Je peux dire que c'est vraiment un sujet a la "mode" et il ya beaucoup de groupes de recherche qui s'y mettent. Perso, j aime bien cette partie de la science ou les interets pour la sante sont plus concrets tout en restant fondamentaux. Aux Pays- Bas ils ont une approche plus appliquee du domaine et pour ma partie (biologie moleculaire), il y a pas mal d' efforts qui sont fait pour etudier l'influence de l'alimentation sur l'expression des genes. Il semble que le schema qui etait que les genes determinent tout, perde du terrain au profit de l'alimentation qui va modifier les genes (la cause devient l'alimentation et non plus la genetique).
Ca devient presque philosophique (on est ce que l'on mange) et il y a de nombreuses maladies aux causes 100% genetiques mais elles semblent etre minoritaires.
De toute facon en y reflechissant ca semble presque evident, tout est lie: alimentation, genes, immunite etc ... reste plus qu a trouver comment
Pour les bovins et ton boulot (Etienne) je ne sais pas si qqchose a ete fait dans ce sens
Cette revue est recente, interessante et etablit plus proche de l homme (primates):
http://www.annalsnyas.org/cgi/content/full/1019/1/412
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Jun;1019:412-23.
Development of calorie restriction mimetics as a prolongevity strategy.
Ingram DK, Anson RM, de Cabo R, Mamczarz J, Zhu M, Mattison J, Lane MA, Roth GS.
By applying calorie restriction (CR) at 30-50% below ad libitum levels, studies in numerous species have reported increased life span, reduced incidence and delayed onset of age-related diseases, improved stress resistance, and decelerated functional decline. Whether this nutritional intervention is relevant to human aging remains to be determined; however, evidence emerging from CR studies in nonhuman primates suggests that response to CR in primates parallels that observed in rodents. To evaluate CR effects in humans, clinical trials have been initiated. Even if evidence could substantiate CR as an effective antiaging strategy for humans, application of this intervention would be problematic due to the degree and length of restriction required. To meet this challenge for potential application of CR, new research to create "caloric restriction mimetics" has emerged. This strategy focuses on identifying compounds that mimic CR effects by targeting metabolic and stress response pathways affected by CR, but without actually restricting caloric intake. Microarray studies show that gene expression profiles of key enzymes in glucose (energy) handling pathways are modified by CR. Drugs that inhibit glycolysis (2-deoxyglucose) or enhance insulin action (metformin) are being assessed as CR mimetics. Promising results have emerged from initial studies regarding physiological responses indicative of CR (reduced body temperature and plasma insulin) as well as protection against neurotoxicity, enhanced dopamine action, and upregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Further life span analyses in addition to expanded toxicity studies must be completed to assess the potential of any CR mimetic, but this strategy now appears to offer a very promising and expanding research field