Unraveling the Interplay: Nutrigenomics in Gut Microbiome

ABSTRACT The human gut microbiome plays a crucial role in synthesizing immune‐modulating metabolites, such as short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which offer multiple health benefits, including fuelling gut cells and modulating the immune system. Individual variations in nutrition, diet, and genetics significantly influence the body's response to various foods, affecting digestion, absorption, and metabolism processes. These factors, in turn, impact the accessibility of nutrients to the gut microbiota. Recent studies have elucidated diet‐microbiome interaction mechanisms, demonstrating how gut microbiota respond to dietary changes, with specific nutrients selectively promoting the growth of certain microbial species. The emerging field of nutrigenomics examines the effects of genetic variants on nutritional responses, eating habits, and overall health. This discipline enhances our understanding of how diet influences the composition and activities of gut microbes. The interplay between genes, gut microbiomes, and host physiology forms a complex, highly interconnected network. Nutrigenomics research focuses on personalized nutrition, aiming to develop diets tailored to an individual's genetic profile and gut bacterial composition. This approach may unlock potential treatments for metabolically associated disorders in the future. This research aims to explore the role of nutrigenomics in identifying genetic variables that influence an individual's susceptibility to certain illnesses and how dietary choices can modulate these risks through interactions with the gut flora. Additionally, the review addresses the challenges associated with microbial dynamics, ethical and privacy concerns, and practical applications of this emerging field.