Introduction

to
Nutrition can be defined as
the process by which living
matter acquires
substances called
nutrients for growth, repair
and energy.
The science of human
nutrition is better defined
as being concerned with
understanding the effects
of food on the human body
in both health and disease.
 A healthy life
depends on
a healthy start to
life
Nutrigenomics is an integrative science
combining biotechnology, molecular
medicine, and pharmacogenomics, which
is revolutionizing how nutrition and diet
are viewed.
Nutritional genomics (nutrigenomics)
is the study of the effects of nutrients
and other bioactive dietary compounds
on the expression of your genes
(whether or not your genes are turned
off or on and how much) and your risk
for certain diseases.
Nutrigenomics is establishing the
effects of ingested nutrients and other
food components on gene expression
and gene regulation, i.e., to study diet-
gene interaction in order to identify the
dietetic components having beneficial
or detrimental health effects.
Nutrigenetics on the other hand
identifies how the genetic makeup
of a particular individual co-
ordinates his or her response to
various dietary nutrients. It also
reveals why and how people
respond differently to the same
nutrient.
In the future, you may
receive a personalized
"nutrition prescription based
on both an understanding of
your nutrigenetics and
nutrigenomic test results.
A working definition:
it seeks to provide a genetic
understanding for how dietary
chemicals can affect the
balance between health and
disease by altering the
expression of an individuals
genetic makeup.
Effect Of Carbohydrate
on Gene Expression

Feeding high-energy diet to

rats leads to early development
of obesity and metabolic
syndrome, apparently through
an inability to cope with energy
density of the diet.
Effect Of Carbohydrate
on Gene Expression

Obesity is associated with

decrease in mRNA levels for the
oxygenic neuropeptides, NPY
(neuropeptides Y), Ag RP (Agouti
Related Peptide) etc.
Effect Of Carbohydrate
on Gene Expression
Feeding high-energy diet to
rats leads to early
development of obesity and
metabolic syndrome,
apparently through an
inability to cope with
energy density of the diet.
Glucose, the most
abundant monosaccharide
in nature, provides a very
good example of how
organisms have developed
regulatory mechanisms to
cope with a fluctuating
level of nutrient supply.
In mammals the response to
dietary glucose is complex
because it combines effects
related to glucose metabolism
itself and effects secondary to
glucose-dependent hormonal
modifications, mainly
pancreatic stimulation of
insulin secretion and inhibition
of glucagon secretion.
Regulation of Gene
Expression by Dietary
In addition to its role as an
Fat
energy source and its effects on
membrane lipid composition,
dietary fat has profound effects
on gene expression, leading to
changes in metabolism, growth,
and cell differentiation.
Regulation
of Gene Expression
by Dietary Fat
The effects of dietary fat on gene
expression reflect an adaptive
response to changes in the
quantity and type of fat ingested.
 Regulation
of Gene Expression
by Dietary Fat
In mammals, fatty acid regulated
transcription factors include
peroxisome proliferatoractivated
receptors (PPAR, -, and -),
HNF4, NFB, and SREBP1c.
Effect of Protein
on Gene Expression
Protein is very essential for
growth, to develop immunity,
normal maintenance of body
function and structure apart
from reproduction and
production.
The function of protein in body is not
only at macro level but it also function
at gene level.
A variety or number of genes responds
to dietary protein both protein quantity
as well as quality influences gene
expression.
Insulin secretion was reduced in rats,
which are fed with low protein diet
due to reduction in pancreatic -cell
mass lower response of remaining -
cells to nutrients and lowered protein
kinase activity (PKA).
PKA is involved in potentiation of
glucose induced insulin secretion by
gastrointestinal hormones such as GIP
and GLP-1.
Low protein diet feeding to rats
altered the many gene expression,
which are responsible for proteins
related to insulin biosynthesis,
secretion and cellular remodeling.
Normal insulin secretion is
influenced by level of Protein
Kinase C (PKC), K+ channel
protein, calcium ion (Ca 2+)
and PKA.
Increased ATP to ADP ratio
achieved through glucose
metabolism, close the K+ ATP
channel, which leads to
depolarization of -cells.
Depolarized -cells opens the
voltage dependent Ca 2+
channels which results in influx
of calcium leads to exocytosis of
insulin granules.
Feeding low protein diet also
increased expression of PFK in
islets (teramers M, P, L, and C)
results in defective glucose
metabolism; it further leads to
deceased glucose induced insulin
secretion.
Feeding low protein
diet decreases insulin
level, it also acts through
decreased movement of
intracellular calcium
Your genes are always
responding, in good or bad
ways, to what you eat; to your
emotions, your stresses, and
your experiences; and to the
nutritional micro-environment
within each of your bodys
cells.
If you maintain a particularly
healthy genetic environment,
your genes will function
normally and you will age
relatively slowly and be more
resistant to chronic,
degenerative diseases.
Smoking cigarettes and
drinking large amounts of
alcohol accelerate gene damage,
the aging process, and the risk
of various diseases.
For genes to remain healthy and
functionalto be turned on or
off when they are supposed to be
their constituent DNA must be
fed the proper nutrients.
Bodys production of DNA
depends on the presence of
certain vitamins. For
example, you must have an
adequate intake of vitamins
B3 and B6 and folic acid to
make DNA.
Low intake of folic acid can
set the stage for widespread
genetic damage, premature
aging, heart disease,
Alzheimers disease, and
even some types of cancer.
Folic acid deficiency during
the early weeks of pregnancy
can impair DNA synthesis in
the rapidly growing fetus and
cause a variety of birth
defects, including spina bifida,
cleft palate, and cleft lip.
The most common causes of
damage include free radicals,
replication errors in DNA, and
transcriptional errors in DNA.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate
reductase (MTHFR)
The most important nutrients
affecting DNA and genes:

