L12 Nutritional Genomics Flashcards
What is malnutrition?
Too much or too little of certain nutrients
What is undernutrition? (3)
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Protein energy malnutrition (PEM)
- Underweight
What is overnutrition? (3)
- Excess food intake
- Excess macronutrients
- Micronutrient intake may be excessive (e.g. sodium) or below RDIs (e.g. calcium, iron)
What is the leading disease burden?
Cardiovascular disease
What are ‘the big 4’ NCDs?
- CVD
- Cancer
- Respiratory diseases
- Diabetes
What trends are occurring regarding NCDs? (3)
- Prevalence has increased
- Disease onset at younger ages
- Increased severity in younger-middle aged
What are the biological (non-modifiable) risk factors for NCD? (3)
- Age
- Gender
- Genetic makeup
What are the environmental (modifiable) risk factors for NCD? (4)
- Poor nutrition
- Lack of physical activity
- Tobacco use
- Excessive alcohol
What is metabolic syndrome?
When someone has any three or more of:
- Central (abdominal) obesity
- Hypertension
- High blood triglycerides
- Low levels of HDL
- Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or diabetes
What is nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics?
The study and relationship between diet (nutrition) and the environment and its impact on development of disease
What is an example of nutrigenetic mutation?
Lactose tolerance
How does dietary habits regulate genes?
Each meal triggers a complex wave of genes being activated (transcribed) or silenced which regulates protein expression.
Dietary habits regulate the pattern of genes and the accumulated levels of proteins
What is precision nutrition?
Understanding of biological and non-genetic impacts of nutrients on health, and the ability to apply specific measures to individuals
