Advances in Precision Nutrition

Current nutrition recommendations are made using general ideas of healthy foods, laboratory blood tests, and clinical symptoms. As scientists discover more about the human genome, they are learning more about the health and nutrition information coded there. People eating the same foods can have very different health according to their genetics. We aren’t quite there with the ease and affordability for all patients, but we may be looking at a future where we can look inside of ourselves to learn what we should eat (or avoid).

Precision nutrition is an approach to diet and health that emphasizes personalized, individualized recommendations based on factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and metabolic characteristics. It recognizes that each person’s nutritional needs and responses to food are unique, and seeks to tailor dietary interventions accordingly. By using scientific research, data analysis, and technology, precision nutrition offers personalized guidance to optimize health outcomes and achieve specific goals. This approach empowers individuals to make informed choices about their diet, considering their unique needs and preferences. Ultimately, precision nutrition aims to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of dietary interventions, promoting better health and well-being on an individual level.

New research is helping scientists and clinicians determine how health can be individually optimized through nutrition choices based on our DNA.¹ One study suggests if someone is genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease, a targeted diet could be employed to potentially prevent or reduce the risk of developing that disease.² Listen to one of the scientist’s explain the research here (video located just below the abstract). 

Clinicians are also making treatment plans using precision nutrition for their patients with diabetes and even cancer.^3,4 As scientists discover more about how metabolic pathways work and connect to disease and the food that we eat, clinicians are able to use precision nutrition as a powerful part of treatment for their patients.

Citations

1. Voruganti VS. Precision Nutrition: Recent Advances in Obesity. Physiology (Bethesda). 2023.

2. Norwitz NG, Saif N, Ariza IE, Isaacson RS. Precision Nutrition for Alzheimer’s Prevention in ApoE4 Carriers. Nutrients. 2021.

3. Antwi J. Precision Nutrition to Improve Risk Factors of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. Current Nutrition Reports. 2023.

4. Martínez-Garay C, Djouder N. Dietary interventions and precision nutrition in cancer therapy. Trends in Molecular Medicine. 2023.

This article was part of the March 2024 e-news FRESH Rx. Subscribe for similar content delivered to your inbox.