Nutrient gene interactions in lipid metabolism.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize recent findings relating to the impact of dietary fat composition on whole body lipid metabolism, and common gene variants on the blood lipid response to dietary fat change.


RESULTS
In recent years a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) intake on the regulation of transcription factors involved in lipogenesis and fatty acid and lipoprotein metabolism has emerged. The evidence is suggestive of a greater potency of the long chain n-3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and in particular their oxidative products, relative to n-6 PUFA. In the area of nutrigenetics a number of common gene variants have been identified which may be important determinants of the blood lipid response to altered dietary fat composition. However, confirmation of associations in independent cohorts, and an understanding of the size effect of individual or combinations of genotypes, is often lacking.


CONCLUSIONS
Although in the future, genotyping holds the potential as a public health tool to target and personalize dietary advice, nutrigenetics is a relatively new science, and further research is needed to address the existing inconsistencies and knowledge gaps.
Minihane
Anne Marie
AM
School of Chemistry, Food Biosciences and Pharmacy, University of Reading, Berkshire, UK. a.m.minihane@reading.ac.uk
D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D054647:Nutrigenomics; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D008055:Lipids