Vitamin A.
Influences the growth of cells and
their differentiation into
specialized cells.
The most important nutrients
affecting DNA and genes:

B-Complex Vitamins.
Play diverse roles in DNA
synthesis, repair, and regulation.
Vitamin C.
Enables generic stem cells to
become specialized heart cells;
it is also needed in energy-
generating chemical reactions
and the formation of proteins.
Vitamin D.
Performs diverse
hormonelike functions
affecting bone density,
immunity, and cancer risk.
Vitamin E.
Protects DNA from
free-radical damage
and also helps
regulate some genes.
Chromium. Essential for the
bodys use of the hormone
insulin, which influences
genes involved in fat- and
muscle-cell production.
Selenium.
Needed for the
normal functioning
of the p53 cancer
suppressing gene.
Chromium. Essential for
the bodys use of the
hormone insulin, which
influences genes involved
in fat- and muscle-cell
production.
Zn is an essential trace
element with cofactor
functions in a large number
of proteins of intermediary
metabolism, hormone
secretion pathways and
immune defense
mechanism.
 Zn is involved in regulation of
small intestinal, thymus and
hepatocytes gene expression.
MTF-I (Metal Responsive element
Factor- I) is a Zn dependent
transcriptional activator
regulates mettalothionin I and II
through MRE.
 Zn depedent KLF4 transcription
factor is involved in protein
preparation of HT-29 cells.
The other protein have Zn in it
as constituents are ATP
synathase, cytochrome c, a,
NADP dehydrogenase I and II
regulated by Zn.
 Ancient Genes,
Modern Diet
Genes are routinely
exposed to genetically
unfamiliar foods, and they
respon abnormally, such as
by triggering chronic
inflammatory reactions.
Ancient and modern diets
differ in many ways.
Vitamins and Minerals. With
the exception of sodium (in
salt), ancient humans
consumed two to six times
higher levels of most
vitamins and minerals.
Ancient peoples consumed about equal
amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 fats,
but today the ratio is about 30:1 in
favor of omega-6 fats. Both families of
fats influence gene activity and
provide biochemical building blocks
for the immune system.
The omega-6 fats, found in corn oil,
safflower oil, and other common
cooking oils, promote inflammation.
In contrast, the omega-3 fats, found
in fish and grass-fed livestock, are
antiinflammatory.
To make new DNA, which is necessary
for health, healing, and life itself, your
cells must have the energy to drive the
underlying biological construction
processes.
When large numbers of cells lack
this energy, the deficiency
negatively affects the production of
DNA and the function of genes in
different organs.
Increasing intake of mitochondrial
nutrients found in foods and
supplements can significantly
improve the efficiency of your
bioenergetics.
The crucial nutrients are
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10),
alpha-lipoic acid, carnitine and
acetyl-L-carnitine, ribose,
creatine, and some of the
B vitamins.
The greatest concentrations of CoQ10 are
found in the most energy dependent and
metabolically active cells, including those
that form the skeletal muscle (in your
arms and legs), the heart, the brain, the
liver, and the immune system.
Statin Drugs Reduce
CoQ10 Levels
Fatigue, liver disease, and heart
failure are among the risks
associated with statin drugs.

Statin drugs also decrease

the bodys production of
CoQ10.
Statin work by reducing the activity of
a key enzyme involved in the
production of cholesterol. However,
the same enzyme is needed for CoQ10
synthesis. So with great irony, drugs
prescribed to lower the risk of a heart
attack increase the risk of fatigue and
heart failure.
Vitamin B3.
Known as niacin (nicotinic acid)
and niacinamide (nicotinamide),
vitamin B3 plays a central role in
the production of energy and ATP
Nutrients That Protect
DNA from Damage
Both antioxidants and free
radicals turn many important
genes on and off.
Both antioxidants and
free radicals turn many
important genes on and
off.
1. Eat a nutrient-dense diet to make
every bite count.
2. Eat a variety of fresh, whole foods.
3: Eat quality protein.
4: Eat a varied selection of nonstarchy
vegetables.
5: Eat a varied selection of
nonstarchy fruits.
6: Consume only healthy oils and
fats.
7: Season your foods with herbs
and spices.
8: Drink water and teas.
9: Eat organically produced foods
whenever possible.
10: Restrict or avoid refined
carbohydrates and sugars, and limit your
intake of all processed carbohydrates.
11: Minimize your consumption of
highly refined cooking oils.
12: Avoid all foods with partially
hydrogenated vegetable oils and trans
fats.
 8: Drink water and teas.
Quenching your thirst with a sugary soft
drink, you initiate or sustain an up-and-down
blood-sugar and insulin cycle that can reduce
your glucose tolerance, leave you feeling
tired, and impair your concentration.
Elevated insulin levels trigger a variety of
changes in gene activity that increase body
fat and the risk of diabetes.