Nutrigenomics: A controversy

Triangulating nutrigenomics, metabolomics and microbiomics toward personalized nutrition and healthy living

The unique physiological and genetic characteristics of individuals influence their reactions to different dietary constituents and nutrients. This notion is the foundation of personalized nutrition. The field of nutrigenetics has witnessed significant progress in understanding the impact of genetic variants on macronutrient and micronutrient levels and the individual's responsiveness to dietary intake. These variants hold significant value in facilitating the development of personalized nutritional interventions, thereby enabling the effective translation from conventional dietary guidelines to genome-guided nutrition. Nevertheless, certain obstacles could impede the extensive implementation of individualized nutrition, which is still in its infancy, such as the polygenic nature of nutrition-related pathologies. Consequently, many disorders are susceptible to the collective influence of multiple genes and environmental interplay, wherein each gene exerts a moderate to modest effect. Furthermore, it is widely accepted that diseases emerge because of the intricate interplay between genetic predisposition and external environmental influences. In the context of this specific paradigm, the utilization of advanced "omic" technologies, including epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiome analysis, in conjunction with comprehensive phenotyping, has the potential to unveil hitherto undisclosed hereditary elements and interactions between genes and the environment. This review aims to provide up-to-date information regarding the fundamentals of personalized nutrition, specifically emphasizing the complex triangulation interplay among microbiota, dietary metabolites, and genes. Furthermore, it highlights the intestinal microbiota's unique makeup, its influence on nutrigenomics, and the tailoring of dietary suggestions. Finally, this article provides an overview of genotyping versus microbiomics, focusing on investigating the potential applications of this knowledge in the context of tailored dietary plans that aim to improve human well-being and overall health.

Advances in Nutrigenomics and Applications in Public Health: A Recent Update

Nutrition research is achieving new paradigms through recent advances in the field of Nutrigenomics. The application of genomic principles for the identification of relationships between certain specific nutrients with genetic factors is termed “Nutrigenomics”. This knowledge is essential to understanding the risk factors behind diet-related chronic degenerative diseases, which further helps resolve the underlying mechanism of genetic predisposition. Advances in Sciences associated with the study of genes have assisted in developing a deep insight into genetic variants, and gene expression patterns to work out therapeutic responses toward chronic degenerative diseases associated with Public Health. To appraise recent advances in Nutrigenomics with its application in Public health several databases including Pub Med, Google Scholar, Medline etc were investigated in detail. A total of 72 relevant peer-reviewed journal articles were included in this review paper. Nutrigenomics has an important role in comprehending how homeostatic control is maintained and the way metabolic pathways are influenced by nutrient intake. The knowledge of Nutrigenomics helps in working out personalized nutrition strategies for both prevention and management of the diseased situation. The present review article aims to investigate and present a piece of in-depth information about the latest Advances in Nutrigenomics and its application in public health.

Horizon Scanning: Teaching Genomics and Personalized Medicine in the Digital Age

Digital transformation is currently impacting not only health care but also education curricula for medicine and life sciences. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the deployment of digital technologies such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence in diverse fields of biomedicine. Genomics and related fields of inquiry such as pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine have been making important progress over the past decades. However, the genomics knowledge of health care professionals and other stakeholders in society is not commensurate with the current state of progress in these scientific fields. The rise of digital health offers unprecedented opportunities both for health care professionals and the general public to expand their genomics literacy and education. This expert review offers an analysis of the bottlenecks that affect and issues that need to be addressed to catalyze genomics and personalized medicine education in the digital era. In addition, we summarize and critically discuss the various educational and awareness opportunities that presently exist to catalyze the delivery of genomics knowledge in ways closely attuned to the emerging field of digital health.

Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Personalized Nutrition, and Precision Healthcare

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purposes of the present review are to examine the emergence of nutrigenetics/nutrigenomics, to analyze the relationship between nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, to explore the impact of nutrigenetics/nutrigenomics on healthcare with respect to noncommunicable diseases, and to discuss the challenges facing the implementation of nutrigenetics/nutrigenomics within healthcare.

