(03-10-12) Micronutrient deficiencies can cause DNA damage

by Helmut Beierbeck

(NaturalNews) All of us, identical twins excepted, are genetically unique. Of
course, everyone's genes encode all the proteins needed for life, but the sum
total of all our biochemical processes varies considerably from person to
person. One of the consequences of this genetically determined biochemical
individuality is that different people have quantitatively different needs for
the nutritionally important minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, etc.

In his book, Biochemical Individuality, biochemist and nutrition pioneer Roger
Williams showed that requirements for any given nutrient may vary from person
to person by a factor of five or more. Given the large number of genes
affecting metabolic processes, it is likely that all of us have at least some
nutritional needs that fall well outside the so-called normal range. These
exceptional needs might be due to differences in digestion, absorption,
excretion, enzyme patterns or other causes.

Biochemical individuality may well explain why clinical trials fail to find
nutrients effective in disease prevention. These trials typically include
participants chosen at random and test nutrients in amounts judged adequate for
most people. Participants with average needs for the nutrient in question may
have that need met by their diet plus any supplements they might take on their
own; for them, the 'therapy' confers no further benefit. For people with
exceptional needs, on the other hand, diet plus daily supplements, plus
"therapy" might still not be enough to reach therapeutically effective nutrient
levels - the levels needed to ensure proper functioning.

Essential nutrients are substances that the body cannot make, or cannot make
in adequate amounts. Given the sad state of today's diet, it is more than
likely that many of our chronic "lifestyle" diseases are the result of dietary
shortcomings and will; therefore, respond to dietary interventions. Unmet
nutritional needs will sooner or later lead to health problems.

The science of nutrition has made tremendous strides since Williams's book was
published. It is now recognized that the gene-nutrient connection is a two-way
street. Not only do nutrient requirements depend on genetic individuality but
nutrients in turn are crucial for genome stability; they act as antioxidants
and co-factors for enzymes involved in DNA metabolism and repair. In fact,
genome damage caused by even moderate micronutrient deficiencies rivals damage
from environmental factors like chemical carcinogens or radiation.

The sharp drop in the cost of gene sequencing has now made it possible to
screen individual patients for biomarkers of DNA vulnerability to micronutrient
deficiencies, prescribe the appropriate nutritional therapy, and assess the
effect of that therapy on DNA stability. Instead of diagnosing and treating
diseases caused by genome damage, one can identify and nutritionally prevent
the most fundamental initiating cause of developmental and degenerative disease-
genome damage itself.

Of course, we still need to take good care of ourselves or all the gene
therapy will be for naught.

Sources:

Roger J. Williams, Biochemical individuality, John Wiley & Sons, 1963

Bland J, The future of nutritional pharmacology, Altern Ther Health Med 2008;14
(5):12-14

http://www.alternative-therapies.com

Fenech M, Genome health nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics - diagnosis and
nutritional treatment of genome damage on an individual basis, Food Chem
Toxicol 2008;46(4):1365-1370.
http://www.aseanfood.info/Articles/11023559.pdf

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