Wondering About Nutrigenomic Testing?
A 7 Minute Read
Nutrigenomic testing is the biggest advance to come along in the nutrition world in years. It is a relatively new science that can tell an amazing story about how your genes affect your nutritional needs and what you can focus on to reach your optimal health goals. It’s called “personalized nutrition” and it uses the science of nutrigenomic testing (nutrition + genomics) to inform you on what makes your nutrition needs unique.
And I am not talking about that confusing, mass market, direct to consumer genetic test you had that did not really give you actionable health and nutrition information.
Nutrigenomic testing provides my clients with actionable, thorough nutrition and lifestyle recommendations, and it is my favorite way to structure the personalized advice I give my clients.
You are a unique person with unique nutrition needs. You already know that a diet or supplement that someone else swears by does not work for you (or vice versa).
Unlike others, you may be able to enjoy caffeinated coffee in the evening without any major sleep issues but have a terrible reaction to gluten (a protein in wheat) or dairy. Or perhaps, you may need the active form of folate (vitamin B9) when others don’t, but luckily sodium doesn’t affect your blood pressure as much. Maybe you notice that some people eat anything and maintain their weight while you suffer from weight loss resistance all while eating less calories and exercising more?
There are genes—and variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs) of these genes—that can explain why your nutrition and health needs are unique. And now with recent scientific and technological advances, there is a smarter way to know what nutrition and lifestyle strategies you need to thrive, rather than the old method of following recommendations for the “average person” and seeing how it goes for you as an individual. This opportunity for personalized (or “precision”) nutrition is based on the rapidly expanding field of research that specifically looks for some of your unique needs in your own DNA. This is nutrigenomic testing (the science of nutrigenomics) and it is going mainstream fast.
Imagine what you could do with the insight to know which diet, food, nutrients or supplements deserve your focus and which won’t likely make any difference.
What is nutrigenomic testing?
Nutrigenomic testing is a rapidly advancing science that looks at the links between nutrition (the foods and nutrients needed to be healthy) and genomics (how the DNA encoded in your genes acts in your body). It’s a form of personalized nutrition that looks at how your personal set of genes influence the nutrients you need. Nutrigenomic Testing is a very high-tech way of tailoring nutrition recommendations to one single person, based on their unique set of genes. It is a topic I have been studying and immersed in for 5 years now and I am thrilled to be able to offer it to my clients.
Here’s how your genes work. You have a set of genes that you inherited from your parents (half from each parent). This is your unique “genetic code.”
Each gene is a piece of DNA that codes for one single protein (think hormones, enzymes, antibodies, neurotransmitters). That’s why you have thousands of genes—because your body needs thousands of proteins to do its cellular and molecular work. There are variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs) for each gene. These differences or variations make you unique.
Do you have a huge appetite and can’t stop eating, even when others are finished? Believe it or not, your unique genetic variants are most likely responsible. There are even genes that make sweets taste less sweet or broccoli taste more bitter (I find that this often affects the amount of sugar someone eats or why someone else avoids cruciferous vegetables). Some clients need 10,000 IU/day to keep their vitamin D levels in the optimal range while others get by with 2,000 IU/day. Some clients have a limited ability to convert beta carotene to the active form of vitamin A.
How would you know? By having an accurate genetic test done to look for variations (SNPs) in all of those (and more) genes.
But, it doesn’t stop there. Your genes code for so many areas of health, ones most people don’t even know they have or think of, like oxidative stress, inflammation, hormone balance, stress response, moods, detoxification, weight maintenance, fitness endurance and recovery, cognition, and your ability to use essential nutrients from foods and supplements. These are very important pathways that have a huge impact on health and aging.
With nutrigenomic testing you can tailor your food and lifestyle choices to those areas that matter to you and only you. It is especially important to consider the above mentioned areas of health, ones you are likely not aware of. For example, finding out you are prone to have more than average inflammation means you could have a simple conventional lab test to measure general inflammation and if it is elevated, you would have actionable interventions to lower inflammation thereby decreasing your risk of illness and disease.
