ems that the combination of receiving the correct foods, and avoiding the incorrect foods is what makes a queen bee.
Both of these bees are genetically identical. They also were both were born with the exact same epigenetic marks and methylation pattern. Their diet is what creates the change in the epigenome that results in the differences you see here. This is nutrigenomics is action. Would you rather be a queen bee or worker bee?
The Agouti Gene in Mice
Epigenetic patterns are also passed down from parent to offspring. Its our genes’ way of making sure that we are prepared to respond to the environment that our parents’ genes sensed during conception and pregnancy.
Laboratory experiments in mice show how impactful a mother’s diet is in shaping the epigenome of her offspring. All mammals have a gene called agouti. When a mouse’s agouti gene is completely unmethylated (and allowed to express itself highly), its coat is yellow and it is obese and prone to diabetes and cancer. When the agouti gene is methylated (as it is in normal mice), the coat color is brown and the mouse has a low disease risk. Fat yellow mice and skinny brown mice are genetically identical. However, the fat yellow mice are different because they have a gene that is epigenetically “stuck to the on position.”
When scientists fed fat yellow mother mice a diet rich in extra methyl groups (the raw material needed to methylate and turn off genes) their offspring turned out thin, healthy, and brown coated. The base genome between parent and offspring couldn’t account for these rapid generational changes, but the epigenome can. More and more amazing research is coming out almost daily detailing the mechanisms that allow for highly complex control over the expression of our genes.
Caffeine Genes and Cardiovascular Risk
Ever seen how many contradictory studies there are about coffee? You can find hundreds of articles saying that coffee is beneficial and equal number saying its harmful. Well, the most recent studies have shown that it varies depending on your genes. Without controlling for genetics in earlier studies, you can imagine why the statistics might be all over the place.
A single nucleotide variation in the CYP1A2 gene drastically changes the risk of heart attack and high blood pressure from caffeine intake. This gene codes for a liver enzyme that is involved in the break down and metabolism of caffeine. In the graph below, you can see how drastic a difference this variation makes. The “AA” or “fast metabolizer” genotype actually has a lower risk of cardiovascular problems with greater daily coffee intake. On the other hand, the “AC” and “CC” or “slow metabolizer” genotypes have dose-related risk of cardiovascular issues with caffeine intake.
So, for someone with an “AC” or “CC” genetic variation, it would be wise to limit caffeine intake. However, for someone with an “AA” variation, drinking coffee is actually a great idea! This is nutrigenetics in action. By understanding how our underlying base genetic code influences our response to a certain substances, we can modify our habits to best support our genome.
So, how new is this?
Well, in a sense its a very new approach to health, and in another, its something that traditional cultures have been doing for thousands of years just without the understanding of the genetic mechanisms. The ability to look deeply at the human genome, and compare our genetic variations to traits and outcomes has only been possible since the human genome was mapped in the early 2000’s. Since then, the research has exploded, and we’re now at a place where there is robust data that can be used to truly help people. But, traditional cultures have been looking at what foods and practices create the optimal genetic expression in their offspring for hundreds of generations, they just didn’t have the language for it, or the precision we have now.
Think of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics as the art of creating health. The science is clear – most of us are not at the mercy of some uncontrollable descent into degeneration as we age. Th