The Folic Acid Debate

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“The Folic Acid Debate”

Why it’s important to not listen to everything you hear! Think critically!

Folic acid has been claimed to do numerous things, from lowering allergies, lowering risk of multiple types of cancer, to decreasing neural tube defects in babies. Folate works epigenetically through methylation. Like other “health claims” there has been much debate on whether increasing a nutrient that alters the DNA is beneficial or harmful… Here are two articles with opposing views on folate and folic acid:

1. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35874922/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/your-breakfast-giving-you-cancer/

2. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v06n17.shtml

What are your thoughts? Would you advise family, friends, or patients to take folic acid? Knowing about nutrition claims and the epigenetics, what do you think is the best way to implement folate into a healthy diet, if at all?

A few other views on the Folate vs. Folic Acid debate: Just for your own interests..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG6BIPongBo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khM2S4ZhnWI&feature=related

Fooling Mother Nature through Epigenetics

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"Fooling Mother Nature through Epigenetics"

This article gives an overview of epigenetics and further explanation of methylation of DNA and histones. By focusing in on how epigenetics functions on the genome, medicine can be directly used to mimic mother nature and silence the genes of your mother or father.   In this case, epigenetics was used to be therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders. What are your thoughts on using drugs to mimic mother nature? Should certain genes that cause disorders be silenced? What are the implications or further developments that could come from such actions?

http://www.cnsspectrums.com/aspx/articledetail.aspx?articleid=2658

Personalized Genomic Medicine: Who to believe

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“Personalized Genomic Medicine: Who to believe”

Similar to one of our latest readings, , translating the knowledge of our genes into actual use in medicine is easier said than done. The article from class was aimed to teach doctors how to speak about genomics to patients. This new article is calling for a new system of personalized medicine. Do you think such a system is possible? Now that you are beginning to understand how environment, epigenetics, and variation create different outcomes from the same genes, how can the intricacies and details of each individuals genome ever be used to form a strict translation and used to inform patients on their health risks?

Is an X equals Y diagnoses ever really possible with so many confounding factors? And are physicians inept enough to be the ones making decisions based on genomes?

http://vectorblog.org/2012/01/seeking-clarity-genomics-sleuths-set-out-for-the-prize/

(Thank you to one of our past HS320 students for sending this blog in!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5JfOU2efJY

Nature vs. Nurture?

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Nature vs. Nurture?

In this video from NJTV, Dr. Tischfield of Rutgers University speaks about genetic markers as well as inheritance being important factors influencing the development of Alcoholism. He states that these markers “seem to increase the chances of one becoming an alcoholic.” Analyze the validity of Dr. Tischfield’s statements, and discuss possible ramifications these elementary findings could have on the general public, given his anecdote presented in the interview. What is the intended audience? Could the inheritable factors be epigenetic? Although he is not using absolute affirmation, how can we be sure that this study is viable? Could any potential biases compel him to prove his research is clinically relevant?

Click the link to access the PBS video “Is Alcoholism Nature or Nurture?”: http://watch.njtvonline.org/video/2180930008/