Understanding phytochemical-gene interactions provides the basis for individualized therapies to promote health as well as prevent and treat disease. The authors of Phytochemicals: Nutrient-Gene Interactions examine the interactions between phytochemicals and the human genome and discuss the impact these interactions have on health, aging, and chronic conditions such as inflammation, heart disease, obesity, type II diabetes mellitus, and cancer.

Keeping pace with the most important trends in phytochemical research, the authors accentuate the latest understanding on the use of controlled clinical trials, new screening technologies, and the completed human genome project for researching the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of phytochemicals. The book covers a balanced range of topics beginning with experimental strategies and methodologies for identifying significant interactions between diet, genetic variants, and different markers of cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and obesity. Different authors explain the mechanisms of protective action that link diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids, unsaturated fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains with a decreased risk of chronic and degenerative diseases. They also review and summarize epidemiological research on plant-based foods and dietary patterns supporting the beneficial role of phytochemicals in health promotion and disease prevention.

Phytochemicals: Nutrient-Gene Interactions illustrates the growing role of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics in disease prevention and in the responsible development of safe and effective phytochemical products within the food, pharmaceutical, and supplement industries.

Meskin (dietetics, California State Polytechnic University) collects recent work in phytochemical-gene interactions and their implications for phytochemical research, health care, and research and development in the food, pharmaceutical, and supplement industries. Interactions between dietary factors and genes are explored in the context of inflammation, cardiovascular and coronary heart disease, obesity, type II diabetes mellitus, and cancer. The book will appeal to nutritionists, food scientists, pharmacists, botanists, and other allied health professionals. These expanded and updated papers originated at the October 2004 Fifth International Phytochemical Conference. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

With an overview of nutrigenomics and its role in disease prevention, Phytochemicals: Nutrient-Gene Interactions discusses experimental strategies for identifying genes regulated by diet, genotype, and genotype-diet interactions. Leading researchers analyze the interactions between dietary components and the genetic code, offering insight into the mechanisms that affect health. They address specific disease groups affected by nutrient-gene interactions, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, and examine the effects and implications of nutrient-gene interactions on aging. The book also includes current information on the preventative mechanisms of whole grains against chronic disease.

Phytochemicals: Nutrient-Gene Interactions analyzes the mechanisms of action and impact of phytochemical-gene interactions on health, aging, and disease. The book covers experimental methodologies for identifying significant interactions between diet, genetic variants, and different markers of cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and obesity. It explores the role of resveratrol in cardiovascular health; the preventative mechanisms of whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids; epidemiological research on plant-based foods; the non-antioxidant cellular properties of vitamin E; and controlled clinical trials. The book illustrates the growing role of nutrigenomics in the responsible development of safe and effective phytochemical products within the food, pharmaceutical, and supplement industries.