A ciência da nutrição em trânsito: da nutrição e dietética à nutrigenômica / The science of nutrition in transit: from nutrition and dietetics to nutrigenomics

No cenário mundial, a emergência do campo da Nutrição foi um fenômeno característico do início do século XX. No Brasil, a emergência da Nutrição localizou-se na área das Ciências da Saúde (ou Ciências da Vida), caracterizando-se, à primeira vista, como uma ciência de natureza biológica. Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar a trajetória do processo de produção do conhecimento científico que garantiu especificidade ao campo da Nutrição no Brasil, da emergência aos dias atuais. Os pressupostos teóricos que norteiam o artigo são: o conceito de campo científico, desenvolvido por Pierre Bourdieu e os conceitos de paradigma e comunidade científica, introduzidos por Thomas Samuel Kuhn. A análise histórica evidencia que desde o seu nascimento, além da natureza biológica, a Nutrição brasileira assumiu dimensões sociais e ambientais, caracterizando-se como um campo de conhecimento multidisciplinar, constituído a partir da integração de Ciências Biológicas, Ciências Sociais e Ciências dos Alimentos e Nutrição. Nas últimas décadas, com o intenso desenvolvimento da comunicação e informática, da genética e das teorias sobre a sustentabilidade ecológica do planeta Terra, importantes mudanças paradigmáticas têm ocorrido no campo da Nutrição. Portanto, pode-se afirmar que a Nutrição estaria vivenciando a era pós-genômica, constituindo-se uma ciência multidisciplinar, caracterizada pela integração das dimensões biológica, social e ambiental.

In the world scenario, the emergence of nutrition science was a phenomenon characteristic of the early Twentieth Century. In Brazil, its emergence occurred in the health sciences area (or life sciences) and was characterized, at first, as a science of biological nature. This article aims to analyze the trajectory of the process of producing scientific knowledge which ensured specificity to the field of nutrition in Brazil, from its emergence to the present. The theoretical assumptions that guide the article are: the concept of scientific field, developed by Pierre Bourdieu, and the concepts of paradigm and scientific community, introduced by Thomas Samuel Kuhn. Historical analysis shows that, from birth and in addition to its biological nature, Brazilian nutrition assumed social and environmental dimensions, being characterized as a multidisciplinary field of knowledge formed from the integration of the biological sciences, social sciences and food and nutrition sciences. In the last decades, with the intensive development of communication and information technology, genetics and sustainability theories, major paradigmatic changes have occurred in the field of nutrition. Therefore, one can say that nutrition is experiencing a post-genomic era and becoming a multidisciplinary science, characterized by the integration of the biological, social and environmental dimensions.

Learning from the past and looking to the future.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Leaders in the fields of nutrigenomics/genetics can benefit from studying the ethical and social issues raised by comparable biomedical developments in the recent past and their consequences for science and society. METHODS: Experience with recombinant DNA research, beginning in the early 1970s, and its commercial application, and with pharamacogenetics/genomics, beginning two decades later, is analyzed. RESULTS: Particular lessons are drawn from both experiences. As to the first, the conclusions are to encourage open discussion among scientists of the possible negative or risky consequences of their research; not to conduct such discussions behind closed doors, so as to involve rather than to surprise the public; and to keep in mind the international characteristics of science but the domestic nature of the manner in which it is regulated. As to the second, the lessons are to beware of hype, avoid genetic determinism, take account of the problems raised by similarities to traditional genetic screening/testing, overcome the medical system's lack of preparation to use the new information, and recognize that differences in access may exacerbate inequities in health and health care. CONCLUSION: Awareness of these problems, which are likely to recur, can at least prepare those working in the field.