Benefits Associated with Nutrigenomics Research and Their Reporting in the Scientific Literature: Researchers' Perspectives

Abstract

Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics (NGx) are fields of research that have raised significant expectations about their potential benefits. This article presents empirical data from an online survey seeking the opinions of NGx researchers (n = 126) regarding the achievability of the potential benefits of NGx, the time envisioned for their realization, the motives that may lead to their explicit mention in scientific peer-reviewed articles and the audience(s) targeted by NGx researchers when reporting their results in such articles. Results show that caution should be taken to avoid the risks associated with biohype and the premature dissemination of the potential benefits of NGx among various audiences.

Keywords:

• biohype
• nutrigenomics
• publication
• researchers
• survey

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to thank Marie-Claude Vohl and Julie Robitaille [Institute of Neutraceuticals and Functional Foods (INAF) and the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Laval University, Quebec, Que., Canada] for their collaboration in this project and their thoughtful suggestions in the elaboration of the questionnaire. The authors acknowledge funding support from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (FRSQ) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).