Introduction-

Nutrigenomics is a field of science that studies the interaction between nutrition and the
genome, aiming to understand how different nutrients affect gene expression. In animals,
nutrigenomics explores how diet influences physiological processes at the molecular level,
affecting growth, development, disease susceptibility, and overall health.
Key Concepts in Nutrigenomics:
1. Nutrient-Gene Interaction: Nutrigenomics looks at how specific nutrients or dietary
components can activate or suppress genes. These changes in gene expression can
lead to alterations in metabolic pathways, immune responses, and disease
outcomes.
2. Personalized Nutrition: By understanding the genetic makeup of an animal, it is
possible to design diets that optimize health, enhance growth, improve
reproduction, and minimize disease risk.
3. Epigenetic Changes: Nutrigenomics also involves studying how nutrients can cause
epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation or histone modification, which
can affect gene expression without altering the DNA sequence.
Nutrigenetics-
Nutrigenetics term was used first time by Dr R.O Brennan in 1975 in his book
Nutrigenetics.It is a branch of nutritional genomics that examines how an individual's
genetic makeup influences their response to specific nutrients and dietary components. It
focuses on understanding the genetic differences that cause variability in the way people or
animals absorb, metabolize, and utilize nutrients. The field is centered on identifying genetic
variations, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs),that can affect nutrient
processing and how these variations contribute to different health outcomes or disease
risks.
Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics are interconnected branches of nutritional science that
explore the relationship between genetics and diet. Nutrigenetics focuses on how an
individual's genetic makeup influences their response to different nutrients. It seeks to
explain why people or animals react differently to the same dietary components based on
their genetic variations. For instance, some individuals may metabolize certain nutrients,
like caffeine or fats, differently due to specific genetic variants. In contrast, Nutrigenomics
examines how nutrients and dietary components influence gene expression and function. It
explores the way food can turn genes "on" or "off," thereby affecting various physiological
processes. For example, certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, can activate genes
involved in anti-inflammatory responses. While Nutrigenetics looks at how our genes affect
our response to food, Nutrigenomics investigates how food impacts our genes. Together,
these fields form the foundation for personalized nutrition, aiming to tailor diets to an
individual’s genetic profile for optimal health outcomes.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF NUTRIGENOMICS
Common dietary chemicals activating genome directly or indirectly may alter gene structure
or function. Under certain circumstances, diet can be a risk factor for some individuals while
in others, it may prove to exert quite reverse action.
1. Some diets may regulate genes or their variants and may help in maintenance of health.
Some of them are likely to play a role in onset of disease, its progression and severity.
2. The genetic makeup of an individual can influence the balance between health and
disease.
3. Based on knowledge of nutritional requirements, nutrition status and genotype, termed
“customized” or “personalized” nutrition, diet recommendations can be made for healthy
life or prevention and control of a chronic disease.

Nutrigenomics is a subfield of the broader "omics" sciences, which encompass various

disciplines focused on understanding complex biological systems through large-scale data
sets. These sciences aim to explore different aspects of molecular biology, such as genes,
proteins, metabolites, and more, to gain a comprehensive understanding of how organisms
function at the molecular level. Nutrigenomics focuses specifically on how nutrients interact
with the genome to influence health and disease, but it is closely related to several other
"omics" fields.
Key "Omics" Sciences Related to Nutrigenomics:
1. Genomics:
o Genomics is the study of the complete set of an organism's DNA, including all of its
genes (the genome). It focuses on the structure, function, evolution, and mapping of
genes.
o Nutrigenomics is a specialized form of genomics that studies how nutrition
influences gene expression and how genetic variations affect nutritional responses.
While genomics provides a foundation by identifying and characterizing genes,
nutrigenomics applies this knowledge to understand dietary impacts.
2. Transcriptomics:
 o Transcriptomics involves the study of RNA transcripts (the products of gene
expression) in a cell or organism. It looks at how the transcription of genes is
regulated under different conditions, such as exposure to different nutrients.
o Nutrigenomics uses transcriptomic techniques to examine how nutrients influence
gene expression patterns. For example, transcriptomic analyses can reveal how a
particular diet triggers the upregulation or downregulation of certain genes involved
in metabolism or immune function.
3. Proteomics:
o Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, which are the functional products of
genes. This field examines the structure, function, and interactions of proteins
within cells and organisms.
o While nutrigenomics looks at gene expression, proteomics helps assess how dietary
factors affect the production and function of proteins. For example, certain
nutrients may influence the synthesis of enzymes critical for digestion or energy
metabolism.
4. Metabolomics:
o Metabolomics is the comprehensive study of small molecules (metabolites) within
cells, tissues, or organisms. It reflects the biochemical activities and the metabolic
state of an organism.
o Nutrigenomics often incorporates metabolomic data to understand how nutrient
intake affects metabolic pathways. For instance, the consumption of different types
of fats may result in distinct profiles of lipid metabolites, influencing health
outcomes like obesity or cardiovascular disease.
5. Epigenomics:
o Epigenomics studies the epigenetic modifications to the genome that regulate gene
activity without altering the underlying DNA sequence. These modifications include
DNA methylation and histone modifications.
o Nutrigenomics overlaps with epigenomics by examining how certain nutrients can
cause epigenetic changes that regulate gene expression. For example, a diet high in
folate can influence DNA methylation patterns, which may have long-term effects
on health and disease.
6. Microbiomics:
 o Microbiomics focuses on the collection of microorganisms (microbiota) and their
genomes (microbiome) in a particular environment, such as the human gut.
o The gut microbiome plays a significant role in digestion and nutrient absorption, and
its composition can be influenced by diet. Nutrigenomics considers how nutrients
interact with the microbiome, affecting gene expression and overall health. For
example, fiber-rich diets may promote beneficial gut bacteria, which in turn
influence metabolic and immune-related gene expression.

