1.1 Introduction
Nutrigenomics is the application of genomics in nutrition (Roberts et al., 2001; Fenech et al., 2011). This became an apparent field of science unrevealing interrelationships linking nutrients and the human genome and health employing the newest tools such as transcriptomics, epigenomics, metabolomics and proteomics (Roberts et al., 2001; Fenech et al., 2011).
Nutritional genomics is the latest scientific discipline that uses modern genomics technology to study the relationship between genes, nutrition, and health. It explores the effects of nutrients on the entire genetic makeup (genome), proteome, and metabolome. Simply, nutrigenomic defines how the diet acts on genes and changes gene expression which is commonly prominent in cancer like non-communicable diseases. Nutrigenomics can include the full spectrum of research strategies from basic cellular and molecular biology to, clinical trials, epidemiology and population health. The gene is the functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are segments of DNA that contain the information for making a specific protein. When variations in the DNA occur the result can be changes to the structure and function of the protein. Nutrigenetics enables us to realize how our genes affect the method we react to foods, beverages, and supplements (Murgia et al., 2017; Pavlidis et al., 2015).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Nutrigenomics is widely used for studying diet related disorders as well as heart-related disorders (Singh et al., 2002). The higher income group who consumed excess fat and calorie-rich food had an increased prevalence of diabetes compared to the lower income group. In addition, visible fat consumption and physical inactivity showed a cumulative effect on increasing the prevalence of diabetes. Gene-diet interaction studies revealed that the adiponectin gene polymorphism contributed to insulin resistance and diabetes and this was exaggerated in those consuming diets with higher glycemic loads (Mohan et al., 2007). Gomase et al. explained genomics and its new aspects in cancer research. This study gave a broader idea of its history, strategies, technology, applications and current research. SNP array has significant impact on the genetic analysis of human disorders (Gomase et al., 2009). It can be used to measure both DNA polymorphism and dosage recommendations.
Nutrigenomics is both the examination of how nutrients affect genes and how genes affect diet. Nutrigenomics can include the full spectrum of research strategies from basic cellular and molecular biology to, clinical trials, epidemiology and population health. The gene is the functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are segments of DNA that contain the information for making a specific protein. When variations in the DNA occur the result can be changes to the structure and function of the protein.
The potential of nutrigenomic and nutrigenetic approaches is starting to be realized. A great deal of progress has already been made and, by applying new analytical tools to the data already generated, it has proven possible not only to obtain lists of gene products and metabolites that change in response under defined conditions but also to gain insights into the overall biological processes involved.
Another emerging challenge that may well carry implications for the development of obesity research is that of epigenomics. This can be defined as the study of heritable epigenetic signals, encoded in patterns of DNA methylation and histone acetylation within the chromatin, that modulate the expression of genes. Epigenetic marks have recently been shown to change in response to environmental factors over an individual’s lifetime, so even identical twins may ultimately develop differing susceptibilities to adverse environmental factors. As the massive task of mapping the human epigenome progresses, it will become possible to explore the role of epigenetic effects, both as causes and possible consequences of obesity.
Nutrigenomics shows a new way of working with nutrition and now, the knowledge of how food interferes with the genetic code and how the organism responds to these interferences and with the phenotype can be clarified. Furthermore, the development inside Nutrition Sciences, together with communication and marketing fields, provided the emergence of a personalized nutritional counseling based in Nutrigenomics. The personalized nutritional counseling can be used not only to change diet habits and improve life style, but also mainly will permit a better diagnostic of certain diseases, retard the evolution of chronic illnesses, and assist on the treatment of others.
Nutrition and genetics both play an important role in human health as well as in disease progression. The interaction between genetic and dietary influences can result in a higher risk of disease in certain individuals and populations. Recently, diet-gene association studies have revealed evidence on which to base gene-specific dietary intervention trials to confirm results. Nutrigenomics shows a new way of working with nutrition and now, the knowledge of how food interferes with the genetic code and how the organism responds to these interferences and with the phenotype can be clarified.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Relevance of Nutrigenomic.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the nutrigenomic applications will lead both short-term and long- term advantages to human health by exposing novel nutrient-gene interactions, promoting new diagnostic tests for unfavorable responses to diets and distinguishing and managing populations with specific nutrient requirements.
Further, to achieve expected advantages of these bidirectional technologies, a strong network should be build up within both developing and developed countries to share scientific and technological expertise in nutrigenomics by the execution and integration of new post-genomic technologies.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the relevance of nutrigenomic. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To study the relationship between genes, nutrition, and health; and
- To investigate the challenges that emerges for the field of nutrigenomics.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the relationship between genes, nutrition, and health?
- What are the challenges that emerge for the field of nutrigenomics?
