The case for strategic international alliances to harness nutritional genomics for public and personal health

Nutrigenomics is the study of how constituents of the diet interact with genes, and their products, to alter phenotype and, conversely, how genes and their products metabolise these constituents into nutrients, antinutrients, and bioactive compounds. Results from molecular and genetic epidemiological studies indicate that dietary unbalance can alter gene-nutrient interactions in ways that increase the risk of developing chronic disease. The interplay of human genetic variation and environmental factors will make identifying causative genes and nutrients a formidable, but not intractable, challenge. We provide specific recommendations for how to best meet this challenge and discuss the need for new methodologies and the use of comprehensive analyses of nutrient-genotype interactions involving large and diverse populations. The objective of the present paper is to stimulate discourse and collaboration among nutrigenomic researchers and stakeholders, a process that will lead to an increase in global health and wellness by reducing health disparities in developed and developing countrie

The concept of energy homeostasis for optimal health during training

Proceedings of the 1st International Meeting of the congress on nutrition and athletic performance, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, August 8-11, 2001 - Communication lors du congrès 'Nutrition et performance sportive', Edmonton, 8-11 aout 1551

The effect of high-fat feeding on intramuscular lipid and lipid peroxidation levels in UCP3-ablated mice

AbstractUncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) has been suggested to protect against lipid-induced oxidative damage. Therefore, we studied intramuscular lipid peroxide levels and high-fat diet induced alterations in muscle lipid metabolism of UCP3-ablated mice.UCP3−/− mice showed ∼3-fold higher levels of intramuscular lipid peroxides upon standard chow feeding, compared to wild-type littermates. Remarkably, this difference was no longer apparent on the high-fat diet. However, upon high-fat feeding, intramuscular triacylglycerol levels were ∼50% lower in UCP3−/− mice, in comparison to UCP3+/+ animals. Succinate dehydrogenase activity, and total protein content of the muscle fatty acid transporter FAT/CD36 were however similar between UCP3−/− and UCP3+/+ mice

Adipose tissue signatures related to weight changes in response to calorie restriction and subsequent weight maintenance using lipidome and gene profiling network analysis

National audienc

Study on lifestyle-intervention and impaired glucose tolerance Maastricht (SLIM): Design and screening results

The study on lifestyle-intervention and impaired glucose tolerance Maastricht (SLIM) is a 3 years randomised clinical trial designed to evaluate the effect of a combined diet and physical activity intervention program on glucose tolerance in a Dutch population at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Here the design of the lifestyle-intervention study is described and results are presented from the preliminary population screening, conducted between March 1999 and June 2000. In total, 2820 subjects with an increased risk of having disturbances in glucose homeostasis (i.e. age >40 years and BMI > 25 kg/m2 or a family history of diabetes) underwent a first oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Abnormal glucose homeostasis was detected in 826 subjects (30.4%): 226 type 2 diabetes (type 2DM, 8.3%), 215 impaired fasting glucose (IFG, 7.9%) and 385 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, 14.2%). Both increasing age and BMI were strongly related to the prevalence of IGT and diabetes. After a second OGTT, 114 subjects with glucose intolerance and in otherwise good health were eligible for participation in the intervention study (SLIM). The high prevalence of disturbances in glucose homeostasis observed in the preliminary screening underscore the importance of early (lifestyle) interventions in those at risk for developing diabetes. SLIM will address this topic in the Dutch population