Title: Precision Nutrition and Genetics: Future of Disease Prevention

Abstract:

Precision Nutrition allows scientists to understand how people respond differently to dietary intervention due to differences in the genetic makeup of an individual. Folate, a water soluble B vitamin, is essential for nucleic acid synthesis, methionine regeneration, required for normal metabolism and regulation. Polymorphism in folate genes alters the dietary requirements of an individual as they are directly responsible for nutrient uptake, transport, metabolism and function. Objective of the study: The present study investigated SNPs of the genes (MTHFR C677T, MTHFRA1298C, MTR A2756G, GCPII C1561T, and RFCI A80G) in folate metabolism and their role in pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus among Indians. Methodology: The genotyping of folate metabolism gene polymorphisms was made using the PCR- based RFLP method. Genotype and allele frequencies were calculated by the allele counting method. The Hardy – Weinberg equilibrium was calculated for diabetic patients and controls, and was tested using the Chi-square (χ2) analysis. Findings: The genetic analysis revealed that the MTHFR A1298C and RFC1 A80G gene polymorphisms were associated with the development of Type 2 diabetes and its complications among Indians. Conclusion & Significance: As folate is an antioxidant, the study suggests that folate supplementation could prevent the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications in Indians. The findings emphasize that genetic testing allows scientists to categorize an individual into fast/slow metabolizers. Therefore, the health professionals suggest nutrition/diet based on an individual’s genotype to ultimately prevent and manage chronic diseases.

Biography:

Dr.K.Nithya has her expertise in the field of Clinical nutrition and Nutrigenomics. Worked as a project fellow, under UGC-Major Research Project on the topic “Genetic Polymorphism in folate metabolizing enzymes: Possible link with DNA damage in Diabetes mellitus among Indians”. Specialized in the field of molecular genetics, analyzed SNPs in five different genes in the folate metabolic pathway and also studied DNA damage and oxidative stress in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. MOU signed with the Arthur Asirvatham Hospital, Madurai and Alpha Health Foundation, Madurai and collaborating projects in the research area of Clinical Nutrition.