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allied
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GASTROENTEROLOGY
International Conference on
J u n e 2 5 - 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 | D u b l i n , I r e l a n d
Journal of Gastronenterology and Digestive Diseases
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Volume 3
Page 22
I
nflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) include both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s
disease and are both extremely unpleasant conditions, which are highly cancer
susceptible. Their symptoms and potential outcomes are affected by diet.
They are excellent examples of nutrigenetics, which describes the interplay
between genes and diet in the development and progression of diseases.
Nutrigenetics describes how human genetic variation results in distinct
nutritional requirements. There have been more than 100 genes described
which determine the susceptibility to, development and progress of IBD, in
association with different diets and lifestyles. The biological mechanisms by
which genes interact with one another andwith the environment, especially diet,
is not often fully understood. Nutrigenomics is the scientific approach which
enables the study of these interactions. This involves a range of techniques
including transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, that enable an
understanding of what is happening, and what the implications are if some of
the conditions are not met.
Biography
Lynnette R Ferguson obtained her DPhil. (Oxon.)
from Oxford University in the United Kingdom,
working on DNA damage and DNA repair. After
her return to New Zealand, she began working
as part of the Auckland Cancer Society Research
Centre (ACSRC), using mutagenicity testing as a
predictor of carcinogenesis. In the year 2000, she
became a full Professor and was invited to estab-
lish a new department of Nutrition at The Univer-
sity of Auckland. Since that time, she has split her
appointment 50/50 between the ACSRC and The
University of Auckland. She has investigated the
interplay between genes and diet in the develop-
ment of chronic disease, with foci on inflammato-
ry bowel disease and cancer.
l.ferguson@auckland.ac.nzNUTRIGENETICS, NUTRIGENOMICS
AND INFLAMMATORY BOWEL
DISEASES
Lynnette R Ferguson
Auckland University, New Zealand
Lynnette R Ferguson, J Gastroenterol Dig Dis 2018, Volume 3