Nutrigenomic targeting of carbohydrate craving behavior: Can we manage obesity and aberrant craving behaviors with neurochemical pathway manipulation by Immunological Compatible Substances (nutrients) using a Genetic Positioning System (GPS) Map?

Downs, B. William; Chen, Amanda L.C.; Chen, Thomas J.H.; Waite, Roger L.; Braverman, Eric R.; Kerner, Mallory; Braverman, Dasha; Rhoades, Patrick; Prihoda, Thomas J.; Palomo, Tomas; Oscar-Berman, Marlene; Reinking, Jeffrey; Blum, Seth H.; DiNubile, Nicholas A.; Liu, H.H.; Blum, Kenneth

doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.02.037

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Volume 73, Issue 3 , Pages 427-434, September 2009

Nutrigenomic targeting of carbohydrate craving behavior: Can we manage obesity and aberrant craving behaviors with neurochemical pathway manipulation by Immunological Compatible Substances (nutrients) using a Genetic Positioning System (GPS) Map?

B. William Downs
- Department of Nutrigenomics and Personalized Medicine, LifeGen, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA
Amanda L.C. Chen
- Department of Engineering, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC
- Corresponding authors. Address: Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. Tel.: +1 210 823 1504; fax: +1 210 479 1659 (K. Blum).
Thomas J.H. Chen
- Department of Health and Occupational Safety Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC
- Corresponding authors. Address: Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. Tel.: +1 210 823 1504; fax: +1 210 479 1659 (K. Blum).
Roger L. Waite
- Department of Nutrigenomics and Personalized Medicine, LifeGen, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA
Eric R. Braverman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Clinical Neurology, PATH Clinics, New York, New York, USA
Mallory Kerner
- Department of Clinical Neurology, PATH Clinics, New York, New York, USA
Dasha Braverman
- Department of Clinical Neurology, PATH Clinics, New York, New York, USA
Patrick Rhoades
- Department of Bariatric Medicine Comprehensive Obesity clinic, Modesto, CA, USA
Thomas J. Prihoda
- Department of Pathology, University Of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
Tomas Palomo
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Hospttal Universitario 12 de Octubre, Servcio de Psiquiatria Av. Cordoba SN Madrid, Spain
Marlene Oscar-Berman
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School Of Medicine, and VA Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Jeffrey Reinking
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine University Of California Medical School at Davis, Davis CA, USA
Seth H. Blum
- Department of Molecular Nutrition, Synaptamine Inc., San Antonio, Texas, USA
Nicholas A. DiNubile
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
H.H. Liu
- Department of Occupational Safety & Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
Kenneth Blum
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA
- Corresponding authors. Address: Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. Tel.: +1 210 823 1504; fax: +1 210 479 1659 (K. Blum).

Received 29 January 2009; accepted 1 February 2009. published online 18 May 2009.

Summary

Genetic mediated physiological processes that rely on both pharmacological and nutritional principles hold great promise for the successful therapeutic targeting of reduced carbohydrate craving, body-friendly fat loss, healthy body recomposition, and overall wellness. By integrating an assembly of scientific knowledge on inheritable characteristics and environmental mediators of gene expression, we review the relationship of genes, hormones, neurotransmitters, and nutrients as they correct unwanted weight gain coupled with unhappiness. In contrast to a simple one-locus, one-mechanism focus on pharmaceuticals alone, we hypothesize that the use of nutrigenomic treatment targeting multi-physiological neurological, immunological, and metabolic pathways will enable clinicians to intercede in the process of lipogenesis by promoting lipolysis while attenuating aberrant glucose cravings. In turn, this approach will enhance wellness in a safe and predictable manner through the use of a Genetic Positioning System (GPS) Map. The GPS Map, while presently incomplete, ultimately will serve not only as a blueprint for personalized medicine in the treatment of obesity, but also for the development of strategies for reducing many harmful addictive behaviors and promoting optimal health by using substances compatible with the body’s immune system.