Colleagues, the following is FYI and does not necessarily reflect my own
opinion. I have no further knowledge of the topic.
------------------------
Public release date: 4-Apr-2005
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-04/dcoc-pde040405.php

Contact: Kristy Babb
[log in to unmask]
916-263-3560
Dairy Council of California

Panel discusses effect of individualized diets on chronic disease risk

San Diego, CA – April 4, 2005 – Today at the 2005 Experimental Biology 
Conference, the Dairy Council of California sponsored a 
thought-provoking symposium titled "Individualized nutrition as a tool 
to prevent and treat chronic disease." During the symposium attended by 
over 250 people, researchers, health professionals, nutritional 
scientists, and a panel of experts discussed how the progression from 
broad, population-based guidelines to more finely-tuned dietary 
recommendations and specific food choices will ultimately result in an 
improvement in health and chronic disease prevention across the population.

Dr. Johanna Dwyer, National Institutes of Health, commenced the 
symposium by providing an overview of the past, present and future of 
individualized dietary recommendations. Specifically she noted that the 
interest in optimizing health is high and that more sophisticated 
consumers will expect and demand more tailored food choices. This 
presents a great opportunity for the nutrition community; however, she 
cautioned that if the nutrition community does not move on this topic 
others will in a less scientific and credible fashion.

She also noted that the individualization movement has been driven by 
consumer demand, individual preferences, the need for personal ownership 
of health, readiness for change, reducing chronic disease and optimizing 
health.

In his presentation, symposium speaker Dr. Bruce German, University of 
California Davis, reminded the audience, "… it is possible and necessary 
to apply our emerging understanding of an individual's health status to 
individualize their diet and match specific foods and their components 
to health needs." He discussed the need for a new definition of health 
that encompasses not just freedom from disease but protection from 
pathogens, prevention of chronic disease, attaining optimal metabolism 
and improving performance.

German added that technology is one factor driving the movement towards 
increased individualization, and ultimately will enable the application 
of it. "Technology will play a vital role in the increasing demand 
toward individualized dietary recommendations," said German. "Consumers 
at an increasing rate are purchasing products that they believe will 
best meet their individual nutritional needs and technology will lead 
the way in determining what those needs are."

Although there are some basic nutritional guidelines that people should 
follow, one population-based diet will not work for everyone according 
to Dr. Ron Krauss, Children's Hospital Center. During his presentation 
he elaborated on this point, showing lipid research which has identified 
types of diets that work for different genotypes of people. For example, 
in some individuals a low-fat diet can actually be harmful to heart health.

Dr. Myles Faith from the University of Pennsylvania concluded the 
symposium by discussing the need for a behavior change approach in 
helping people understand and apply an individualized tactic to obesity 
prevention and treatment. Using an individualized approach to prevent 
and treat obesity can be practiced in many arenas beyond the traditional 
one-on-one counseling. These arenas include public health, policy, 
research, HMOs and other large agencies and education organizations. 
Optimal results will be obtained if efforts are coordinated across all 
arenas.
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < [log in to unmask] >
"Ask the Parkinson Dietitian"  http://www.parkinson.org/
"Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease"
"Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy"
http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/

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