Proposed guidelines to evaluate scientific validity and evidence for genotype-based dietary advice
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Author
Grimaldi, Keith A
van Ommen, Ben
Ordovas, Jose M
Parnell, Laurence D
Mathers, John C
Bendik, Igor
Brennan, Lorraine
Celis-Morales, Carlos
Cirillo, Elisa
Daniel, Hannelore
de Kok, Brenda
El-Sohemy, Ahmed
Fairweather-Tait, Susan J
Fallaize, Rosalind
Fenech, Michael
Ferguson, Lynnette R
Gibney, Eileen R
Gibney, Mike
Gjelstad, Ingrid M F
Kaput, Jim
Karlsen, Anette S
Kolossa, Silvia
Lovegrove, Julie
Macready, Anna L
Marsaux, Cyril F M
Alfredo Martinez, J
Milagro, Fermin
Navas-Carretero, Santiago
Roche, Helen M
Saris, Wim H M
Traczyk, Iwona
van Kranen, Henk
Verschuren, Lars
Virgili, Fabio
Weber, Peter
Bouwman, Jildau
Attention
2299/22372
Abstract
Nutrigenetic research examines the effects of inter-individual differences in genotype on responses to nutrients and other food components, in the context of health and of nutrient requirements. A practical application of nutrigenetics is the use of personal genetic information to guide recommendations for dietary choices that are more efficacious at the individual or genetic subgroup level relative to generic dietary advice. Nutrigenetics is unregulated, with no defined standards, beyond some commercially adopted codes of practice. Only a few official nutrition-related professional bodies have embraced the subject, and, consequently, there is a lack of educational resources or guidance for implementation of the outcomes of nutrigenetic research. To avoid misuse and to protect the public, personalised nutrigenetic advice and information should be based on clear evidence of validity grounded in a careful and defensible interpretation of outcomes from nutrigenetic research studies. Evidence requirements are clearly stated and assessed within the context of state-of-the-art 'evidence-based nutrition'. We have developed and present here a draft framework that can be used to assess the strength of the evidence for scientific validity of nutrigenetic knowledge and whether 'actionable'. In addition, we propose that this framework be used as the basis for developing transparent and scientifically sound advice to the public based on nutrigenetic tests. We feel that although this area is still in its infancy, minimal guidelines are required. Though these guidelines are based on semi-quantitative data, they should stimulate debate on their utility. This framework will be revised biennially, as knowledge on the subject increases.