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.
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
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