How can nutrigenomic testing help improve my health?
Let’s go through a few examples so you can see what you can do when you learn your unique gene profile and take advantage of precision nutrition.
Susceptible to Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes
Are you frustrated and confused by an ever-increasing A1C at your yearly physical despite a great diet and regular exercise? Are you wearing a continuous glucose monitor and find that even reasonable amounts of healthy carbohydrates spike your blood sugar? Genes responsible for the production and utilization of insulin could be slow. And while there is nothing you can do to speed them up, you may take comfort that it is not your fault, or you don’t have personal short comings that caused this situation.
Resistance to losing weight
Imagine knowing if your genes are influencing your ability to lose weight. If this were the case, you can be more forgiving (and realistic) in your weight-loss goals and incorporate some cognitive behavioral therapy or mindfulness into your health routine. Maybe hard workouts are working against you causing excessive oxidative stress and inflammation. Knowing you have excess inflammation and controlling it can be a game changer in managing weight loss resistance.
Lower ability to use folate (vitamin B9)
Folate is found in green leafy vegetables and beans. Supplementation is often recommended for people who are or can become pregnant. If your genes code for a lower ability to use folate, then you may need to eat more folate-rich foods or take a supplement to ensure you get enough (and the correct form) of folate to compensate for your lower ability to use it so that you could maintain good health.
Not very sensitive to caffeine
Some people can metabolize (process and eliminate) caffeine faster than others. If you know that you are a “fast caffeine metabolizer,” you may be able to enjoy caffeine without having to worry too much about some of the common side effects that happen more often in people who are “slow caffeine metabolizers.”
Not very sensitive to high levels of sodium
Salt contains sodium, and too much sodium can increase blood pressure. However, some people are more sensitive to sodium than others.
Very unlikely to develop celiac disease
If you don’t experience gut symptoms and you are not likely to develop celiac disease, then you may not need to join in the over-hyped craze to avoid eating gluten (a protein commonly found in wheat, rye, and barley).
And remember, these are just a few examples of how the variations in your genetic blueprint can impact your health and wellness, and how you can strategically address them to reach your health goals.
Final thoughts on nutrigenomic testing.
Science is quickly unraveling the mysteries of the human genome and that is a great opportunity for you to reach your optimal health with a strategy developed based on your genes. The nutrigenomic test I offer in my practice looks at dozens of health-related genes to identify the areas you will be naturally healthier in, and which areas may need some extra attention. Unique to you.
Nutrigenomic testing is very easy and accessible. Its affordable, private (HIPPA compliant), and involves only a simple cheek swab. Now is the time for nutrigenomic testing. If you’re interested in learning more about nutrigenomic testing and how the results can help you know where to make targeted nutrition and lifestyle changes that will work for you, contact me here.
References
3x4 Genetics. (n.d.). Sample report: The personal genetic story of Jean Poole. https://www.3x4genetics.com/patient-faq/#
The Nutrition Society. (2018, November 19). Nutrigenomics: The basics. https://www.nutritionsociety.org/blog/nutrigenomics-basics
Sommer, Connie. (2019, June 13). Food as medicine? Scientists are getting closer through nutrigenomics. University of Southern California News. https://news.usc.edu/157675/food-as-medicine-nutrigenomics/
Vesnina, Anna, et al. “Genes and Eating Preferences, Their Roles in Personalized Nutrition.” Genes, no. 4, MDPI AG, Mar. 2020, p. 357.
Archibald, Amanda, and Yael Joffe. “The Role of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics in Clinical Nutrition Practice.” ADCES in Practice, no. 2, SAGE Publications, Jan. 2021, pp. 34–40.
Archibald, Amanda. The Genomic Kitchen: Your Guide to Understanding And Using The Food-Gene Connection For A Lifetime Of Health. 2019.
