About a century ago, the ABO blood type was discovered which further divide humanity into four basic blood groups: A, B, AB and O. This new typology is based on well-defined and precise biochemical markers which have been lately demonstrated to influence health and disease. Blood type diets (BTD) have been developed to take advantage of this genetic diversity. The reasons are biochemical in nature. Glycans (special carbohydrates which cannot be hydrolysed by human enzymes), are present in all food items and may trigger immune, inflammatory or tolerance responses. Most recently, a new concept has emerged from life sciences: the holobiont. Humans are metaorganisms and as such are subject to a delicate equilibrium with their proper microbiota. The microbiome is aligned biochemically with the genetics of their host so that everyone has their personalized composition of the microbes. The several variabilities of the ABO blood type can explain this individualization of diet (BTD), which respect the genetic makeup of each person. Notwithstanding this personalization it is still possible to group people into the four blood groups which manifest phenotypically different features. Among these, gastric secretion has been shown to be higher in type O than other blood groups, allowing the former to consume greater amounts of meat (proteins) and easily digest it. In the end, BTD is a form of personalized nutrition that can aid a more holistic approach to health.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
This work is licensed under a