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Global Translational Medicine                                     Precision medicine via personalized nutrition



                                                               chronic illnesses, the genetic variants identified explain
                                                               only a small portion of disease variability. These genetic
                                                               variants typically have a small effect, contributing to
                                                               disease treatment models via polygenic risk scores
                                                               (PGS), also known as polygenic risk indicators. PGS are
                                                               quantitative factors that capture the cumulative influence
                                                               of several common genetic variants on a specific condition
                                                               or illness. Calculated as the sum of the risk alleles in an
                                                               individual, PGS are weighted according to the effect sizes
                                                               of these alleles, as estimated by independent phenotype-
                                                               training GWAS. Thus, PGS assesses a person’s genetic
                                                               predisposition to a trait or disease, based on their genotype
                                                               profile and using independent GWAS information as a
                                                               learning model. 15,23
                                                                 There is a strong rationale for integrating PGS with
                                                               other risk algorithms incorporating environmental
                                                               components  to  forecast  the  risk  of  chronic  diseases
                                                               in routine clinical practice. For example, CVD has a
            Figure  4.  PPM represents an ambitious challenge for medicine and
            health-care services, aiming to ensure targeted care pathways through   substantial dataset with the potential for cost-effective
            more personalized approaches from the outset. PPM has emerged as a   application of PGS. 15,23  However, current dietary guidelines
            prominent topic across various research fields and is likely to play a crucial   for CVD remain a topic of debate. A  pooled analysis
            role in the future. The growing interest in this area can be attributed to   involving 172,891 participants revealed 9,453  cases of
            the advancements in systems biology and high-throughput technologies.
            Notably, the expanding knowledge and improved interpretation of genetic   coronary heart disease (CHD) and 8,182 cases of stroke.
            data will deepen our understanding of physiological processes in health   In addition, an updated meta-analysis drew evidence
            and disease, paving the way for more precise diagnoses and personalized   from 49 previous non-overlapping studies, which showed
            treatment. This approach can also help reduce the burden of disease by   varying associations for different types of saturated fatty
            enhancing prevention and treatment strategies through the integration   acids (SFAs). Even-chain SFAs were positively associated
            of multiple data sources. Furthermore, PPM seeks to lower health-care
            costs and minimize adverse events by optimizing the selection of the right   with CVD risk, whereas odd-chain and longer-chain SFAs
            therapy at the right time for each patient. Successfully implementing PPM   had a negative association. Overall, higher total levels of
            into  clinical  practice  requires  a  comprehensive,  multi-level  approach   n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were linked to a
            to patient care. At the molecular level, the multiomics approach—  lower risk of CHD, whereas higher total n-6 PUFAs were
            including transcriptomics, metabolomics, genomics, proteomics, and
            epigenomics—offers a deeper understanding of patient conditions, from   associated with a reduced risk of stroke. When examining
            the underlying causes of diseases to their functional consequences. This   individual PUFAs, linoleic acid—the predominant
            information should be integrated with the study of the  “exposome,”   n-6  PUFA—along  with  docosahexaenoic  acid  and  n-3
            which encompasses the totality of an individual’s lifetime exposures and   docosapentaenoic acid, was negatively associated with
            their impact on health. By combining these insights with clinical patient   the  risks of  CHD  and  stroke.  In  contrast,  dihomo-γ-
            data, physicians can develop personalized therapies tailored to each
            individual. 14,15                                  linolenic acid was positively associated with both diseases.
            Abbreviation: PPM: Personalized and precision medicine.  Interestingly, α-linolenic acid, an n-3 PUFA mainly found
                                                               in plant sources, did not show a relationship with lower
            as AI and machine learning (ML) is vital for consolidating   risks of CHD or stroke. Furthermore, arachidonic acid,
            diverse data, analyzing multiple variables, building clinical   a key metabolite of linoleic acid, was not linked to an
            biomarker databases to aid decision-making, and creating   increased risk of either condition. 24
            ethical protocols to address these challenges. 21,22  Although 30–50% of common cancers are attributable
              In  recent  decades,  genome-wide  association  studies   to lifestyle and environmental factors, cancer remains
            (GWAS)  have  been  employed  to  identify  the  genetic   a considerable global health burden, with 20 million
            foundations of chronic diseases, uncovering the impact   new cases in 2022. Prevention is the most effective and
            of various common genetic variants on disease risk. These   economical strategy for cancer control, underscoring the
            disorders include—but are not limited to—cardiovascular   need for tools that support public adherence to preventive
            disease (CVD), cancer, metabolic, neurodegenerative,   guidelines. Adherence to the World Cancer Research
            and neuropsychiatric ailments. Nonetheless, despite   Fund and the American Institute for Cancer  Research’s
            the significant hereditary component observed in these   Cancer Prevention Recommendations is associated with


            Volume 4 Issue 3 (2025)                         63                          doi: 10.36922/GTM025080017
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