Nutritional treatment of genome instability: a paradigm shift in disease prevention and in the setting of recommended dietary allowances

Abstract

The link between genome instability and adverse health outcomes during the various stages of life, such as infertility, fetal development and cancer, is briefly reviewed against a background of evidence indicating that genome instability, in the absence of overt exposure to genotoxins, is itself a sensitive marker of nutritional deficiency. The latter is illustrated with cross-sectional and dietary intervention data obtained using the micronucleus assay, an efficient biomarker for diagnosing genome instability and nutritional deficiency. The concept of recommended dietary allowances for genome stability and how this could be achieved is discussed together with the emerging field of nutritional genomics for genome stability. The review concludes with a vision for a disease-prevention strategy based on the diagnosis and nutritional treatment of genome instability, i.e. 'Genome Health Clinics'.

Mineral and vitamin deficiencies can accelerate the mitochondrial decay of aging

“…The need to set micronutrient requirements to minimize DNA damage has been discussed by Fenech (Fenech, 2003). We have recently compared radiation with folate deficiency to try to put these risks in perspective (Courtemanche et al, 2004).…”

Differences in micronucleus frequency and acrylamide adduct levels with hemoglobin between vegetarians and non-vegetarians

“…The formation of MN reflects either chromosome breakage or the impairment of the mitotic spindle, and MN are classified as sensitive biomarkers for cytogenetic damage [2,3]. Methods to detect MN have become increasingly important tools in genetic toxicology and human biomonitoring [1] and, as has been suggested by others, to identify dietary factors that influence genomic stability [4].…”

Nutrition-based health in animal production

“…All dietary components, both nutrients and nutricines, will have a maximum threshold level at which they will lead to a nutritional imbalance or even toxicity. An alternative strategy is to define nutritional requirements in terms of the amount of nutrients and nutricines to maintain genomic stability (Fenech, 2002(Fenech, , 2003. It should be relatively easy to determine new nutritional standards for animals based on maintenance of genomic stability for disease avoidance, since animals usually receive feed made according to a known formulation, which can be readily modified, and the total feed intake is under good control.…”