Risks
Nutrigenomics risks include:The knowledge of a disease susceptibility may cause
high levels of anxiety and stress.
Genetic testing raises privacy concerns—some com-
panies already sell the results of their genetic profil-
ing to other companies.
Those with known genetic susceptibilities may be
discriminated against in employment or health
insurance.
Physicians may not be qualified to interpret nutrige-
nomic reports and make appropriate decisions based
on them.
The demand for nutrigenomic evaluations may even-
tually overtax the healthcare system. As with any
new technology, nutrigenomics also may pose as-
yet-unrecognized risks.
The nutrigenomics industry remains unregulated.
It is unclear whether any future regulation will treat
nutrigenomics as medicine or as nutrition.
Research and general acceptance
Research
Nutrigenomics is a very active field of research in
both the United States and Europe and clinical studies
are ongoing. Evidence is accumulating that the nutrients
in food and supplements may affect the expression and
even the structure of specific genes. However the science
of nutrigenomics is extremely complex. The elucidation
of the APOA1 gene variants was possible only because
of a very large decades-long epidemiological study called
the Framingham Heart Study. Although most experts
believe that any clinical applications of nutrigenomics
are premature, some scientists believe that reliable diet
recommendations based on individual genetic profiles
may be available as early as 2010.
Many scientists believe that nutrigenomics has
tremendous potential for improving public health. In
the future it will probably be possible to analyze DNA
to precisely determine individual nutritional guide-
lines, with diets designed to fit a specific genetic pro-
file. Specific products may be available to meet the
health requirements of individuals. Technological
developments may enable doctors to perform nutrige-
nomic tests in their offices. Children may be tested at
a young age so that diet can be used as preventative
medicine. The development of nutrigenomics is
expected to revolutionize the dietetics profession.General acceptance
Very few consumers have as yet made use of
nutrigenomics. However the food industry, healthcare
providers, and consumers have vested interests in the
development of the science. Studies have shown that
85–93% of people believe that diet is an important
part of health and of the management of aging and
conditions such as arthritis. However it is also possible
that nutrigenomics will suffer a consumer backlash,
similar to the European backlash against genetically-
modified foods.Resources
BOOKS
Brigelius-Flohe, Regina and Hans-Georg Joost, editors.
Nutritional Genomics: Impact on Health and Disease.
Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 2006.
Castle, David.Science, Society, and the Supermarket: The
Opportunities and Challenges of Nutrigenomics.Hobo-
ken, NJ: Wiley-Interscience, 2007.
DeBusk, R. M.Genetics: The Nutrition Connection.Chi-
cago: American Dietetic Association, 2003.
Kaput, J. and R. Rodriguez, editors.Nutritional Genomics:
Discovering the Path to Personalized Nutrition.New
York: Wiley & Sons, 2006.
Meskin, Mark S., and Wayne R. Bidlack, editors.Phyto-
chemicals: Nutrient-Gene Interactions.Boca Raton, FL:
CRC, 2006.
PERIODICALS
Check, Erika. ‘Consumers Warned That Time Is Not Yet
Ripe for Nutrition Profiling.’Nature426 (November
13, 2003): 107.
DeBusk, Ruth M. ‘Nutrigenomics and the Future of Die-
tetics.’Nutrition & Dietetics: The Journal of the Dieti-
cians Association of Australia62 (June-September
2005): 63-65.
Goodman, Brenda. ‘The Do-It-Your-Way Diet.’Health 20
(July-August 2006): 136-142.
Gorman, Christine. ‘Does My Diet Fit My Genes?’Time 167
(June 12, 2006): 69.QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR
DOCTOR Are you familiar with nutrigenomics and genetic
profiling?
Do I have symptoms that might be explained by
interactions between genes and food?
Am I a candidate for genetic testing?
Would you be able to make nutritional and
lifestyle recommendations based on the results
of my tests?
Are there other types of medical tests that would
give me the same or better information?Nutrigenomics