NEUTRIGENOMICS

Nutrigenomics has helped elucidate potential disease ⁄ diet interactions in a study relating to colon cancer risk which revealed the interactive effects of heterocyclic amines produced by cooking red meats and N-acetyl transferase 2 enzymes which metabolize these products. Carrying a variant of the N-acetyl transferase 2 gene led to a significantly increased risk of colon cancer in those who ate high amounts of well-cooked red meats whereas in those with the genetic variants alone or dietary exposure alone there was no statistically significant increase in risk. Plasma lipid concentrations like transcription factor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha are major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.