title: Genetic variations in polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism--implications for child health?
abstract: Sufficient nutritional supply with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has long been considered as beneficial for child health, especially in regard to neuronal development and allergic diseases. In recent years, genetic association studies showed that in addition to nutritional influences, the genetic background is highly important for PUFA composition in human tissues. Specifically, polymorphisms in the fatty acid desaturase genes or FADS determine the efficiency of how PUFAs are processed endogenously. Recent gene-nutrition interaction studies suggest that these polymorphisms modulate the effect of nutritional fatty acid intake on complex phenotypes such as cognitive outcomes and asthma risk in children. These early results may provide the basis for future well-specified dietary recommendations to achieve optimal health benefit for all children. This article presents results from recent gene-nutrition interaction studies, discusses its implications for child health, and gives an outlook how this association might translate into clinical practice in the future.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lattka
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klopp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demmelmair
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klingler
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koletzko
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D054647:Nutrigenomics / Q000639:trends; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases