Nutrigenomics/Nutrigenetics

The field of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics are becoming more prevalent in today’s society. Nutrigenetics is role of DNA sequence variation in the response to nutrients (Bouchard-Mercier, Descroches, & Vohl, 2016). Nutrigenomics identifies how the nutrients and food alter the DNA transcription and translation process and how the gene that regulate metabolic pathways are affecting health outcomes. In simpler terms, nutrigenomics is the study of what we eat and how that has an impact and/or manipulate on our gene expressions and chronic disease management. Nutrigenetics is the study of how genetic variation effects dietary responses, nucleotide polymorphism, reduce a patient’s risk of developing a certain disease, and DNA interacting with food. Genes and diet interaction can help determine predisposition to disease and help identify how diet responds to the gene (Dennet, 2017).

With different diets being available in society with little or inaccurate information can alter a person’s health. As expects in nutrition, dietitians can help educate and inform people of how food and nutrients can alter genes for better or worse. There is a need for education regarding nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics to push for personalizing medicine and nutrition based on the patient individually. Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics is still a new field of study to dietitians. Registered dietitians with less than five years of experience were more likely to be exposed to nutrigenomics in college (Bouchard-Mercier, Descroches, & Vohl, 2016). This results in the higher acceptance and interest in nutrigenetics in newer dietitians.  There is not a lot of educational content available directly for registered dietitians about nutrigenetics. There needs to more educational content available to help dietitians motivate clients to change their diet and lifestyle using individualized data. Everyone responds to food/diets differently and nutrigenomics will look at every single nucleotide polymorphism interaction with diet, disease, and other health issues (Dennet, 2017). It can see how the body and cells changes due to nutrient interactions. If we have more data to help back up our reasonings as to why an individual’s health and lifestyle can change for the better by altering their food intake, they may be more likely to follow their diet prescription. Prescribed diets by dietitians can help individualize them based on their genome and genetic variations even more than how it is already being individualized. There is so much that needs to be learned and an endless amount of benefits if nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics become more prevalent in nutrition counseling.  

LS

Bouchard-Mercier, A., Descroches, S., Robitaille, J., & Vohl, M. (2016). Factors associated with the intention of registered dietitians to discuss nutrigenetics with their patients/clients. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 77, 163-169.

Dennet, C. (2017). The future of nutrigenomics. Today’s Dietitian, 19(10), 30. Retrieved from http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/1017p30.shtml