Research Boost for Nutrigenomics
New research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA have given a boost to the fledgeling field of nutrigenomics: tailoring nutrition according to genetic make-up.
The research has identified genetic variations that can impair the operation of a particular enzyme. That in turn can lead to heart problems and birth defects. However there are certain nutritional substances that can counter this problem.
This suggests that in the future it might be possible to advise people with the relevant genetic variations to take additional vitamins. As more such genetic-enzyme links are discovered it leads to the possibility of a future where we all have a specially tailored “cocktail” of optimal vitamins we take daily.
Of course this is still in the future, nutrigenomics is in the early stages. There are also privacy, social and political issues: widespread availabilty of such individual DNA-based treatments presumes mass DNA testing at an early age. What would governments, insurance companies and employers do with such information?
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