Nutrigenomics and inflammatory bowel diseases

Abstract

The field of nutrigenomics recognizes gene–diet interactions, with regard to both the impact of genetic variation on nutrient requirements, and conversely nutrient regulation of the expression of genes. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases for which twin studies reveal genetic susceptibility that is impacted by diet and environment. Apparently contradictory data on the role of diet in inflammatory bowel disease would be entirely explainable if genetic variability determined dietary requirements and intolerances. Considering Crohn’s disease, we recognize three major classes of genes. The first of these involves bacterial recognition through pattern recognition receptors and autophagy genes, while the second act through secondary immune response, and the third concern epithelial barrier integrity. Despite genetic overlap with CD, the first two groups of genes appear to be less important in ulcerative colitis, while other genes, particularly those involved in barrier function, gain prominence. Case–control studies suggest that these different genetic groups reflect distinct dietary requirements. Such studies suggest nutrigenomic approaches to maintaining disease remission at present, and preventing disease development in the future.

Keywords::

• Crohn’s disease
• nutrigenetics
• nutrigenomics
• polyunsaturated fatty acids
• ulcerative colitis
• vitamin D

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Nutrigenomics New Zealand is a collaboration between AgResearch Ltd. (Palmerston North, New Zealand), Crop & Food Research (Palmerston North, New Zealand), HortResearch (Auckland, New Zealand) and The University of Auckland (Auckland, New Zealand), with funding through the Foundation for Research Science and Technology. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.2:

Notes

Data taken from [6].

Neg: Negative; Pos: Positive.

Data taken from [89].