Nutrigenomics and Its Approaches for Control of Chronic Diseases

Nutrigenomics studies the impact of nutrients on genome and response of individual genetic makeup to diet. On the other hand nutrigenetics studies the impact of nutrient on a single gene. Some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are determinants of individual requirement of nutrients but some others may be responsible for causing diseases. System biology approach is mainly used in nutrigenomics whereas individual nutrition is the major subject of nutrigenetics. Diet active molecules and human genetics are two major factors which govern the development of chronic diseases, namely cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Adequate and proper amount of nutrients prevent us from developing chronic diseases. The nutrients should keep desired balance between total oxidation status and total antioxidant response of the genome to maintain a balanced level between these two variables. If this balance is disturbed by our eating habits, our genomic system may become prone to development of chronic diseases. Nutrigenomic approach for control of such diseases is to enhance antioxidant status of body by supplementing food with antioxidants which become deficient in a diseased person.