The importance of diet to sustain health, prevention and treatment of diseases has been known for a long time. However, the advent of new research tools such as high-throughput "omics" technologies (see What is "omics" science?) and bioinformatics has recently enabled researchers to go deeper in the analysis of the complex mechanisms that are involved in the way our bodies process and respond to food and thus, ultimately impact human health and well-being. Notably, the knowledge of the human genome has dramatically broadened the scope of studies in nutrition science. Nutrigenomics is the result of this new alliance between genomics and nutrition. A strict definition of nutrigenomics is difficult, as it often happens with emerging health technologies and new fields of inquiry. In effect, nutrigenomics (which encompasses nutrigenetics*) is a subspecialty of nutrition science which aims to understand how genome-diet interactions influence individuals’ and populations’ response to food, disease susceptibility, and population health. In this respect, nutrigenomics research aims to understand how nutrients and other food components influence genome expression but also how the genome (of individuals or populations) may impact response to diet. Beyond general understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in nutrition and health, nutrigenomics research often tends to focus on diagnostics and knowledge that could be used by subpopulations and/or individuals to customize their diet to prevent disease and promote well-being.
* A similar distinction exists between pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics and could be applied, in principle, to nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics. However, as this field of research is newer, definitions of nutrigenomics as opposed to nutrigenetics may remain more controversial. To know more about such a distinction, please see "What is pharmacogenomics?".
Ferguson, L.R. Nutrigenomics approaches to functional foods. J Am Diet Assoc 2009; 109(3): 452-58.
Garcia-Bailo, B., Toguri, C., Eny, K.M., El-Sohemy, A. Genetic variation in taste and its influence on food selection. OMICS 2009; 13(1): 69-80.
Godard, B., Ozdemir, V. Nutrigenomics and personalized diet: from molecule to intervention and nutri-ethics. OMICS 2008; 12(4): 227-28.
Godard, B., Hurlimann, T. Nutrigenomics for Global Health: Ethical Challenges for Underserved Populations. Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine 2009; 7(3): 205-14.
Kaput, J., Astley, S., Renkema, M., Ordovas, J., van Ommen, B. Harnessing Nutrigenomics: Development of web-based communication, databases, resources, and tools. Genes Nutr 2006; 1(1): 5-11.
Ordovas, J.M., Mooser, V. Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics. Curr Opin Lipidology 2004; 15: 101-108.
Ozdemir, V., Godard B. Evidence based management of nutrigenomics expectations and ELSIs. Pharmacogenomics 2007; 8(8), 1151-1162.
Stover, P.J., Caudill, M.A. Genetic and epigenetic contributions to human nutrition and health: managing genome-diet interactions. J Am Diet Assoc 2008; 108(9): 1480-87.
Subbiah, M.T. Understanding the nutrigenomic definitions and concepts at the food-genome junction. OMICS 2008; 12(4): 229-35.
Publication Inclusion and Exclusion in Nutrigenetics Clinical Research: Ethical and Scientific Challenges
An article by Hurlimann T, Stenne R, Menuz V and Godard B published in the Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics 2011; 4(6). Online first. There are compelling reasons to ensure the participation of ethnic minorities and... Read more
An article by Hurlimann T, Stenne R, Menuz V and Godard B published in the Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics 2011; 4(6). Online first. There are compelling reasons to ensure the participation of ethnic minorities and populations of all ages worldwide in nutrigenetics clinical research. If findings in such research are valid for some individuals, groups, or communities, and not for others, then ethical questions of justice – and not only issues of methodology and external validity – arise. This paper aims to examine inclusion in nutrigenetics clinical research and its scientific and ethical challenges. For more information, click here.
Publication Is Human Enhancement also a Personal Matter?
An article by Vincent Menuz, Thierry Hurlimann and Béatrice Godard, published in Science and engineering ethics, online first (2011) DOI:Read more
An article by Vincent Menuz, Thierry Hurlimann and Béatrice Godard, published in Science and engineering ethics, online first (2011) DOI:10.1007/s11948-011-9294-y. This paper proposes a timely and much needed examination of the various definitions of human enhancement found in the literature and proposes a definition of human enhancement that focuses on individual perceptions. While acknowledging that a definition that mainly depends on personal and subjective individual perceptions raises many challenges, the authors suggest that a comprehensive approach to define human enhancement could constitute a useful premise to appropriately address the complexity of the ethical and social issues it generates. For a full abstract and paper, click here.