TOOLS OF NUTRIGENOMICS-
1- Genomics- Genomics is the study of the complete set of an organism's DNA,
including all of its genes (the genome). It focuses on the structure, function,
evolution, and mapping of genes.

2- Transcriptomics- Transcriptomics studies the complete set of activated RNA

transcripts. The mRNAs are produced by a given moment and in a given tissue of a
selected organism; therefore, gene expression varies according to the different
circumstances and periods of time. Transcription factors, when activated, migrate to
the nucleus and bind to a specific sequence of DNA in the promoter region of genes
and, there, act by inhibiting or facilitating transcription. These transcription factors
can be stimulated by-
A- physiological signals, such as those triggered by nutrients/bioactive
food compounds or the metabolites resulting from them;
B- hormones, pharmacological treatments, and diseases, among others.
They act as sensors regulating/modulating transcription of the cells as
needed.

3- Proteomics- Proteomics is the science that studies the complete set of proteins
involved in the biological processes of a certain species. These proteins act in the
cell, tissue, or organ in its normal state, but in different physiological or pathological
situations, they may change their expression level, or even their activity, likewise in
transcriptomics. Proteomics is a primordial resource for Nutrigenomics, once that it
is the gap between genome sequences and cell behavior, becoming the biological
 tool used to understand the process of genetic function determination, and of how
genome is activated in response to certain diet. An example is the activity of
butyrate, which can alter the expression of several proteins from the ubiquitin-
proteasome system. This alteration suggests that proteolysis can be the mechanism
by which butyrate can regulate key-proteins on the control of cell cycle, apoptosis,
and cell differentiation.

4- Metabolomics- Metabolome consists of a set of small primary/secondary

metabolites and body fluids of an organism or species. Metabolomics is the area of
functional genomics that studies the changes in metabolites, whose goal is to isolate
and characterize them. Research advances in this area may facilitate the
understanding of how the genotype is related to the phenotype of an individual.
Nutritionally, metabolomics has many applications, once that it allows knowing the
arrangements and metabolic disorders caused due to a person’s diet and how these
changes may affect the one’s health or disease. Hence, metabolomics also studies
the metabolism under environmental and genetic perturbations, which can be
analyzed and interpreted with the help of bioinformatics and statistical tools.

The following principles of nutritional genomics serve as a conceptual basis for

understanding the focus and promise of this emerging field :
1. Unbalanced diets are risk factors for developing disease.
2. Gene expression and / or genome structure can be altered or changed by dietary
chemicals.
3. The extent to which diet influences the balance between healthy and disease condition
may depend on an individual’s genetic makeup.
4. Some diet-regulated genes are likely to play a role in the onset, incidence, progression,
and/or severity of chronic diseases.

Nutrigenomics and Nontransmissible Chronic Diseases:

Nutrigenomics is the study of how diet and nutrients influence gene expression and
contribute to health or disease outcomes, particularly chronic noncommunicable diseases
(NCDs). NCDs, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain
cancers, are complex diseases influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors,
including nutrition. Nutrigenomics provides insights into how dietary components interact
with an individual's genome to modulate the risk of developing these diseases.

