Scientists Explain Why People Respond Differently to the Same Healthy Diet

Could personalised diets based on genetics, metabolism and lifestyle help prevent chronic diseases more effectively than conventional nutrition advice? A new scientific review suggests that precision nutrition, which tailors dietary recommendations to individual biological and behavioural characteristics, could offer a more targeted approach to disease prevention throughout life.

Published in the journal Nutrients, the review proposed seven interconnected research pillars for integrating precision nutrition into healthcare, focusing on cardiovascular, respiratory, blood and sleep-related health.

Unlike traditional dietary recommendations that follow a one-size-fits-all approach, precision nutrition considers factors such as age, genetic makeup, metabolism, gut microbiome, lifestyle and environmental exposures.

Researchers highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence, machine learning, wearable devices and molecular biomarkers to identify individual nutritional requirements and predict responses to dietary interventions.

The review examined how nutritional needs change across different life stages, from pregnancy and infancy to adulthood and older age.

For example, personalised nutritional support during pregnancy could account for maternal nutrient levels and metabolic characteristics, while dietary interventions in adulthood could address obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular risk.

The review also highlighted the potential benefits of the DASH diet for individuals with hypertension and omega-3 fatty acids for reducing elevated triglyceride levels.

Among older adults, targeted screening for deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin B12, potassium and magnesium could help guide nutritional interventions, particularly among individuals with chronic illnesses or those taking multiple medications.

The seven proposed pillars emphasise prevention, comprehensive data collection, integration of quantitative and qualitative research, intervention implementation, community participation, education and workforce training.

Researchers suggested that combining clinical information with genetic, metabolic and behavioural data could help develop more practical and effective dietary recommendations.

Further studies involving diverse populations are needed to establish whether personalised dietary strategies can consistently improve long-term health outcomes and reduce chronic disease risk.

REFERENCE: Shi, Y., Brown, A. G. M., Dixit, S., Shiroma, E. J., Farmer, N., Lu, Q., Sood, B., Vitalis, D., Ilias, M., Lachowicz-Scroggins, M., & Pratt, C. A. (2026). Precision Nutrition and Health Outcomes Across the Lifespan. Nutrients, 18(20), 3424. DOI: 10.3390/nu18203424