Nutritional genomics Nutrients in our diet affect how our bodies function and our overall health. Components of a diet can influence how genes are switched on and off, whilst genetic variation between individuals can mean that these responses vary from person to person. Better understanding of these processes could potentially allow more effective and personalised approaches to diet and nutrition. What is it? How could it help? Ready for patients? Nutritional genomics research can Examples of potential utility are: Whilst some genetic variants take two different formats, often Risk assessment clearly cause specific, often rare, complementing each other. health conditions, genetic analysis Obesity prevention strategies is still not always necessary to Nutrigenomics assesses could focus on people at higher make a diagnosis. how nutrition affects genome genetic risk, such as carriers of regulation. a common variant in the APOA2 For common complex conditions, gene who have increased obesity such as obesity and many Nutrigenetics investigates specific risk when they eat high amounts cancers, in which multiple factors genetic variants that regulate of saturated fat. play a part, the likely impact of nutritional processes. nutritional genomic analysis is Personalising health advice Genomics and other ‘omics’ unclear. It is far from certain that Using genome analysis along technologies can be used along nutritional interventions based with other biomarkers could with measures of food intake on genetic information have any help identify the most suitable and phenotypic, clinical and impact on population or individual meal types for people with type behavioural data to identify genes health. When it comes to what we 2 diabetes, whose blood sugar and genetic responses linked to eat, social cultural and emotional levels respond differently to nutrition. factors must also be taken different food types. into account, especially where The results may help develop behaviour change is needed. nutritional advice or interventions, Identifying genetic disorders based on the direct genetic Some, often rarer, genetic variants In such a complex field, robust analysis of a person or by are linked to conditions requiring randomised controlled trials are delivering tailored advice to specific diets to correct or control difficult to design. Where they populations with a high likelihood symptoms. Genetic analysis have generated clear evidence, of a specific genotype or genomic could identify these conditions ensuing recommendations are response. and potentially develop new often similar to existing dietary treatments. advice. Outlook Genes have been linked to nutrition, but there is little robust analysis of their effects, especially in different populations. Whilst direct-to-consumer tests exist, the vast majority are based on very uncertain evidence and aim to inform the general diets of relatively healthy individuals, where the benefits are particularly unclear. Nutritional genomics, in combination with other diet-related analyses, might one day prove useful to improving nutrition in specific scenarios. For now, with research still in the early stages, it is too soon to confirm its utility in clinical care and public health practice. Author: Joanna Janus [email protected] Published: July 2021.