From farm to pharma: public health challenges of nutrigenomics

Abstract

Nutrigenomics is speculated to be the next big dimension of genomic sciences geared toward improving public and personal health through nutritional and dietary interventions. This article traces how public health nutrition has been used as an agenda both in agriculture genomics and now in biomedicine. The centrality and importance of food in health and well-being is well recognized and, with the developments in genomics, it has also been used as a tool for public health-related policies and commercialization. This perspective discusses nutrigenomics from four public health perspectives; novel foods and the public health agenda; the epidemic of lifestyle-related diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases; commercialization; and conceptual issues. Several ethical and governance issues in applying nutrigenomics to public health and the implications for public policy will also be considered.