Diet and genome health

摘要

We all start our life's journey at conception in our mother's womb as a single cell that contains the genetic code mainly in the nucleus but also a tiny but significant fraction within the mitochondria. The capacity of this cell to divide and develop into a normal embryo depends on the integrity of the genome contributed by the father and mother, nutritional cofactors required for DNA synthesis and repair and the absence/presence of environmental (chemicals/radiation) or lifestyle (alcohol/drugs) genotoxins within the placental blood supply. Successful replication of DNA with high fidelity is essential for normal development, successful reproduction and healthy ageing because a variety of genetic mutations (e.g. base damage, deletions of gene sequences, chromosome rearrangements or abnormal chromosome number) can lead to aberrant cellular phenotype, organ dysfunction, cancer and/or accelerated ageing.1 This is particularly important because it is evident from prospective epidemiological studies that the risk for infertility, developmental defects, cancer, cardiovascular and other age-related degenerative diseases increases as the DNA damage burden in human populations rises.