Personalized nutrition for healthy aging: precision diets based on genomic, metabolic, and microbiome profiles
Journal
Frontiers in Nutrition
ISSN
2296861X
Date Issued
2026-08-05
Author(s)
Román-Galeano, Náthaly Mercedes
Castano Jimenez, Janeth
Oentiono, Oki Yonatan
Yoong, Washington A.
Montalvan, Martha
Type
Article
Abstract
The global increase in life expectancy has been accompanied by a parallel rise in the burden of chronic diseases, many of which are influenced by diet and lifestyle. Conventional dietary guidelines, though broadly beneficial, often fail to account for the wide heterogeneity in nutritional needs, metabolic responses, and health trajectories observed among older adults. This limitation has spurred interest in personalized nutrition—a precision approach that leverages individual genomic, metabolomic, and gut microbiome profiles to tailor dietary interventions for healthy aging. Recent advances in omics technologies have deepened our understanding of how genes, circulating metabolites, and microbial ecosystems interact with diet to influence disease risk, physical function, and longevity. This review explores the conceptual foundations, technological enablers, and clinical applications of personalized nutrition, highlighting key evidence from 2020 to 2025. It examines how precision models are being used to improve outcomes in older adults, discusses ethical and social barriers to implementation, and outlines future directions including artificial intelligence and real-time monitoring tools. Personalized nutrition represents a transformative opportunity to shift from population-based dietary advice to individualized strategies that can promote resilience, reduce frailty, and extend healthspan in the aging global population. Copyright © 2026 Reytor-González, Román-Galeano, Castano Jimenez, Oentiono, Yoong, Montalvan and Simancas-Racines.