Most chronic diseases in which nutrition plays a role are also influenced by genetics. The risks of developing cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis are influenced by interactions between genetic and nutritional factors. Studies of families, including those with twins and adoptees, provide strong support for the effect of genetics in these disorders. In fact, family history is considered to be one of the important risk factors in the development of many nutrition-related diseases.
Cardiovascular Disease:
About 1 of every 500 people in the North American population has a defective gene that greatly delays cholesterol removal from the bloodstream. Other genetic effects lead to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease at a young age. Diet changes can help these people, but medications and possibly surgery may be needed to address these problems.
Obesity:
Most obese North Americans have at least one parent who is also obese. Findings from many human studies suggest that a variety of genes (likely 60 or more) are involved in the regulation of body weight. Little is known, however, about the specific nature of these genes in humans or how the actual changes in body metabolism (such as lower energy use in general or fat use in particular) are produced.
Still, although sole individuals may be genetically predisposed to store body fat, whether they actually do so depends on how much excess energy above energy needs they ultimately consume. A common concept in nutrition is that nurture (how people live and the environmental factors that influence them) acts on how nature (each person's genetic potential) is expressed. Although not everyone with a genetic tendency toward obesity develops this condition, he or she does have a higher lifetime risk than individuals without a genetic predisposition to obesity. Obesity is also a main factor that leads to countless other diseases, so if you want to stay healthy make sure you stay in shape.
Diabetes:
Both of the two common types of diabetes (type 1 and type 2) also have genetic links, as revealed by family and twin studies. Only sensitive and expensive testing can determine who is at risk. The form of diabetes involved in about 90% of all cases, type 2 diabetes, also has a strong link to obesity. A genetic tendency for type 2 diabetes is expressed once a person becomes obese but often not before, again illustrating that nurture does in fact affect nature.
In order to see which diseases you may be genetically predisposed to, consider getting genetic testing.
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