RECENT FINDINGS

Nutrigenetics/nutrigenomics is certainly a thriving specialty given the sharp increase of publications over the last two decades. The relationship between nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics is proposed as complementary. The current clinical and research literature supports the significant impact nutrigenetics/nutrigenomics has on treating and preventing noncommunicable diseases. Although several challenges face the implementation of nutrigenetics/nutrigenomics into healthcare, they are not insurmountable. Nutrigenetics/nutrigenomics plays an important role not only in treating diseases and illnesses but also in promoting health and wellness through both basic and clinical research; and it is critical for the future of both personalized nutrition and precision healthcare.

Mass spectrometric investigations of caloric restriction mimetics

Caloric restriction (CR) is an innovative therapy used in tumor tissue and tumor model studies to promote cell death and decrease cell viability. Caloric restriction mimetics (CRMs) are a class of drugs that induce CR and starvation conditions within a cell. When used simultaneously with other chemotherapy agents, the effects are synergistic and effective at promoting tumor cell death. In this review, we discuss CRMs and their potential as cancer therapeutics. Firstly, we establish an overview of CR and its impacts on healthy and tumor cells. CR and CRM drugs have shown to decrease age-related diseases and can act as an anti-cancer agent. As it can be challenging for an individual to diligently stick to a diet that would induce CR, CRMs are even more desirable. Then, we discuss the drug class by highlighting three CRMs: resveratrol, (-)-hydroxycitric acid, and rapamycin. These CRMs are commonly known for their dietary effects, but the underlying mechanisms that drive cellular metabolic and proteomic changes show promise as a cancer therapeutic. Lastly, we highlight the use of mass spectrometry and proteomic techniques on experiments utilizing CRM drugs to understand the cellular pathways impacted by this drug class, leading to a better understanding of the anti-cancer properties and potentials of CRM.

The Influence of Plant Extracts and Phytoconstituents on Antioxidant Enzymes Activity and Gene Expression in the Prevention and Treatment of Impaired Glucose Homeostasis and Diabetes Complications

Diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder resulting either from insulin resistance or an impaired insulin secretion. Prolonged elevated blood glucose concentration, the key clinical sign of diabetes, initiates an enhancement of reactive oxygen species derived from glucose autoxidation and glycosylation of proteins. Consequently, chronic oxidative stress overwhelms cellular endogenous antioxidant defenses and leads to the acute and long-standing structural and functional changes of macromolecules resulting in impaired cellular functioning, cell death and organ dysfunction. The oxidative stress provoked chain of pathological events over time cause diabetic complications such as nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, retinopathy, hypertension, and liver disease. Under diabetic conditions, accompanying genome/epigenome and metabolite markers alterations may also affect glucose homeostasis, pancreatic β-cells, muscle, liver, and adipose tissue. By providing deeper genetic/epigenetic insight of direct or indirect dietary effects, nutrigenomics offers a promising opportunity to improve the quality of life of diabetic patients. Natural plant extracts, or their naturally occurring compounds, were shown to be very proficient in the prevention and treatment of different pathologies associated with oxidative stress including diabetes and its complications. Considering that food intake is one of the crucial components in diabetes’ prevalence, progression and complications, this review summarizes the effect of the major plant secondary metabolite and phytoconstituents on the antioxidant enzymes activity and gene expression under diabetic conditions.

Panorama da nutrigenômica no Brasil sob a perspectiva da Bioética

A nutrigenômica tem configurado, no meio científico e popular, como alternativa para prevenir doenças, cuja predisposição determinada geneticamente pode ser evitada ou estimulada, de- pendendo do ambiente no qual o indivíduo se insere. Este estudo questionou o potencial da nutrigenômica em mitigar ou gerar vulnerabilidades. Objetivou-se traçar o panorama da nutrigenômica no Brasil sob a perspectiva da Bioética. O estudo consistiu em um mapeamento quantitativo do panora- ma da nutrigenômica no cenário científico e popular do Brasil, e em uma análise bibliográfica exploratória com o intuito de identificar os agentes e pacientes morais, bem como as vulnerabilidades com vistas a promover uma reflexão à luz da Bioética. O cenário da nutrigenômica no Brasil, elaborado a partir de 18 textos científicos e de 600 conteúdos populares, indicou a prematuridade da área no contexto científico em confronto com uma ampla incorporação pelo meio popular. A incorporação da Bioética na questão foi analisada em 44 artigos científicos, a partir dos quais foram identificados como aspectos condicionantes de decisões do agente moral os contextos filosófico, biológico, cultural, legal e sanitário nos quais se insere. Foram elencadas as vulnerabilidades e mudanças de paradigmas necessárias para sua implementação no Brasil, a fim de diminuir o potencial de geração de vulnerabilidades. A Bioética pode e deve ter uma atuação mais ampla e efetiva nas questões da nutrigenômica ao normatizar, balizar e orientar o desenvolvimento dessa área promissora. Assim, deve visar às mudanças de paradigmas da ciência, dos profissionais, do mercado, do paciente e do consumidor para serem suprimidos os aspectos potenciais de geração das vulnerabilidades identificadas e contribuir para a qualidade de vida de todos os seres vivos desta e de futuras gerações.

Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics: ready for clinical use or still a way to go?

Nutritional Genomics or nutrigenetics/nutrigenomics is an emerging area of research aiming to delineate the interplay between nutrients intake and the reciprocal pathologies with the human genome. Coupled with other omics disciplines, such as metabolomics, proteomics and transcriptomics, nutrigenomics aspires to individualize nutrition, reminiscent of pharmacogenomics and the individualization of drug use. Here, we provide an overview of a session focused on nutrigenomics, organized in conjunction with the Panhellenic Bioscientists Association during the First Greek National Personalised Medicine Conference in Athens, Greece on 15 December 2019.

Antioxidants in Personalized Nutrition and Exercise

The present review highlights the idea that antioxidant supplementation can be optimized when tailored to the precise antioxidant status of each individual. A novel methodologic approach involving personalized nutrition, the mechanisms by which antioxidant status regulates human metabolism and performance, and similarities between antioxidants and other nutritional supplements are described. The usefulness of higher-level phenotypes for data-driven personalized treatments is also explained. We conclude that personally tailored antioxidant interventions based on specific antioxidant inadequacies or deficiencies could result in improved exercise performance accompanied by consistent alterations in redox profile.

Advancing Global Precision Medicine: An Overview of Genomic Testing and Counseling Services in Malaysia

Precision medicine, genomic and diagnostic services are no longer limited to developed countries. This broadening in geography of biomarker applications and omics diagnostics also demands empirical study of implementation, diagnostic testing, and counseling practices in the field. For example, the Malaysian population has large ethnic diversity and high prevalence of genetic disorders such as hemoglobinopathies and metabolic disorders. Increased morbidity and mortality from such diseases have a direct impact on society and health system sustainability and for this, decision-making becomes of outmost importance. We report here on our findings on the landscape of genomic testing and genetic counseling services in Malaysia. We first defined the framework of all Malaysian stakeholders that offer genomics services and next, we identified the related information gaps, as depicted through the service providers' online websites. Our research framework revealed that there is a very diverse spectrum of genomics services in Malaysia, in which wet- and dry-laboratory services integrate. Moreover, we identify the current gaps and possible remedies to improve the quality of genomic and predictive analytics, not to mention considerations to ensure robust ethics and responsible innovation. To our knowledge, this is the first such study to be performed for a Southeast Asian country. Our genomics and precision medicine services mapping strategy presented in this study may serve as a model for field assessment at regional, national, and international levels as precision medicine is expanding globally and new governance challenges and opportunities continue to emerge for smart implementation science.

Nutrigenomics in cancer: Revisiting the effects of natural compounds

Nutrigenomics effects have an important role in the manipulation of dietary components for human benefit, particularly in cancer prevention or treatment. The impact of dietary components, including phytochemicals, is largely studied by nutrigenomics, looking at the gene expression and molecular mechanisms interacting with bioactive compounds and nutrients, based on new 'omics' technologies. The high number of preclinical studies proves the relevant role of nutrigenomics in cancer management. By deciphering the network of nutrient-gene connections associated with cancer, relevant data will be transposed as therapeutic interventions for this devastating pathology and for fulfilling the concept of personalized nutrition. All these are presented under the nutrigenomics canopy for a better comprehension of the relation between ingested phytochemicals and chemoprevention or chemotherapy. The profits from the nutrigenomics progress, with a particular focus on the coding and noncoding genes related to the exposure of natural compounds need to be validated. A precise attention receives the evaluation of the role of natural compounds in tandem with conventional therapy using genomic approaches, with emphasis on the capacity to inhibit drug resistance mechanisms. All these relevant nutrigenomics aspects are summarized in the present review paper. It is concluded that further nutrigenomics studies are required to improve our understanding related to the complex mechanisms of action of the natural compounds and for their appropriate application as gears in cancer therapy.