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Genes and Nutrition

Each of us is metabolically unique. Gene variations known as SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) often are a factor in an individual’s ability to metabolize or use nutrients efficiently. Each of our specific nutrient needs is affected by which specific combination of SNPs we have, but with thousands known to impact nutrition metabolism, how do we know what those needs are?

NRI researchers are working to create a “catalog” of SNPs that alter our nutritional needs by understanding how genetic and other complex biological information can be used to better estimate individual nutrition requirements and intolerances. Our scientists use bioinformatics to extract such information from population and intervention studies, develop rules for predicting individual needs, and bring precision nutrition to health care providers and consumers with digital tools.

Publications

 

Genes and Nutrition Publications

2020

Genetic variants affecting bone mineral density and bone mineral content at multiple skeletal sites in Hispanic children.  Voruganti VS

Precision (Personalized) Nutrition: Understanding Metabolic Heterogeneity.  Zeisel S

2019

DNA methylation in mice is influenced by genetics as well as sex and life experience.  French J

Cytosolic 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase regulates glycine metabolism in mouse liver.  Krupenko S

Deleterious mutations in ALDH1L2 suggest a novel cause for neuro-ichthyotic syndrome.  Krupenko S

Fine mapping and identification of serum urate loci in American Indians: The Strong Heart Family Study.  Voruganti VS

Heterogeneity in Metabolic Responses to Dietary Fructose.  Voruganti VS

Genetic analysis of hsCRP in American Indians: The Strong Heart Family Study.  Voruganti VS

A trans-ancestral meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies reveals loci associated with childhood obesity.  Voruganti VS

Healthy dietary patterns and risk and survival of breast cancer: a meta-analysis of cohort studies.  Voruganti VS

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Genome-Wide Interaction Analyses Reveal DPP10-Pulmonary Function Association.  Voruganti VS

Betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase deficiency causes increased susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss associated with plasma hyperhomocysteinemia.  Zeisel S

MicroRNA-129-5p is regulated by choline availability and controls EGF receptor synthesis and neurogenesis in the cerebral cortex.  Zeisel S

2018

Introduction to mammalian genome special issue: the combined role of genetics and environment relevant to human disease outcomes.  French J

C16-ceramide is a natural regulatory ligand of p53 in cellular stress response.  Krupenko N

Metabolic Phenotype of Wild-Type and As3mt-Knockout C57BL/6J Mice Exposed to Inorganic Arsenic: The Role of Dietary Fat and Folate Intake.  Krupenko S

Nutritional Genomics of Cardiovascular Disease.  Voruganti VS

Genetic determinants of BMI from early childhood to adolescence: the Santiago Longitudinal Study.  Voruganti VS

Genetic Variants Related to Cardiometabolic Traits Are Associated to B Cell Function, Insulin Resistance, and Diabetes Among AmeriCan Indians: The Strong Heart Family Study.  Voruganti VS

Meta-analysis across Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortium provides evidence for an association of serum vitamin D with pulmonary function.  Voruganti VS

Serum Lipid Concentrations and FADS Genetic Variants in Young Mexican College Students: The UP-AMIGOS Cohort Study.  Voruganti VS

Arsenic-gene interactions and beta-cell function in the Strong Heart Family Study.  Voruganti VS

Dietary Modulation of the Epigenome.  Zeisel S

2017

NTP Research Report on Absence of Formaldehyde-Induced Neoplasia in Trp53 Haploinsufficient Mice Exposed by Inhalation: Research Report 3 [Internet].  French J

QTL Mapping and Identification of Candidate Genes in DO Mice: A Use Case Model Derived from a Benzene Toxicity Experiment.  French J

Heterogeneity of p53 dependent genomic responses following ethanol exposure in a developmental mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.  Mooney S

Exome sequencing reveals novel genetic loci influencing obesity-related traits in Hispanic children.  Voruganti VS

Genetic variation underlying renal uric acid excretion in Hispanic children: the Viva La Familia Study.  Voruganti VS

Reduced brain volume and impaired memory in betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase knockout mice.  Zeisel S

Betaine is accumulated via transient choline dehydrogenase activation during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation.  Zeisel S

Deletion of one allele of Mthfd1 (methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 1) impairs learning in mice.  Zeisel S

Choline, Other Methyl-Donors and Epigenetics.  Zeisel S

Choline and its metabolites are differently associated with cardiometabolic risk factors, history of cardiovascular disease, and MRI-documented cerebrovascular disease in older adults.  Zeisel S

Altered methylation of specific DNA loci in the liver of Bhmt-null mice results in repression of Iqgap2 and F2rl2 and is associated with development of preneoplastic foci.  Zeisel S

2016

CerS6 Is a Novel Transcriptional Target of p53 Protein Activated by Non-genotoxic Stress.  Krupenko N

Genotype, B-vitamin status, and androgens affect spaceflight-induced ophthalmic changes.  Zeisel S

Related News

Kannapolis Rotary Club's Gift of $63,500

November 12, 2014

The Kannapolis Rotary Club has given a gift of $63,500 to the NRI in support of student housing. On Veteran’s Day, NRI Director Steven Zeisel, M.D., Ph.D., received a symbolic check for this donation from Kannapolis club president Jeremy Tutt and club member William...

February 17, 2015

November 6, 2014

The Role of Genetics and Other Biological Factors in the Obesity Epidemic Karen Corbin, Ph.D., R.D., joined the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) in 2009 and was promoted to research assistant professor in 2011. Dr. Corbin’s research focuses on nutritional and...

Genome-wide association replicates the association of Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) polymorphisms with serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in Hispanic children

November 3, 2014

Genome-wide association replicates the association of Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) polymorphisms with serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in Hispanic children.
Voruganti VS, Laston S, Haack K, Mehta NR, Smith CW, Cole SA, Butte NF, Comuzzie AG.
Cytokine. 2012 Dec;60(3):634-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2012.08.029. Epub 2012 Sep 25.
PMID: 23017229

Significant genotype by diet (G × D) interaction effects on cardiometabolic responses to a pedigree-wide, dietary challenge in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus)

November 3, 2014

Significant genotype by diet (G × D) interaction effects on cardiometabolic responses to a pedigree-wide, dietary challenge in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus).
Voruganti VS, Jorgensen MJ, Kaplan JR, Kavanagh K, Rudel LL, Temel R, Fairbanks LA, Comuzzie AG.
Am J Primatol. 2013 May;75(5):491-9. doi: 10.1002/ajp.22125. Epub 2013 Jan 11.
PMID: 23315630

Genome-wide association analysis confirms and extends the association of SLC2A9 with serum uric acid levels to Mexican Americans

November 3, 2014

Genome-wide association analysis confirms and extends the association of SLC2A9 with serum uric acid levels to Mexican Americans.
Voruganti VS, Kent JW Jr, Debnath S, Cole SA, Haack K, Göring HH, Carless MA, Curran JE, Johnson MP, Almasy L, Dyer TD, Maccluer JW, Moses EK, Abboud HE, Mahaney MC, Blangero J, Comuzzie AG.
Front Genet. 2013 Dec 16;4:279. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2013.00279. eCollection 2013.
PMID: 24379826 [PubMed]