The following research abstract points out an exciting new realm of nutritional research that the mapping of the human genome has opened. At the forefront of this research are the folates. For more information on the folates, including folic acid, go to my website: bbruneau.com

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(Suppl):S15.
Genome health nutrigenomics: nutrition and the science of optimal genome
maintenance.
Fenech M.
CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition, Adelaide, South Australia.
The link between genome instability and adverse health outcomes during the various stages of
life, such as infertility, foetal development, cancer and neurodegenerative disease is compelling.
This will be reviewed against a background of evidence indicating that genome instability, in
the absence of overt exposure of genotoxins, is itself a sensitive marker of nutritional
deficiency. The latter will be illustrated with cross-sectional and dietary intervention data
obtained using the micronucleus assay, an efficient biomarker for diagnosing genome instability
(chromosome breakage, chromosome rearrangement, gene amplification and aneuploidy) and
nutritional deficiency. The concept of recommended dietary allowances for genome stability
and how this could be achieved will be discussed together with the emerging field of nutritional
genomics for genome stability. With regards to the latter we have shown that the MTHFR
C677T polymorphism and riboflavin (the cofactor for MTHFR) have a significant effect on
genome instability, however, the effect is relatively small when compared to folic acid. In
addition this study has shown that excess riboflavin enhances the genome damaging effect of
folic acid deficiency indicating the importance of nutrient-nutrient as well as gene-nutrient
interaction. It is evident from initial studies that optimal concentration of micronutrients for
prevention of genome and epigenome (i.e. CpG methylation in DNA) damage is dependent on
genetic polymorphisms that alter function of genes involved directly or indirectly in DNA
metabolism and repair. The lecture concludes with a vision for an alternative disease prevention
strategy based on the diagnosis and nutritional treatment of genome instability depending on an
individual's genetic background i.e. Genome Health Clinics