By Michael Greenwood, M.Sc.Reviewed by Dr. Surat P, Ph.D.

Nutritional genomics is the study of nutrition and its relationship with the
genome.

Duda Vasilii | Shutterstock

Since the completion of the human genome project in April 2003, research projects into
the effects of diet on the genome have grown exponentially. Nutrition intake is both
affected by, and affects, a  person’s genes. The ability of the body to take in nutrition,
use nutrition effectively, and burn energy in an optimal way can vary greatly between
individuals. Conversely, the nutrition given to a body can affect the way the genes are
expressed, leading to phenotype changes. Studying the DNA of an individual can
therefore be used to generate a personalized dietary plan.

Nutritional genomics in medicine

Lactose intolerance is caused by the reduced function of a gene that codes for the
enzyme lactase. This enzyme breaks down the disaccharide sugar lactose, present in
milk and other dairy products. Thus, intolerant patients must stay away from dairy
products.

A syndrome called Phenylketonuria is also managed through diet. PKA is caused by

mutation in gene that codes for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that breaks
down amino acid phenylalanine. People suffering from this syndrome are prescribed a
low protein diet, which helps to avoid serious long-term consequences, such as
seizures.

Genes, nutrition and risk factors

Reducing disease risk
In certain individuals, diet can be a major risk factor for a number of diseases, such as
type-2 diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. For example, methionine is an important
amino acid in various metabolic processes in the body created by the activity of an
enzyme on folate (vitamin B9). A mutation in the gene that creates this enzyme leads to
less production of methionine, causing an increased risk of vascular disease. A diet high
in folate can help to alleviate this risk.

Genes and food preferences

The foods that we enjoy, and don't enjoy, has also been linked to our genes. A
preference for bitter or sweet foods is partially influenced by taste receptors T2Rs and
T1R which can lead to overeating sweet, sugar-rich foods, while variation in ankyrin-B
gene induces fat cells to store glucose at a much higher rate than normal.

The desire to consume food is governed by a variety of signals, such as blood sugar
levels, the presence of certain nutrients, signals from the gastrointestinal tract, and
many other sources of information. Genetic factors affecting these signals can lead to
under or overeating.

Nutrition can alter genetics

Chemicals that are commonly present in the diet can alter the expression of some
genes. Genes can be switched on or off by epigenetic processes, such as methylation
or addition of a methyl group to DNA that can suppress DNA transcription. Methylation
of DNA particularly takes place during the pre-natal period, but also continues
throughout childhood and into adult life.

Low-calorie intake or overeating of high fat and low protein foods during pregnancy can
lead to epigenetic events that make obesity more likely in infants. This may be an
evolved response to times of hardship, where a child is programmed to store nutrition
more effectively, although the exact mechanism is not yet fully understood.

Overfeeding of neonatal mice can provoke permanent changes in DNA methylation in

the liver, while adults having a restricted diet (without malnutrition) experience fewer
methylation events and exhibit age-related changes more slowly.