Circumstantial evidence supports the association selleck chemical of CL/P to the transition from natural unprocessed foods to processed, calorie condensed, Western-type foods [92]. At this time a mixed diet with higher amounts of fruits (including those from the Cucurbitaceae family), Crucifereae vegetables, beets varieties, cold-pressed vegetable oils and moderate amounts of red meat and fish seems to be the best recipe for nutritional support for the prevention of malfunctions related to notoptimal

nutrition. We should keep in mind, that there is a need for interventional studies, in order to assess potential benefits and to optimize dietary recommendations and thus maternal periconceptional status. Past and current dietary guidelines have not considered the dramatic differences on the individual’s physiological response to changes to nutrient intake [12]. However, these differences in response may greatly affect the efficacy of these recommendations at the individual level. The past few years have witnessed great advances in gene-identification for abnormal palatogenesis [9]. Through variant metabolic pathways and variant growth patterns, genetically susceptible subgroups

offer a rich opportunity for research by providing a more sensitive means of identifying expositions that are teratogenic in humans. A healthy diet contains many nutrients working synergistically. Metabolism of folate and cobalamine, as well as betaine/choline Gemcitabine and vitamin U, interact 17-AAG cell line at the point homocysteine is converted to methionine. The search of our group [23, 31, 32] for genetic polymorphisms in the homocysteine/folate pathway revealed that polymorphic variants of MTR, BHMT1, and BHMT2 are associated with the risk of clefting in the Polish population. BHMT2, BHMT1 and MTR convert homocysteine to methionine, but use different methyl donors. It is well

known that increased periconceptional intake of folic acid and vitamin B12 may reduce the risk of structural malformations [11, 14]. However, it remains unclear as to the extent to which SNPs of MTR, BHMT1, and BHMT2 contribute to palatogenesis. This newly accumulated knowledge might constitute the basis of new kinds of dietary recommendations. Further work is needed to fully establish the physiological functions and interplay of vitamin U, betaine/choline and their analogues (i.e. trigonelline from tomatoes [93]). Moreover, this observation can raise and support the concept of personalized nutrition aiming at providing targeted dietary advice to women of childbearing age with increased risk of CL/P. From a public health perspective, there is need to create conditions encouraging “healthy choices” of food and to help people make informed decisions within health friendly environments.