A healthy diet is not one-size-fits-all; the optimal nutritional balance varies depending on genetic factors. Genetic testing can help determine a person’s ability to metabolize carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, their ability to absorb vitamins and minerals, and even their sensitivity to certain foods, enabling more effective dietary management. This article provides a detailed explanation of the relationship between genes and nutrition and how to choose an individualized diet.
How our bodies metabolize food and how efficiently they absorb nutrients is heavily influenced by genetic factors, and it has been found that certain genes can make us more susceptible to storing excess amounts of certain nutrients or make it harder for us to break down certain foods.
● Major genes involved in nutrient metabolism
✅ FTO gene (risk of fat accumulation)
Mutations in the FTO gene make it easier for fat to accumulate and increase the risk of weight gain.
Countermeasures : It is important to avoid high-fat foods and incorporate moderate exercise.
✅ PPARG gene (lipid metabolism)
It is involved in the differentiation of adipocytes and affects fat accumulation and insulin sensitivity.
Solution : Support lipid metabolism by focusing on a low-fat, high-fiber diet.
✅ LCT gene (lactose intolerance)
If a mutation in the LCT gene results in low activity of the lactose-digesting enzyme (lactase), dairy products become difficult to digest.
Solution : Use lactose-free alternatives (soy milk, almond milk, etc.).
✅ MTHFR gene (folate metabolism)
Determines the activation capacity of folic acid and is involved in the metabolism of homocysteine.
Solution : If folic acid absorption efficiency is low, supplement with supplements.
Related research : Genes and Nutrition – The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Genetic testing can help you determine the nutritional balance that best suits your constitution. Below, we will introduce how to choose a diet based on your genetic type.
● 1. Diet based on carbohydrate metabolism ability
✅ AMY1 gene (ability to break down carbohydrates)
People with more copies of AMY1 can break down carbohydrates more efficiently, allowing them to consume a moderate amount of sugar.
People with fewer copies are more likely to store carbohydrates as fat, so a low-carbohydrate diet is appropriate for them.
Recommended dietary examples
Type with good carbohydrate metabolism : Able to consume moderate carbohydrates from brown rice, whole wheat bread, fruits, etc.
Type with low carbohydrate metabolism : Limit carbohydrates and build your diet around protein and good fats.
● 2. Diet based on lipid metabolism
✅ PPARG gene (regulation of fat metabolism)
If there is a PPARG mutation, fat cannot be metabolized efficiently, and fat accumulation is likely to progress.
It is recommended to avoid high-fat foods and get healthy fats from fish and nuts.
Recommended dietary examples
Fat-metabolizing type : Eat healthy fats such as olive oil, avocado, and nuts in moderation.
Low fat metabolism type : Limit your fat intake and aim for a vegetable-based diet.
● 3. Dietary method based on the absorption efficiency of vitamins and minerals
✅ MTHFR gene (folate metabolism)
Mutations in the MTHFR gene slow the activation of folic acid, increasing the risk of increased homocysteine.
It is important to actively consume foods that are rich in folic acid (spinach, broccoli).
✅ SLC23A1 gene (vitamin C absorption)
Mutations in SLC23A1 may reduce the body’s ability to absorb vitamin C and reduce its antioxidant capacity.
Take vitamin C supplements to make up for the deficiency.
Recommended dietary examples
Type with low folic acid metabolism : Use folic acid-fortified foods and supplements.
.Type with low vitamin C absorption : Eat citrus fruits and bell peppers to increase antioxidant effects.
Related research : Nutrients and genes – The Journal of Nutrition
4. Specific examples of dietary management based on genetic information
How you incorporate the results of your genetic testing into your daily life is important. Here, we will introduce specific examples of optimal dietary management for each genotype.
● 1. Weekly meal plan for each genotype
Case 1: FTO gene mutation (high risk of fat accumulation)
Features
✅ Carbohydrates are easily stored as fat. ✅ Susceptible to the effects of a high-fat diet
Meal plan example
Breakfast : Scrambled eggs, avocado, whole-grain bread, and nuts
6. The cutting edge of nutritional management using genetic information
Advances in genetic analysis have made it possible to scientifically manage diets that are optimal for each individual’s constitution. Here, we will introduce the cutting edge of nutritional management using genetic information, based on the latest research and technology.
