Precision Nutrition - Recent Advances and Controversies in Genetic Testing

There is increasing awareness among researchers, educators, healthcare professionals and consumers that the one-size-fits-all, population-based approach to nutritional guidance is inefficient and sometimes ineffective. Genetic differences can explain some of these different responses and randomized controlled trials show that giving DNA-based dietary advice can be superior to population-based recommendations for improving compliance. With increasing consumer awareness and demand for genetic testing, there is a need for registered dietitian nutritionists to have sufficient knowledge to understand the science behind these tests, and determine the benefits and limitations of both the science and the testing.

Suggested Performance Indicators:

4.1.2, 8.1.1, 9.4.6

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand how genetic variation impacts nutritional requirements.
2. Learn how to identify relevant genetic markers with clinical relevance.

3. Recognize the benefits and limitations of consumer genetic testing and understand what genetic tests can and cannot reveal about a person’s health and dietary recommendations.

Speaker:

Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy is a Professor and Associate Chair at the University of Toronto. He is also the Founder of Nutrigenomix Inc., serves as Chief Science Officer and is Chair of the company’s International Science Advisory Board, which consists of key opinion leaders in the field of nutrigenomics. Dr. El-Sohemy obtained his PhD from the University of Toronto and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard. Dr. El-Sohemy has published in the top scientific and medical journals with almost 200 peer-reviewed publications and has given more than 300 invited talks around the world. He is currently Speciality Chief Editor of Nutrigenomics for Frontiers in Nutrition and Editor-in-Chief of Genes and Nutrition while serving on the editorial board of ten other scientific and medical journals. He has been a member of international expert advisory panels and the scientific advisory boards of several organizations. Dr. El-Sohemy is the recipient of several awards for research excellence by the Canadian Nutrition Society, the American College of Nutrition, and the American Nutrition Association.