The Experts for Comprehensive, Convenient Personalized Health!
The Experts for Comprehensive, Convenient Personalized Health!
Nutrigenomics (NGx), or nutritional genomics, is a science studying the relationship between human genome, nutrition and health. People in the field work toward developing an understanding of how the whole body responds to a food via systems biology, as well as single gene/single food compound relationships.
KEAP1 regulates the NRF2 gene by inhibiting activity under homeostasis. When KEAP1 is exposed to oxidative stress it releases NRF2 which translocates to the nucleus triggering the transcription of numerous genes involved in the production of detoxification enzymes, antioxidants and metabolism of xenobiotics.
These nutrigenomic genes are involved in the Krebs cycle and electron transport system for ATP production. Variants in these genes can decrease NADP and ATP which are required for gluathione recycling and glutamate to GABA conversion respectively.
SOD encodes the enzyme for superoxide dismutase which catalyzes the conversion of superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can then be converted to water by the antioxidant glutathione or to hydrogen and water by the catalase enzyme. The GHS gene encodes the enzyme responsible for the production of glutathione and the CAT gene encodes for the catalase enzyme. Variants in these genes can cause an increase in oxidative stress secondary to the build up of reactive oxygen species such as superoxide and production or peroxynitrite.
CBS and BHMT are involved in the urea cycle and the clearance of ammonia. Variants in these genes can reduce the clearance of ammonia and cause BH4 to be depleted. BH4 is required for NOS coupling and when depleted results in an excess of nitric oxide which combines with superoxide to produce the highly reactive oxidative species peroxynitrite. Elevated levels of peroxynitrite have been shown to be associated with numerous disease states including asthma, Alzheimer's, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, cancer, depression, autism, atherosclerosis, arthritis, Parkinson's, Lyme disease, migraines, and COPD.
The NOS gene encodes for the enzyme responsible for the production of nitric oxide, a beneficial vasodilator. NOS variants can result in a reduced ability to produce nitric oxide which results in an increased production of superoxide and peroxinitirite. PON1 encodes the enzyme responsible for the metabolism of organophosphorus pestacides and can also protect against cardiovascular diseases by hydrolyzing oxidized lipids. Variants in the PON1 gene can result in low PON1 activity which has been linked to various diseases states including coronary heart disease, breast cancer, and bipolar disorder. GAD is the enzyme that converts the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate the opposing compound GABA. Excessive levels of glutamate have been linked to increased oxidative stress.