Nutrigenomics : Application to the Development of Nutraceuticals and Cosmeceuticals

Nutrigenomics promises us the ability to tailor diet based on individual genetic make-up. Through the advances made in the Human Genome Project, single nucleotide polymorphisms in important genes have been identified and their clinical association with many metabolic imbalances has been documented. This has resulted in the creation of a nutrigenomic test panel that can be used to evaluate individual genomic differences in the clinical laboratory. The ability to interpret these nutrigenomic tests and perhaps recommend specific nutraceuticals and functional foods that can modify negative health effects of individual genetic profiles is the hallmark of nutrigenomics and can play a vital role in personalized medicine.