Consensus Report of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Incorporating Genetic Testing into Nutrition Care.

Faculty of Medical and Health Science, Discipline of Nutrition, The University of Auckland, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand. Société des Produits Nestlé SA, Nestlé Research, Lausanne, Switzerland. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Center, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: mrozga@eatright.org.

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2021;(3):545-552

Abstract

Personalization of nutrition advice is a process already familiar to registered dietitian nutritionists, but it is not yet clear whether incorporating genetic results as an added layer of precision improves nutrition-related outcomes. Therefore, an independent workgroup of experts, supported by the Academy's Evidence Analysis Center staff, conducted a systematic review to examine the level of evidence measuring the effect of incorporating genetic testing results into nutrition counseling and care, compared to an alternative intervention or control group, on nutrition-related outcomes. This systematic review revealed that only weak quality evidence is available in the scientific literature and observed that this field is still maturing. Therefore, at present, there is insufficient scientific evidence to determine whether there are effects of incorporating genetic testing into nutrition practice. The workgroup prepared this Consensus Report based on this systematic review to provide considerations for the practical application of incorporating genetic testing into the nutrition care process.