● 1. Personalized nutrition management using AI and genetic data
By utilizing AI and big data, personalized dietary management based on genetic information will become possible.
Features of personalized nutrition management provided by AI
✅ Real-time dietary and nutrition advice
Genetic data is combined with daily food records to automatically analyze nutritional balance.
For example, if you have a mutation in the PPARG gene that causes low lipid metabolism, a diet with an appropriate lipid balance is recommended.
✅ Hormone balance and blood sugar management
Monitor your sleep, stress and hormone levels and adjust your nutritional intake.
Suggestions such as “If leptin sensitivity is low, increase protein intake to increase satiety” are possible.
● 2. Optimizing nutritional metabolism through gene editing technology
Recent advances in gene editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 have opened up new possibilities for improving the metabolic efficiency of nutrients.
The future of nutritional management brought about by gene editing
✅ Suppresses FTO gene expression and prevents fat accumulation ✅ Increases UCP1 gene activity and energy consumption ✅ Adjusts MTHFR gene mutations and improves folate metabolism
If this technology becomes practical, it could potentially fundamentally improve genetic predisposition and reduce the burden of dietary management, but ethical debate and safety confirmation are required.
● 3. New nutritional strategies combining intestinal bacteria and genetic information
The interplay between genes and gut bacteria is gaining increasing importance in dietary management.
Nutritional optimization through interactions between gut bacteria and genes
People with FTO gene mutations (prone to fat accumulation)
By increasing the number of intestinal bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (butyric acid-producing bacteria) , fat accumulation is suppressed.
Eat foods rich in dietary fiber (beans, oatmeal).
People with low activity of the UCP1 gene (difficult to burn fat)
Increases probiotics (lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria) and improves energy expenditure.
Include fermented foods (yogurt, kimchi, natto).
this way, improving your intestinal environment is the key to maximizing the benefits of nutrient intake that is tailored to your genotype.
Related research : The relationship between gut bacteria and nutrition – Gut Microbes
● 4. Next-generation food development using genetic data
In the food industry, the development of personalized foods that utilize genetic information is progressing.
Examples of genotype-specific food development
✅ Low GI foods for people with low carbohydrate metabolism ✅ Omega-3 enriched foods for people with low fat metabolism ✅ Lactose-free products for people with lactose intolerance
These foods are developed using AI and big data analysis, with the aim of providing the optimal nutritional balance for your genotype.
Related research : Personalized food development – The Journal of Personalized Medicine
● 5. Evolution of genetic testing and future prospects
The cost of genetic testing is falling every year, making it accessible to the average consumer. In the future, more advanced data analysis will become possible, and it is predicted that “integrated nutritional management” that combines individual health conditions and lifestyle habits will become mainstream.
✅ Integration of genetic data, AI, intestinal bacteria, and wearable devices ✅ Automatically adjust nutritional balance in real time ✅ Providing personalized foods and supplements
This will bring about an era in which it will be possible to easily implement nutritional management that is optimal for each individual’s genes.
Related research : The future of health management using genetic information – Trends in Biotechnology
7. The future of personalized nutrition using genetic information
Nutritional management based on genetic information is currently evolving and has the potential to revolutionize dietary choices and health management in the future. The next generation of nutrition science is expected to integrate genetic data with intestinal bacteria, hormone balance, and lifestyle factors, enabling sophisticated dietary management tailored to each individual’s constitution.
● 1. Next-generation personalized nutrition management system
Next-generation nutrition management systems that combine AI and genetic information are emerging. This makes it possible to manage nutrition by taking into account individual genetic characteristics, unlike conventional general nutritional guidance.
The evolution of nutritional analysis through AI and big data
✅ Real-time nutritional analysis
By integrating genetic data, food logs, and blood data, we propose the optimal nutritional intake plan for each individual.
For example, if you have a “genotype with low carbohydrate metabolism,” the AI will predict changes in blood sugar levels after each meal and recommend appropriate foods.
✅ Dietary advice linked to smart devices
Smartwatches and wearable devices measure metabolism and hormone balance in real time.
