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Research on Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics

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Dear Colleagues,

Nutrigenomics has been called a “post-genome” field of research because it could only develop in a meaningful way after the completion of the sequencing of the human genome. Nutritional genomics, or nutrigenomics, attempts to study the genome-wide influences of nutrition and identify the genes that influence the risk of diet-related diseases on a genome-wide scale, and to understand the mechanisms that underlie these genetic predispositions. While traditional nutrition research concentrated on nutrient deficiencies and impairment of health, it nowadays focuses on improving health through diet.

As a new science, nutrigenomics brings along new terminology, novel experimental techniques, and a fundamentally new approach to nutrition research, such as high-throughput technologies that enable the global study of gene expression in a cell or organism.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide new insights on the use of nutrigenomics for improving health through diet.

Dr. Nicoleta Andreescu
Prof. Dr. Atanas G. Atanasov
Dr. Barbara Benassi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

nutrigenetics fatty liver
personalized medicine
genetic variants
nutriepigenetics
fertility
foodomics

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Research

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20 pages, 2379 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Alteration of the Early Development Environment by Maternal Diet and the Occurrence of Autistic-like Phenotypes in Rat Offspring

by Kinga Gawlińska, Dawid Gawliński, Ewelina Kowal-Wiśniewska, Małgorzata Jarmuż-Szymczak and Małgorzata Filip

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(18), 9662; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22189662 - 07 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3345

Abstract

Epidemiological and preclinical studies suggest that maternal obesity increases the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. Here, we assessed the effects of exposure to modified maternal diets limited to pregnancy and lactation on brain development and behavior in rat offspring of both sexes. Among the studied diets, a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) disturbed the expression of ASD-related genes (Cacna1d, Nlgn3, and Shank1) and proteins (SHANK1 and TAOK2) in the prefrontal cortex of male offspring during adolescence. In addition, a maternal high-fat diet induced epigenetic changes by increasing cortical global DNA methylation and the expression of miR-423 and miR-494. As well as the molecular changes, behavioral studies have shown male-specific disturbances in social interaction and an increase in repetitive behavior during adolescence. Most of the observed changes disappeared in adulthood. In conclusion, we demonstrated the contribution of a maternal HFD to the predisposition to an ASD-like phenotype in male adolescent offspring, while a protective effect occurred in females. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics)

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51 pages, 9672 KiB

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Tackling Atherosclerosis via Selected Nutrition

by Anna Vesnina, Alexander Prosekov, Victor Atuchin, Varvara Minina and Anastasia Ponasenko

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(15), 8233; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23158233 - 26 Jul 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6560

Abstract

The development and pathogenesis of atherosclerosis are significantly influenced by lifestyle, particularly nutrition. The modern level of science and technology development promote personalized nutrition as an efficient preventive measure against atherosclerosis. In this survey, the factors were revealed that contribute to the formation of an individual approach to nutrition: genetic characteristics, the state of the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and environmental factors (diets, bioactive components, cardioprotectors, etc.). In the course of the work, it was found that in order to analyze the predisposition to atherosclerosis associated with nutrition, genetic features affecting the metabolism of nutrients are significant. The genetic features include the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of genes and epigenetic factors. The influence of telomere length on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and circadian rhythms was also considered. Relatively new is the study of the relationship between chrono-nutrition and the development of metabolic diseases. That is, to obtain the relationship between nutrition and atherosclerosis, a large number of genetic markers should be considered. In this relation, the question arises: “How many genetic features need to be analyzed in order to form a personalized diet for the consumer?” Basically, companies engaged in nutrigenetic research and choosing a diet for the prevention of a number of metabolic diseases use SNP analysis of genes that accounts for lipid metabolism, vitamins, the body’s antioxidant defense system, taste characteristics, etc. There is no set number of genetic markers. The main diets effective against the development of atherosclerosis were considered, and the most popular were the ketogenic, Mediterranean, and DASH-diets. The advantage of these diets is the content of foods with a low amount of carbohydrates, a high amount of vegetables, fruits and berries, as well as foods rich in antioxidants. However, due to the restrictions associated with climatic, geographical, material features, these diets are not available for a number of consumers. The way out is the use of functional products, dietary supplements. In this approach, the promising biologically active substances (BAS) that exhibit anti-atherosclerotic potential are: baicalin, resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin and other plant metabolites. Among the substances, those of animal origin are popular: squalene, coenzyme Q10, omega-3. For the prevention of atherosclerosis through personalized nutrition, it is necessary to analyze the genetic characteristics (SNP) associated with the metabolism of nutrients, to assess the state of the microbiota of the GIT. Based on the data obtained and food preferences, as well as the individual capabilities of the consumer, the optimal diet can be selected. It is topical to exclude nutrients of which their excess consumption stimulates the occurrence and pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and to enrich the diet with functional foods (FF), BAS containing the necessary anti-atherosclerotic, and stimulating microbiota of the GIT nutrients. Personalized nutrition is a topical preventive measure and there are a number of problems hindering the active use of this approach among consumers. The key factors include weak evidence of the influence of a number of genetic features, the high cost of the approach, and difficulties in the interpretation of the results. Eliminating these deficiencies will contribute to the maintenance of a healthy state of the population through nutrition. Full article

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