Chávez A, Muñoz de Chávez M
National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Mexico DF, Mexico.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003 Sep;57 Suppl 1:S97-100. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601809.
Knowledge of the human genome is helping us better understand nutrition. The nutrition-health relationship depends on the adaptive capacity of genes and their functioning with the diet consumed. The greater the efficiency of the system, the lower the metabolic wear suffered. Several epidemiological studies have reported that early-life metabolic imprinting occurs in Man. Both in the uterus and during the first years of life, under and overfed mother-child units imprint gene changes that lead to chronic metabolic problems in later life. Many other mechanisms can modify gene performance, such as gene silencing, gene compensation by a vitamin or a bioactive phytochemical, or simply DNA multiplication during cell reproduction and polyploidisation. The new area of science related to the lateral transfer of recombinant genes is opening new horizons to the nutritional sciences changing the nutritional value or the organoleptic characteristics of food, or even changing genes in persons at risk of chronic disease. Many recent studies provide details about the kinds of diet, nutrients and other compounds that are the best for Man; biotechnology is becoming an instrument enabling food to be offered in the best of conditions.
对人类基因组的了解有助于我们更好地理解营养。营养与健康的关系取决于基因的适应能力及其与所摄入饮食的相互作用。该系统的效率越高，所遭受的代谢损耗就越低。多项流行病学研究报告称，人类会出现早期生命代谢印记。在子宫内以及生命的最初几年，营养不足或营养过剩的母婴组合会留下基因变化，这些变化会在以后的生活中导致慢性代谢问题。许多其他机制也可以改变基因表现，例如基因沉默、通过维生素或生物活性植物化学物质进行基因补偿，或者仅仅是细胞繁殖和多倍体化过程中的DNA复制。与重组基因横向转移相关的新科学领域正在为营养科学开辟新视野，改变食物的营养价值或感官特性，甚至改变患有慢性病风险人群的基因。最近的许多研究详细介绍了对人类最有益的饮食、营养素和其他化合物种类；生物技术正成为一种工具，使食物能够在最佳条件下供应。
