risk factors for certain genetic predispositions.
- Common dietary chemicals alter gene expression and or genome structure.
- The influence of diet and nutritional supplementation on health is related to an individual’s genetic makeup.
- Some genes (or their normal, common variants) are regulated by diet and nutrients from supplementation.
- Dietary interventions based upon knowledge of nutritional requirements, nutritional status, and genotype can be used to develop individualized nutrition and supplement plans that help to optimize health.
What is the purpose of nutrigenomics?
To provide an enhanced, scientific and rational means to optimize nutrition and absorption of nutrients concerning an individual’s DNA.
Genetic testing through a nutrigenomic lens allows us to understand what works and doesn’t work for individuals given their unique DNA, as well as the biochemical effects on individual capacity for nutrient absorption, delivery, metabolism, and elimination or biological action.
