Nutrigenomics

Question 1

What is meant by epigenetics?

Answer 1

Epigenetics is the study of, the modification of specific genes or gene-associated proteins of an organism. Epigenetic modification can be influence by environment, diet and lifestyle. It is not a change in genotype but phenotype.

Question 2

What is meant by nutrigenetics?

Answer 2

The science of the effect of genetic variation on dietary response

Question 3

What is meant by nutrigenomics?

Answer 3

Specialism whereby the epigenetic arm of genetics, focuses on what we eat and the lifestyle we lead and how it alters gene function and expression

Question 4

What is the structure of DNA/RNA?

Answer 4

made of nucleic acids which are chains of nucleotides (ribose sugar, phosphate group, nitrogenous bases)

Question 5

What are 4 functions of proteins?

Answer 5

messenger, transporter, enzymatic, structural

Question 6

What is meant by functional genomics?

Answer 6

using genomic data to explain the relationship between gene and protein function and the interactions

Question 7

How many amino acids in total are there and what amino starts all proteins?

Answer 7

64 codons and methionine

Question 8

What is gene expression and what is influenced by?

Answer 8

Gene expression is controlling of genes by switching them on and off essential for cell growth or specialization of cell. Influenced by environment, food/eating habits, how we are born, circadian rhythm, living at high altitudes

Question 9

What is a single nucleotide polymorphism?

Answer 9

most common type of genetic variation among people

Question 10

What is the difference between wild type, heterozygous and homozygous SNPs?

Answer 10

Wild type – normal/stable or beneficial effect
Heterozygous – 1 genetic variation so some loss or increase of function.
Homozygous – 2 genetic variation so significant loss or heighted increase of function

Question 11

why do SNPs matter?

Answer 11

responsible for difference such as eye colours, not all SNPs are bad

Question 12

Why are we interested in SNPs?

Answer 12

Indentification and forensics, mapping and genome wide studies of diseases, estimating predisposition to disease, immigration and citizenship in the uk

Question 13

What makes SNPs useful to nutritional therapists?

Answer 13

Nutritional therapist can use SNPs if a lot of research has been done, the SNP has a direct effect on function, the effect is measurable and the gene is affected by environment so an action can be taken.
We can alter the environmental factors by using specific food to increase or decrease gene expression

Question 14

What is the difference between phase 1 and phase 2 reactions in drug metabolism?

Answer 14

Phase 1 is when a hydrophilic group is added such as hydroxyl, amine to make it more water soluble so it can be excreted whereas phase 2 is carried out when the metabolite form is too reactive (cannot be excreted) so it undergoes glucuronidation, sulphonation, methylation etc

Question 15

What diseases is correlated with POPs?

Answer 15

Obesity, increased inflammation, diabetes and breast cancer

Question 16

What is methylation?

Answer 16

Donates a methyl group to a substrate (DNA, RNA, chemicals, neurotransmitters, immune cells, nerves)

Question 17

What is the functions of methylation?

Answer 17

Gene regulation, biotransformation (processing chemicals and toxins), build neurotransmitters, process hormones (oestrogen), produce energy (CoQ10), Myelination, DNA and RNA synthesis.

Question 18

What can disrupt methylation?

Answer 18

Lack of essential cofactors (zinc, mg, B6), medications (antacids), nutrients depleting methyl group (niacin), genetic mutations, insufficient substrates (folate, methionine)

Question 19

What are some toxins which alter methylation?

Answer 19

Fertilizer, transport fumes, bisphenol A, jet fuel, mold, POPs, heavy metals

Question 20

What is catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)?

Answer 20

Enzymes responsible for breaking down neurotransmitters dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline
It inactivates catecholamines
Adds methyl groups to catechol oestrogens which stabilizes oestrogen and reduces DNA damage

Question 21

What is methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)?

Answer 21

Enzymes responsible for metabolic processes in methylation and detoxification; it adds methyl group to folic acid/folate

Question 22

What co-factors are needs for methylation support?

Answer 22

Mg, B2, B6, B12, betaine, zinc, choline, molybdenum, manganses, vit d, vit c, insufficient substrates

Question 23

What lifestyle changes can be made to support methylation?

Answer 23

Adequate sun exposure, reduce toxin exposure, take time for themselves, healthy gut function, alcohol intake, smoking, caffeine intake, reduce stressors

Question 24

What food can give detoxification support?

Answer 24

Pre/pro biotics, sulpur, NAC, selenium, cysteine, adenosine, B vits, mg, zinc

Question 25

What life style support can be give for detoxification

Answer 25

Pesticide and herbicide exposure, alcohol levels, caffeine intake, toxin exposure, free radical production, dysbiosis, methylation factors, types of stressors

Question 26

What support food wise is for oestrogen?

Answer 26

Cruciferous veges, zinc, green tea, grapefruit, sulphur, pre/probiotics, fibre, mg, ellagic acid

Question 27

What life style changes are necessary for oestrogen?

Answer 27

Moderate exercise, reduce stressors, weight management, reduce toxin exposure, reduce BBQs

Question 28

What is meant by polymorphism?

Answer 28

inheritance of genes in different forms (alleles)

Question 29

What are phase III reactions?

Answer 29

xenobiotic and other chemo drugs require further processing catalysed by transferase enzymes

Question 30

What is the difference between toxins, toxicants and xenobiotics?

Answer 30

toxins - poison produce by living o/s that is active at low conc
toxicants - toxic chem typically that have been introduced into the environment by human
xenobiotics - foreign substances found in the body that do not come from a normal diet

Question 31

What is glutathione conjugation for?

Answer 31

POPs are eliminated by phase I follow by phase II conjugation to glutathione. It helps with reactive oxygen species

Question 32

What are POPs?

Answer 32

persistent organic pollutants