580
Technologies such as high-density microarrays enable the simultaneous study of
the whole transcriptome relevant to nutrition. Advances in proteomic and metabo-
lomic technologies will also enable the analysis of the whole system at proteomic
and metabolomic levels as well. The role of genomics in nutrition is already recog-
nized. The role of metabolomics in nutrition was described in Chap. 7.
Nutrigenomics
The term “nutrigenomics” or nutritional genomics implies the study of effects of
nutrition at the genome level. This approach analyzes how a complex trait is pro-
duced by the interaction of a person’s genes and the environments including nutri-
tion. It also encompasses proteomics as well as metabolomics. A closely related
term “nutrigenetics” examines the effect of genetic variation on the interaction
between nutrition and disease. Nutrients can alter molecular processes such as DNA
structure, gene expression, and metabolism, and these in turn may alter disease
initiation, development, or progression. Individual genetic variation can infl uence
how nutrients are assimilated, metabolized, stored, and excreted by the body.
A major methodological challenge and fi rst prerequisite of nutrigenomics is inte-
grating genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabonomics to defi ne a
“healthy” phenotype. The use of new and innovative technologies, such as microar-
rays, RNA interference (RNAi), and nanobiotechnologies, will provide needed
insights into molecular targets for specifi c bioactive food components and how they
harmonize to infl uence individual phenotypes. It is important to recognize that an
individual’s response to dietary intervention will depend on his or her genetic back-
ground and that this information may be used to promote human health and disease
prevention (Trujillo et al. 2006 ). The long-term deliverable of nutrigenomics is per-
sonalized nutrition for maintenance of individual health and prevention of disease.
Nestle Research Center (Lausanne, Switzerland), a part of the world’s largest
nutrition company, is conducting research in nutrigenomics. There is a Center of
Excellence for Nutritional Genomics at University of California at Davis. Research
and postgraduate training in nutrigenomics is being conducted at the Center for
Human NutriGenomics in the Netherlands ( http://www.nutrigenomics.nl ). For
nutrigenomics to realize its potential, large ethnically diverse databases of genomic
profi les need to be established.
There is increasing popularity of nutrigenomics as both a fi eld of research and as
a commercial vehicle for the nutrition and diet foods industries. Commercial kit
providers may be misleading consumers by linking diet and DNA via unproven
means. Some claims have been made that certain food interacts with genes
to increase the risk of certain diseases. The ESRC Center for Genomics in Society
at the University of Exeter in UK ( http://www.genomicsnetwork.ac.uk/egenis/ )
funded by the Wellcome Trust, plans to “challenge” corporate and government
assertions “that we should alter our diets in accordance with our genetic makeup.
19 Personalized Non-pharmacological Therapies