"Last September I joined Tailoryou, a business that works together with laboratory Fagron in the world of nutrigenetics, a discipline that has the goal of 'personalizing nutrition', that is, making dietary guidelines taking into account the information Genetics of each person and their lifestyles", explains Assumpta Casas. Graduated in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the Ramon Llull University of Barcelona with award extraordinary Degree, she studied the Master's Degree European in Food, Nutrition and Metabolism (E-MENU) during the course 2020/2021. "I would never have thought that I could end up working in a place like this, but thanks to what I have learned at Master's Degree I feel very confident to be able to do it, without ever leaving the importance of scientific rigor that is so much emphasized at the University of Navarra." 

It was during the program when Assumpta had her first contact with nutrigenetics, which until then was "totally distant and novel" for her: "But the approach that this Master's Degree brings you to novel techniques such as the omics sciences financial aid you to be up to date with the latest in the field of research and nutrition," she confesses. 

He now explains in detail the possibilities of nutrigenetics in the promotion of health: "Through genetic tests developed by the laboratory with saliva samples, it is possible to analyze the DNA of people and observe whether they have polymorphisms in certain genes that, according to scientific evidence, may involve changes in metabolism and increase the risk of certain diseases, food intolerances, vitamin or mineral deficiencies...".

As a dietitian-nutritionist, your role in this project consists of interpreting the results of the genetic report , conducting a first session with the patient to learn more about their daily life (how they eat, how they rest, their work schedules, etc.), drawing up recommendations and an example of a menu to follow, taking into account their reality and preferences, and following up with three more sessions to evaluate the process. 

"With all this information Genetics, although it is not possible to change a person's DNA, it is possible to prevent development some situations through a healthy lifestyle that modulates the expression of these genes (diet, physical activity, rest, stress, environmental conditions...). That is why we speak of genetic predispositions and not of 'genetic destinies'".