For example, for people with low activity of the UCP1 gene, which promotes fat burning, it guides them to take in appropriate nutrients before and after exercise.
✅ Providing individually optimized supplements
Based on the results of genetic testing, nutrients that tend to be lacking are identified and custom supplements are created.
For people with a “genetic type that causes poor absorption of vitamin D,” fat-soluble supplements that increase absorption are recommended.
Related research : Nutritional management using AI and genetic data – Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism
● 2. Gene editing technology and the future of nutrition
Advances in gene editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 may in the future make it possible not only to “select dietary choices” but also to “improve one’s physical constitution.”
Gene editing will revolutionize nutrition management
✅ Gene editing to promote fat burning
By activating the UCP1 gene , energy consumption is increased and the body is adjusted to be less prone to gaining weight.
✅ Increases the absorption of vitamins and minerals
By adjusting the SLC23A1 gene , the absorption rate of vitamin C is improved and its antioxidant power is strengthened.
✅ Optimize carbohydrate metabolism
Suppresses the expression of the FTO gene and improves carbohydrate metabolic ability.
In this way, gene editing has the potential to address problems that could not be solved by conventional nutritional management. However, ethical issues and long-term safety verification are required, so it will not be put into practical use anytime soon.
● 3. New food development using genetic information
In the food industry, the development of personalized foods that utilize genetic information is progressing.
Examples of individually optimized food development
✅ Providing personalized foods and supplements ✅ Omega-3 enriched foods for people with poor fat metabolism ✅ Lactose-free products for people with lactose intolerance
These foods are developed using AI and big data, and aim to provide the optimal nutritional balance for each individual’s genetic information.
For example, it may become possible to create custom smoothies and supplements containing nutrients appropriate for each genotype, making it easier to manage nutrition according to individual constitutions.
Related research : Personalized food development – The Journal of Personalized Medicine
● 4. Advances in genetic testing and new possibilities for nutritional management
The cost of genetic testing has dropped significantly compared to the past, allowing more people to easily access their genetic information. In the future, more advanced data analysis will become possible, and it is thought that “integrated nutritional management” that combines individual health conditions and lifestyle habits will become mainstream.
✅ Integration of genetic data, AI, intestinal bacteria, and wearable devices ✅ Automatically adjust nutritional balance in real time ✅ Providing personalized foods and supplements
This will make it easier to practice nutritional management that is optimal for each individual’s genes on a daily basis.
Related research : The future of health management using genetic information – Trends in Biotechnology
As nutritional management utilizing genetic information continues to evolve, it is expected that diets optimized for individuals will become more commonplace in the future. Let’s take a look at some specific future scenarios to see how next-generation dietary management based on genetic information will change with the development of science and technology.
● 1. Food tracking using genetic information
In the near future, food tracking systems that utilize smartphones and wearable devices to optimize nutritional intake in real time may become commonplace.
How Food Tracking Works
✅ Recommending optimal nutrients based on genetic data
For example, if a person has a genetic type that causes low carbohydrate metabolism, an alert will be sent encouraging them to consume low-GI foods.
✅ Integrating food records and genetic data to create long-term health plans
AI automatically generates a weekly nutrition plan based on your physical condition and exercise data.
✅ Collaborating with supermarkets and restaurants to propose menus suited to genotypes
Based on genetic data, the optimal food list is recommended in real time.
● 3. Popularization of health management apps that utilize genetic information
In the future, health management apps that utilize genetic data and AI will become widespread, making it possible to optimize diet, exercise, and supplements according to individual constitutions.
✅ Providing personalized foods and supplements ✅ Monitor nutritional balance in real time ✅ Regular delivery of individually optimized supplements
This will bring about an era in which anyone can easily practice nutritional management that suits them.
Dietary management using genetic information is a groundbreaking method for understanding individual metabolic and nutrient absorption characteristics and achieving optimal eating habits. Linking with AI and smart devices will enable more precise and personalized nutritional management, and in the future, it is expected that the provision of foods and supplements tailored to genotypes will become commonplace. Advances in science and technology are expected to make healthy dietary choices more effective and easier in the future.
