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Pharmacogenomics and nutrigenomics: synergies and differences

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 61, pages 567–574 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The success of the Human Genome Project and the spectacular development of broad genomics tools have catalyzed a new era in both medicine and nutrition. The terms pharmacogenomics and nutrigenomics are relatively new. Both have grown out of their genetic forbears as large-scale genomics technologies have been developed in the last decade. The aim of both disciplines is to individualize or personalize medicine and food and nutrition, and ultimately health, by tailoring the drug or the food to the individual genotype. This review article provides an overview of synergies and differences between these two potentially powerful science areas. Individual genetic variation is the common factor on which both pharmacogenomics and nutrigenomics are based. Each human is genetically (including epigenetics) unique and phenotypically distinct. One of the expectations of both technologies is that a wide range of gene variants and related single-nucleotide polymorphism will be identified as to their importance in health status, validated and incorporated into genotype based strategies for the optimization of health and the prevention of disease. Pharmacogenomics requires rigorous genomic testing that will be regulated and analyzed by professionals and acted on by medical practitioners. As further information is obtained on the importance of the interaction of food and the human genotype in disease prevention and health, pharmacogenomics can provide an opportunity driver for nutrigenomics. As we move from disease treatment to disease prevention, the two disciplines will become more closely aligned.

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Acknowledgements

We are members of the Nutrigenomics NZ (NuNZ) collaboration (www.nutrigenomics.org.nz), but this review represents our own views and not the views of NuNZ. The writing of this review was supported in part by funding provided by the Foundation for Research Science and Technology (FRST) (CO2X0403). We thank David Stevenson and Denis Lauren for careful reviews of this manuscript.

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    D Ghosh, M A Skinner & W A Laing

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Ghosh, D., Skinner, M. & Laing, W. Pharmacogenomics and nutrigenomics: synergies and differences. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 567–574 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602590

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