Nutrigenetics, plasma lipids, and cardiovascular risk.

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Genomics
• Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
• Personalized Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) arises from complex gene-environment interactions influencing lipid levels and risk.
• Nutritional genomics explores how genetic variations affect responses to nutrients, impacting CVD risk.
• Candidate genes, including those for lipid metabolism and nutrient-sensing transcription factors, are key to this field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current evidence for gene-environment interactions in CVD.
• To highlight the potential of personalized nutrition in CVD prevention, particularly for dyslipidemia.
• To discuss the evolution of research from single factors to complex interactions.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing scientific literature on gene-environment interactions and CVD.
• Analysis of candidate genes involved in lipid metabolism and nutrient sensing.
• Exploration of the application of nutritional genomics in clinical practice.

Main Results:

• Gene-environment interactions significantly modulate plasma lipid concentrations and CVD risk.
• Specific genes (e.g., apolipoproteins, hepatic lipase, PPARs) demonstrate the potential for genetics in personalized nutrition for CVD.
• Personalized dietary recommendations based on genetic knowledge may enhance treatment efficiency and patient adherence.

Conclusions:

• Current knowledge is limited, but personalized nutrition holds promise for CVD prevention, especially in dyslipidemia.
• A shift towards understanding complex gene-nutrient-environment interactions is necessary.
• Integrating nutritional genomics into healthcare requires collaboration among medical professionals and genetic counselors.