Role of Nutrigenomics in Nontransmissible Chronic Diseases

1. Obesity and Weight Management:
o Gene-Diet Interactions: Nutrigenomics helps identify genetic variations that
influence how individuals respond to different types of diets. For example,
variations in the FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated) gene are associated with
increased risk of obesity, but these effects may be modified by diet and physical
activity.
o Dietary Interventions: Research shows that individuals with certain genetic profiles
may respond better to specific dietary patterns, such as low-fat, high-protein, or
low-carbohydrate diets. Nutrigenomics can guide personalized dietary interventions
to reduce the risk of obesity and related complications like metabolic syndrome.
2. Type 2 Diabetes:
o Genetic Predisposition: Variants in genes like TCF7L2 (transcription factor 7-like 2)
are linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Nutrigenomics
explores how dietary factors, such as the intake of whole grains or high-glycemic
foods, influence gene expression and insulin sensitivity in individuals with these
genetic variants.
o Nutritional Management: Understanding an individual's genetic predisposition to
insulin resistance or glucose metabolism can help tailor diets to prevent or manage
diabetes. For instance, people with a predisposition to insulin resistance may
benefit from a diet low in refined carbohydrates and sugars, focusing on whole
foods and fiber.
3. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD):
o Gene-Nutrient Interactions: Genetic variants in genes like APOE (apolipoprotein E)
affect lipid metabolism and cholesterol levels, influencing cardiovascular risk.
Nutrigenomics research reveals how dietary fats (saturated, unsaturated, or trans
fats) interact with these genes to influence blood lipid profiles.
o Dietary Modification: Individuals with certain APOE variants, such as APOE4, may
benefit from diets low in saturated fats to reduce their cardiovascular risk.
Nutrigenomics can guide the use of functional foods, such as omega-3 fatty acids, to
manage cholesterol and inflammation in genetically susceptible individuals.
4. Cancer:
o Epigenetic Modifications: Nutrigenomics examines how nutrients and bioactive
compounds in food (like polyphenols, vitamins, and folates) influence gene
 expression related to cancer risk through epigenetic mechanisms (e.g., DNA
methylation, histone modification). For example, folate deficiency may impair DNA
methylation, increasing the risk of colorectal cancer.
o Prevention through Diet: Certain dietary patterns, such as high fruit and vegetable
intake, have been associated with a reduced risk of cancers like breast, prostate,
and colorectal cancer. Nutrigenomics helps understand the molecular basis of these
associations and highlights the role of specific nutrients in regulating cancer-related
genes.
5. Hypertension:
o Salt Sensitivity: Nutrigenomics studies have identified genetic variants that
contribute to salt sensitivity, a condition where sodium intake has a strong effect on
blood pressure. Individuals with variations in genes like ACE (angiotensin-converting
enzyme) may be more sensitive to the effects of salt and thus at higher risk for
hypertension.
o Dietary Management: Reducing sodium intake may be particularly important for
individuals with genetic predispositions to salt-sensitive hypertension. Additionally,
diets rich in potassium (e.g., fruits and vegetables) and low in processed foods may
mitigate the effects of genetic variants associated with high blood pressure.
6. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD):
o Gene-Nutrient Impact: Variants in genes like PNPLA3 (patatin-like phospholipase
domain-containing 3) have been linked to the development of NAFLD.
Nutrigenomics explores how diet (especially the intake of fats and sugars) interacts
with these genetic variants to promote fat accumulation in the liver.
o Dietary Strategy: Individuals at higher risk for NAFLD due to genetic factors may
benefit from dietary modifications that include reducing sugar and fructose
consumption, limiting saturated fats, and increasing fiber intake to prevent or
manage liver fat accumulation.

CONCLUSION-
Application of nutrigenomics tools, i.e. transcriptomics and metabolomics can be utilized to
efficiently investigate molecular events taking place in a genome receiving nutritional signals
and responding to them through characteristic metabolic processes in the organism. The
cumulative application of different molecular biological techniques in transcriptomics,
proteomics and metabolics discussed in this review paper can lead to the essential survey of
multi-factorial, nutritional influences on humans and livestock species. In last decade,
microarray technology has been extensively utilized in livestock species as nutrigenomics
research tool to improve food production, quality and their safety in dairy and meat
industries. This widely utilized microarray or DNA chip technology in nutrigenomics research
enables not only the screening of large numbers of genes simultaneously, giving a
comprehensive picture of the variation of gene expression patterns, but will also provide
explanations for complex regulatory interactions, such as those between diet-nutrients and
genes.