Nutrigenomics Flashcards
What are the three subdisciplines of nutritional genomics?
nutrigenetics
nutrigenomics
nutritional epigenetics
What doe snutritional genomics mean?
It’s looking at the gene-environment interactions that may be managed to prevent diet-related disease
generally udnerstanding single gene function and the direct relationship to nutrients and the larger impact on disease
What does nutrigenetics refer to?
Fucntional changes in the nucleic acid code (SNPs) that influence a person’s response to nutrients
A SNP may allow the better or worse use of a specific nutrient by the organism
What are these variants called? If the variant occurs in a population?
variant = allele
variant in a population = single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
Technically all SNPs are mutations, but why do we not call of them “mutations” per se?
because the word mutation is usually reserve for genetic change with deleterious consequences and these SNPs can sometimes have beneficial consequences
What are three diseases that are examples of nutrigenetics at work?
hemochromatosis (C28Y mutation in the HFE gene)
Lactose intolerance
Celiac disease
What is the benefit to the patient from nutrigenetics?
- would be possibel to know a patient is at risk for something in advance - like a potentially fatal peanute allergy
- physcician may tailor treamtnet to individual’’s metabolic capability
- help confirm suspected dietary conditions
How are the genes of interest discovered?
GWAS = genome-wide association studies
they’re studies of many different individuals to see if any variant is associated with a trait
What gene technology is used to study the MECHANISM of how genes and environment interact?
reuqire deep sequencing
What is the difference between necessity and sufficiency?
necessity - a SNP is required for disease, but can’t cause the disease alone - requires additional factors
sufficient - a SNP is sufficient to cause disease all by itself
What is nutrigenomics?
This is the more population health focused part….
it seeks to identify environmental factors that affect gene expression with the goal to use food in a targeted fashion
i.s. using omega 3 fats to reduce gene expression of inflammatory cytokines in a whole population, not just individuals
What are the benefits of nutrigenomics?
if you can use the info to implement dietary changes across the spectrum if the respons ei shighly prevalent in a population
What is nutritional epigenetics?
looking at changes in gene expression like methylation of DNA or acetylation of proteins
Where does methylation occur?
cytosine residues - prevents gene expression
What does acetylation do? where?
addition of acetyl gruops to the histone proteins keeping DNA closed or opened for translation
