Would you want to know?
Gene tests to determine your nutritional and sports response
Author: Professor Joyce Harper
There are a growing number of companies offering tests to determine your specific genetic makeup which may have an affect on how we metabolise nutrients, deal with toxins and react to different types of exercise. For most of the traits these tests examine, there is an affect of nature vs nurture, but by knowing our genetic make up we could make life style changes that may make us healthier.
These tests are easy to take – you order the kit online which gets sent to your home and you simply provide a sample of saliva which contains cells shed from your cheek. When these are returned to the labs, they test the DNA in the cheek cells for various genetic markers.
DNAFit looks at genetic markers that affect nutrition, fitness and wellbeing. This includes caffeine sensitivity, omega 3, carbohydrate response, saturated fat response, lactose intolerance, anti-oxidants, recovery nutrition needs, aerobic potential and power/endurance response. The DNAFit web site contains detailed information about the 23 genes they are looking at. For example, they examine the fat mass and associated protein gene (FTO gene) which is associated with fat mass and obesity in both adults and children. Having the AA genotype is associated with significantly increased sensitivity to fats and the person may benefit from increased levels and intensity of physical activity. DNAFit offer a range of options for your genetic test – the full package costs £249.
Nutrigenomix, a spin out company from the University of Toronto, have created two genetic tests to determine your response to what you eat/drink and what exercise is the best for your particular body. Both tests look at 45 genetic markers. The ’45 gene health test’ is a genetic test for personalised nutrition and the ’45 gene sport test’ is to optimise sports performance. It seems that both tests have a large overlap in what they are testing for but the web site does not list the genes they analyse. To get the results, the company insist that you see a health care professional so they can provide you with nutritional or sports advice. The package costs £247 but I could not find this on their web site.
Pathway Fit test for 75 genetic markers but it cost $599. I am not sure of the value of the extra markers they are testing for.
Anabolic Genes and other companies are using the 23 and Me test and they interpret the data for you and send you your personalised nutrition and fitness plan.
It is probable that in the near future, doctors will perform similar tests to determine how our genes influence other aspects of our lives. And there will be a growing market of direct to consumer genetic tests. But this is a complicated area for most people to comprehend. It took me many days to understand the 23 and Me web site. Some companies are producing detailed reports and some insist that you see a health care professional. I am looking at providing some tools for people to understand these genetic tests.
Do you think you would use one of these tests to influence your nutrition and fitness regime?
Read More:
Global women – nature v nurture
Global women – Joyce Harper tests the 23 and Me genetic test
Global women – why are we getting so fat
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I did the 23 and Me test. The test said I was lactose intolerant so I cut out dairy for a while but did not feel any different so I went back to my old lifestyle. It also told me I was at risk of deep vein thrombosis so I will be careful on long haul flights. I am contacting 23 and Me to see how the data they have on my genome could influence my diet and fitness choices. I cannot work this out from the information they have sent me. Genetics is complicated and interpretation can be confusing.