ABSTRACT
A nutrient is a fully characterized constituent of a diet that serves as the major energy-yielding substrate or a precursor for the synthesis of molecules needed for normal cell growth, differentiation, defense, repair, renewal, and/or maintenance. Numerous bioactive food constituents such as vitamins, carotenoids, some polyphenols, and terpenoids have significant beneficial effects for health promotion and disease prevention, along with a major role in DNA metabolism and repair as well as expression of genes. However, a number of diseases and disorders are also related to suboptimal nutrition, with nutritional imbalances resulting in metabolic disturbances that predispose individuals to various diseases. Nutrigenomics or nutritional genomics is the science that utilizes genomic information along with high-throughput omics technologies to address issues related to nutrition and health. This emerging science of utilizing personal DNA-based information enables human beings to modify their nutrition, lifestyle, and nutritional supplements for serving their individual needs in the area of preventive health and aging.
