EATING

FOR
YOUR
GENES:
THE EMERGING FIELD OF NUTRIGENOMICS
By Linda Hepler, BSN, RN

WE HAVE ALL KNOWN someone who feasts on fatty fare, is an out-and-out sugar
junkie, and who wouldn’t dream of allowing a piece of broccoli past his lips – yet
who enjoys perfect cholesterol levels, healthy blood sugar, and a thin body to
boot. And in contrast, we’ve known those who eschew fats and sweets, religiously
eat their 5-10 fruits and veggies daily, and still develop diabetes, high cholesterol
or cardiovascular disease. How can this be so? Despite everything we hear about
the importance of a nutritious diet, is it luck of the draw – and not simply the
food we eat – that influences our state of health?

Interplay Between Diet and Genes
To a certain extent, this may be true. An emerging field
of research called “nutrigenomics” – or the study of
molecular relationships between dietary constituents and
genes – points to genetic variations in DNA called “single
nucleotide polymorphisms” or SNPs as a major player in
health and disease. “These SNPs are simply a change in a
single letter of a word in the genetic recipe book, such as
the letter ‘A’ being substituted for the letter ‘C,’” says Lida
Ghaderi, MD, Founder and Medical Director of CENIGENT
Health Enhancement Medical Institute, a “system and
genetic based” personalized medical practice in Santa
Monica, Calif.
According to Ghaderi, each person can have at least 1 million
to 2 million SNPs. And these genetic variations can impact
how our bodies respond to hormones, neurotransmitters,
vitamins, pathogens, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and
environmental factors; how we dispose of toxins, drugs and
hormones; specific diseases we are at risk for, and also how
we use the foods we eat.
This interplay between DNA and diet may account for
individual differences: whether you have a sweet tooth or
like bitter vegetables, whether you tend toward obesity or
thinness, and why two people eating a similar diet can have
very different cholesterol and blood sugar numbers.
An example of this individuality is the way in which we
process cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower
and Brussels sprouts, says Johanna Lampe, RD, PhD,
a Research Professor of Epidemiology at the University
of Washington School of Public Health and Community
Medicine. According to Lampe, cruciferous vegetables
contain a high concentration of chemical compounds called

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glucosinolates. Glucosinolates are
considered to be cancer protective
agents because when you consume
them, they break down into another
product called isothiocyanates, which
work to activate the body’s own
antioxidant enzymes. These enzymes
are used to transform ingested toxins
and harmful chemicals produced
within the body during metabolism
into compounds that can easily be
excreted, explains Lampe.
“But there are genetic variations in
people’s enzymes. If you’re lacking
certain enzymes, you don’t process
the food in the same way; you don’t
excrete the toxins as readily,” she
continues. Does this mean that if you’re
missing key enzymes you don’t get the
same cancer protection from eating
broccoli? Maybe so – but maybe not,
either, says Lampe. “There could be
other compensatory mechanisms at
play.”
In other words, different genes or
gene combinations contribute to both
risk for and protection from disease –
whether individually or in combination.
Genetic Testing
If all of this seems confusing – that’s
because it is, says nutritionist Hana
Feeney, MS, RD, CSSD, of Canyon
Ranch, a destination spa in Tucson,
Arizona. “What we know now through
research is just the tip of the iceberg,”
she claims. “There’s so much more we
don’t know.”
Even so, there is some good news
in the world of nutrigenomics, she
says. “We know that with many
chronic diseases, there’s a collection
of nutrients interacting with a complex
set of genes, and we may not know
yet exactly which genes are creating
the risk – but if we can test the genes,
we know enough to determine that you
may be at risk for certain conditions.”
If you think this sounds like just
the ticket, there are many direct-
to-consumer companies out there
willing to provide such testing. With
a simple click of the mouse, you can
order a genetic test kit delivered to
your doorstep – then send off a saliva
sample or cheek scraping in order to
find out your genetic risk for a panel
of diseases or conditions in a matter
of weeks. And presumably, you can
then make lifestyle changes to reduce
your chances of developing those
conditions.
Which is all well and good, say therapies that are unique to that
many genetic experts, except that individual,” claims Ghaderi.
this kind of testing may not give you But before making an appointment,
the entire picture when it comes to you should consider a few things. First
disease risk. Genetic tests based is your budget. A direct-to-consumer
upon SNPs may identify some of the genetic testing kit can run upwards of
gene variants associated with a given $1,000.
disease or condition. But researchers And if you add in the cost of a
don’t yet know all of the gene variants health professional – you can expect
that make you at risk – or that protect to spend far more.
you. So while your genetic profile may More importantly, says Feeney,
indicate that you have a higher risk of “You definitely need to think before
diabetes or colon cancer – this doesn’t getting tested. Genomic testing is
necessarily mean that you will actually deeply personal. What are you going
develop either. Or even that the lifestyle to do with this information? Will you
changes you make will help. interpret the outcome with a doom
and gloom attitude, or are you willing
to make changes based upon the
Seek Out a Professional results?”
This is why most health professionals
trained in the field of nutrigenomics
believe that if you’re interested One Size Does Not Fit All
in genetic testing, it should be The upshot: When it comes to dietary
accompanied by a full risk assessment recommendations, one size doesn’t
done by trained professionals who seem to fit all. People respond differently
can explain what the testing can to food – and to lifestyle changes. But
tell you – and what its limitations as more research is done, there will
are. This person can also make undoubtedly be more reliable – and
educated recommendations based more individualized – recommendations
upon the results. “By looking at a for change. “There is no one perfect way
patient’s SNPs, a physician trained of eating,” says Feeney. “But genetic
in personalized genomics can create testing can help you to know better how
more personalized and effective to eat as an individual.” MS&F
“We know that with
many chronic diseases,
there’s a collection of
nutrients interacting
with a complex set of
genes, and ... if we can
test the genes, we know
enough to determine
that you may be at risk
for certain conditions.”
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