Metabo-what?

Metabolomics.
The fine pointy end of nutritional research.
The science that examines various metabolites, the end products of metabolism, at a cellular level, at the same time.

It's a very new science and is being used as part of The Human Genome Project, in conjunction with other new nutritional research diciplines, to provide insights into how cells regulate gene expression.

It's part of the new field of Nutrigenomics.....which sounds like an utterly futuristic concept, but in fact we're closer and closer to a world where Personalised Nutrition is the norm. I first heard of it in any detail at a keynote presentation by Professor Mike Gibney, who was a charismatic lecturer of ours at university and who continues to be a respected figure in nutrition research.

So, it's 2010. You get up in the morning and check your inbox. Your updated meal plan has just been sent from your nutrition lab. You had the 6 monthly urine test done 2 days ago, and there aren't too many changes to make but as you've been under a lot of stress at work recently, your antioxidant needs have gone up, so more berries and oranges on your shopping list. You still need to avoid specific foods to minimise your diabetes risk, but you've been fine tuning that for some time based on your nutrigenomic profile from your annual blood test.

Don't be seduced by the above scenario just yet though. There is no laboratory capable of providing the 'personalised nutrition' service on a commercial basis at the moment, and those that offer diagnosis of disease or food intolerance based on finger-prick testing are peddling bad medicine.



'Just as pharmacogenomics has led to the concept of “personalized medicine” and “designer drugs”, so will the new field of nutrigenomics open the way for “personalized nutrition.” In other words, by understanding our nutritional needs, our nutritional status, and our genotype, nutrigenomics should enable individuals to manage better their health and well-being by precisely matching their diets with their unique genetic makeup.'