Nutrition Meets DNA
In this age of the post-Human Genome Project, research has advanced to the stage where bioscience companies are capable of determining the complex interactions between food and genes to unravel new modes of disease prevention and to customize our diet based on an individuals DNA makeup. We are in the age where a sample of your DNA can be passed through a mass spectrometer, your proteins analyzed and a recommended guide of which nutritional supplements are best suited to enhance your physiology and overall health. Research has shown that vitamins and other nutrients play integral roles in the performance of genes and protect them from damage. When your genes work well, they enable you live to a ripe old age with a low risk of disease. When genes do not, they can accelerate your body’s aging process and increase your risk for cancer and other diseases. Your chances of catching certain illnesses such as the common cold will be greatly diminished and postpone the onset of some chronic diseases.
We all have variants in our genes. Moreover, they affect how we absorb, utilize and store various nutrients. The food that we eat, once ingested, becomes molecules that bind to proteins involved in “turning on” certain genes which restores the gene’s equilibrium. In the biosciences and genetic industry, it is well known that genes have an impact on the functioning of the body and that they influence our health and wellness.
Our genes consist of bases or four letters: A, T, C and G (adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine). A gene has millions of bases. A change in a single base is called a single-nucleotide polymorphism(or SNP, pronounced snip). Sometimes a SNP can lead to the production of a slightly different version of a protein or enzyme, which may cause a shift in an individual’s biochemistry or metabolism.
Vital Genes Analyzed
SNP VDR – Vitamin D Receptor Gene
Vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining calcium levels. The VDR gene influences the strength of our bones. Among healthy people, this one gene accounts for 75% of the entire genetic influence on bone density. People with SNPs in the VDR gene tend to have lower bone mineral density than those without these variations. SNPs in this gene also influence young adult growth, parathyroid hormone production, normal cell division and blood sugar regulation.
SNP SOD – Manganese Superoxide Dismutase
Individuals with a SNP in this gene have a weak first line of defense against the free radical: superoxide. The SOD2 enzyme is involved in scavenging free radicals. Since the superoxide radical is produced in abundance in all cells, it is the starting point for the free radical chain of production. SOD2 has the distinction of being the only enzyme in the mitochondria that can neutralize superoxide. The highest levels of SOD3 are found in the adult heart, placenta, pancreas and lung. It is suggested that SOD3 activity may be a functional indicator of severe zinc nutritional deficiency.
SNP MTRR – Methionine Synthase Reductase
Methionine synthase reductase is an enzyme, which is necessary for the reformation of a derivative of vitamin B12. It is needed to maintain adequate cellular amounts of B12, methionine and folate and to keep homocysteine levels down. Research has shown it is important to control homocysteine levels in order to preserve cardiovascular health. One of the body’s methods for keeping homocysteine levels in check is the MTRR enzyme. When an individual has a SNP in the MTRR gene, their ability to clear homocysteine from the blood may be hindered.
SNP MTHFR – Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase
The MTHFR gene produces the key enzyme in folate metabolism. Like the MTRR enzyme, the MTHFR enzyme is responsible for reducing blood levels of homocysteine. It is essential for DNA maintenance and repair, making new DNA when cells grow and in the metabolism of amino acids (protein). Vitamin B6 and B12 are essential in folate metabolism. Homocysteine is a harmful substance when it builds up in the blood. It can lead to a condition, which can cause cardiovascular disease.
SNP ApoB – Apolipoprotein B
APOB plays an important role in lipid metabolism. Cholesterol is carried through the bloodstream on various lipoproteins: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Apolipoproteins make up the protein part of lipoproteins. Without ApoB, LDL cannot form. Because people with SNPs on the ApoB gene have higher ApoB levels, they experience moderate increases in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as impaired glucose tolerance.
Interpreting your DNA Assessment
DNA Assessments are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. They are designed for educational and information purposes only. The basic idea in a field called nutritional genomics or nutrigenomics is this: There are genes that affect the risk of getting illnesses like heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes, and the impact of those genes can be modified by what you eat. Everybody carries one version or another of each of those genes. So why not find out what gene versions you have and base your dietary advice on that?
Nutrigenomics is still in its infancy, with plenty to be learned, and it is not yet clear what role it may play in standard medical practice.
