Nutrigenetics
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The Nutrigenetics include not only the nutrigenomics to nutritional research and studied as a science, the relationship between diet and genetics . In particular, it is analyzed to what extent dietary (partly) conditioned diseases and other processes in the organism are influenced by genetic variance.
Scientific basis
Although people are about 99.9% identical in their DNA , there are around 10 million genetic variants that arise from so-called SNPs ( single nucleotide polymorphisms ). This heterogeneity is due to evolution , since the way in which food components were taken up and stored by our ancestors is an important selection criterion.
Overall, the biological effect of the food components is related to a number of physiological processes such as nutrient consumption or transport. These processes in turn are based on a large number of different genes with specific polymorphisms and properties.
SNPs and the resulting adaptation mechanisms are inherited more and more. For example, this resulted in people being able to utilize lactose from cow's milk over time .
Analytical methods
The genotype is usually determined by an analysis of the blood or oral mucous membrane cells, which can take place with the help of different methods and sequencing techniques.
In order to analyze the genetic information obtained in this way, there is first of all the so-called "Candidate Gene Approach". A potential risk gene is determined on the basis of biochemical or physiological hypotheses. The relevance of this gene is checked in laboratory tests on animals or cell cultures. If, in the course of the experiment, a positive association between nutrition and this candidate gene is established, the results can be confirmed in human studies.
A genome-wide association study (GWAS) can also be used. Ultimately, gene variants should be identified that, in connection with the diet, increase the risk of diseases such as obesity , diabetes or hypertension .
The effects of the food components on the genome , proteome , metabolome and transcriptome are examined in detail.
aims
In the long term, it should be possible to make individual dietary recommendations based on nutrigenetics. In this way, preventive medicine and the treatment of certain diseases are to be optimized. In addition, the findings of nutrigenetics can also be used for sustainable and healthy weight loss. Genetic metabolic analyzes, which are primarily used for weight reduction and not for preventive medicine or therapy for certain diseases, are usually referred to as gene diets.
Challenges
First of all, it is important to establish a clear and unequivocal connection between the respective genes and the nutrients absorbed by means of valid scientific studies. One problem with this is that results are easily overestimated. A relative increase in the risk of a diet-related illness of 100% can only mean an absolute increase from 0.01 to 0.02 risk points.
In addition, it is difficult to convince people to diet individually. In addition to the cost issue that a nutrigenetic analysis will always bring with it, very few are willing to adhere to certain dietary recommendations.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Daniel, H., Klein, U .: Nutrigenetics: Genetic variance and effects of nutrition. In: D. Haller (Ed.), Biofunctionality of Food Ingredients. 2013.
- ↑ a b c Fenech, M. et al .: Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics: Viewpoints on the Current Status and Applications in Nutrition Research and Practice. In: Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics, 4 (2): 69-89. 07/2011.
- ↑ a b Mariman, EC: Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics: The Omics Revolution in Nutritional Science. In: Biotechnology and applied biochemistry, 44 (3): 119-28. 06/2006.
- ↑ http://www.netzathleten.de/ernaehrung/ratgeber-ernaehrung/item/5562-nutrigenetik-personalisiert-ernaehrung-durch-gen-analysen
Other sources
- Hurlimann, T. et al .: Inclusion and Exclusion in Nutrigenetics Clinical Research: Ethical and Scientific Challenges. In: Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics 4 (6): 322-344, 01/2011.
- Marti, A. et al .: Nutrigenetics: A Tool to Provide Personalized Nutritional Therapy to the Obese. In: Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics 3 (4-6): 157-169. 01/2010.
- Höffeler, Fritz: Nutrigenetics: How nutrition and genes shape each other , Stuttgart 2013, ISBN 3-77762150-1