The role of nutrigenomics in shaping the future of food science

Abstract:

Nutrigenomics is a growing interdisciplinary field that explores how genetic differences affect our response to dietary components. This knowledge helps develop personalized nutrition strategies to enhance health and prevent diet-related diseases. Advances in this area have supported precision nutrition based on individual genetic profiles, along with improvements in biofortification and the development of functional foods. The approach addresses major global health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease by leveraging genetic insights to improve food quality, fortification, and safety. Although the field has expanded quickly, significant research gaps remain, especially the need for large-scale, long-term clinical studies and for better integration of multi-omics data—such as genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics—into dietary research. Evidence indicates that gene-diet interactions can significantly affect metabolic outcomes in conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes and obesity. However, many existing studies are observational and vary widely in their methods. The global market for precision nutrition reflects the increasing importance of this discipline, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 16.2%, rising from USD 6.09 billion in 2024 to USD 12.89 billion by 2029. These trends underscore the need for rigorous clinical trials and comprehensive omics-based research to unlock the full potential of nutrigenomics to guide future nutritional therapies and food innovation.