What is nutritional genomia?

Nutritional genomics is an evolving health science that studies the human genome and the use of food as medicine to treat individuals according to their specific genetic needs. Food can affect how cells behave through gene expression, and so proper nutrition can prevent or treat diseases. Changes in genes, such as mutations, can also change individual nutrition requirements or require a person to avoid certain foods. Mother nutrition can affect the gene expression of her children and grandchildren. Orthomolecular medicine is related to nutritional genomic, which uses nutritional supplements as medicine. For example, people with phenylketonuria, a disorder in which people are unable to process amino acid phenylalanine and may lead to damage to the central nervous system and brain, may have to avoid foods that contain phenylalanine. Some common sources of this amino acid are eggs, milk and aspartame.

nutritional deficiencies can lead to serious health problemsand some may damage DNA. Some examples include vitamin B _{12 , zinc and vitamin C deficiencies. Lack of vitamin B 12 can lead to neurological damage, brain dysfunction, colon cancer and heart disease. Those who have a lack of zinc may be more susceptible to the brain and immune dysfunction and this deficiency can damage DNA through chromosome breaks. Vitamin C deficiency can lead to DNA oxidation, which can lead to cataracts and cancer. It can be treated by including food with sufficient nutrients.}

poor nutrition can affect individuals and its offspring. Some research, such as studies conducted to observe the effects of starvation and low birth, suggests that a woman's health habits, including nutrition, can affect the child's hill. In some cases, its grandchildren may also be carried out.

three subcategories of nutritional genomicY are nutigenetics, nutrigenomics and nutritional epigenomics. Nutrigenetics concerns the effect of mutations of the gene that can be induced by nutrition, have a health. Nutrigenomics studies the effect that nutrition along with toxins and stress has a gene expression.

Nutritional epigenomics also concern nutrition, gene expression and inheritance. The results of any of these categories of nutritional genomic studies can be used in the development of nutritional instructions for optimizing public health, encouragement of healthy aging and preventing disease.

This field is somewhat similar to orthomolecular medicine that uses nutritional supplements to prevent or treat the disease. Orthomolecular medicine was founded by Dr. Linus pauling, which is well known for using vitamin C to treat colds. Another example of using supplements such as medicine is lithium to treat schizophrenia.