This review provides a literature overview of new findings relating nutritional genomics and bariatric surgery. It also describes the importance of nutritional genomics concepts in personalized bariatric management. It includes a discussion of the potential role bariatric surgery plays in altering the three pillars of nutritional genomics: nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, and epigenetics. We present studies that show the effect of each patient’s genetic and epigenetic variables on the response to surgical weight loss treatment. We include investigations that demonstrate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms with obesity phenotypes and their influence on weight loss after bariatric surgery. We also present reports on how significant weight loss induced by bariatric surgery impacts telomere length, and we discuss studies on the existence of an epigenetic signature associated with surgery outcomes and specific gene methylation profile, which may help to predict weight loss after a surgical procedure. Finally, we show articles which evidence that bariatric surgery may affect expression of numerous genes involved in different metabolic pathways and consequently induce functional and taxonomic changes in gut microbial communities. The role nutritional genomics plays in responses to weight loss after bariatric surgery is evident. Better understanding of the molecular pathways involved in this process is necessary for successful weight management and maintenance.

Several factors participate in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including free radicals, which when out of balance with their antioxidant capacity contribute to the oxidative stress process and neuronal death. The glutathione S-transferase (GST) polymorphisms are associated with the organism detoxification capacity and can help with the identification of sub-groups that present susceptibility to the development of AD. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of GSTs, including GSTP1, GSTT1 and GSTM1 and apolipoprotein E (apoE) with AD and the distribution of these polymorphisms in the first-degree relatives of patients. For this, 41 patients with AD, 24 elderly without cognitive deficits (control group), 109 relatives of patients with AD and 41 relatives of controls were studied. A sample of peripheral blood was drawn for leukocyte DNA extraction. The genetic polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-RFLP. There was a significantly higher frequency of the 4 allele in the patients (0.21) and in their relatives (0.25) when compared to controls (0.04; p=0.01) and their relatives (0.03; p<0.0001). The V allele of the GSTP1 polymorphism was higher in patients compared to controls (0.35 and 0.19, respectively; p=0.04). In contrast, the presence of the GSTT1 polymorphism prevailed in controls (79%) and their relatives. The V allele may be a risk factor for AD, mainly in the presence of the apoE 4 allele, while the presence of GSTT1 may indicate protection against the disease.

Genetic and environmental factors affect the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Genetic variants of the enzyme glutathione S-transferases (GST) may be related to the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of genetic variants of GST (GSTT1/GSTM1) and their association with the exposure to environmental toxins in PD patients. We studied 254 patients with PD and 169 controls. The GSTM1/GSTT1 variants were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. We applied the Fisher's exact test and the χ² test for statistical analysis (p<0.05). The present and absence for GSTT1 and GSTM1 were similar in patients and controls. The null for GSTT1 and GSTM1 (0/0) and exposure to pesticides prevailed in patients (18%) compared to controls (13%, p=0.014). This study suggests the association between PD and previous exposure to pesticides, whose effect may be enhanced in combination with null for GSTT1/GSTM1.

“Nutrition transition” describes the shifts in dietary consumption and energy expenditure influenced by economic, demographic, and epidemiological changes at a population level. This phenomenon has been associated with rising obesity rates worldwide, especially in developed countries. In Brazil, the historical analysis of temporal trends between malnutrition and obesity characterized the nutrition transition in the country and interweaved it with the formulation and implementation of public food and nutrition policies. Such analysis is crucial for understanding certain principles in each context. Thus, this review contextualized the consolidation of obesity as a critical health and public policy issue in Brazil. Our review suggested that the country may still be at the initial stage of care for obesity, and more efforts are needed to contain the advance of the disease in Brazil.