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What is Nutrigenomics?
Nutrigenomics is a field of study that explores the interaction between nutrition, other lifestyle factors and an individual's genetic makeup.
It investigates how specific nutrients and dietary components can influence gene expression and, in turn, impact an individual's health and susceptibility to various diseases.
The central idea behind nutrigenomics is that our genes can respond to the foods we eat, and different dietary patterns can either activate or deactivate certain genes. This interaction between nutrition and genetics can have a significant impact on an individual's risk of developing certain health conditions, their response to specific nutrients, and their overall well-being.
Key concepts within nutrigenomics include:
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Gene Expression: Nutrigenomics looks at how nutrients can affect the expression of genes. This means that certain dietary components can influence whether a gene is turned on or off, leading to changes in the production of proteins and other molecules in the body.
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Personalized Nutrition: Nutrigenomics aims to provide personalized dietary recommendations based on an individual's genetic profile. By understanding how a person's genes respond to different nutrients, practitioners in this field can tailor nutritional advice to optimize health outcomes.
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Disease Prevention and Management: Nutrigenomics research explores how specific dietary interventions can be used to prevent or manage diseases, taking into account an individual's genetic predispositions. It may help identify dietary strategies that are more effective for certain individuals based on their genetic variations.
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Optimizing Health: Beyond disease prevention, nutrigenomics also aims to optimize overall health and well-being. By understanding the genetic factors influencing nutrient metabolism, practitioners can offer targeted advice to promote optimal health and performance.
Nutrigenomics often involves genetic testing to analyze an individual's genetic makeup and identify specific variations or polymorphisms that may impact their response to different nutrients. This information can then be used to create personalized dietary recommendations tailored to the individual's unique genetic profile.
We can’t change our genes, but we can change what we do to support them.
Nutrigenomic testing holds a significant role in my work, providing a profound understanding of the root causes of health symptoms and the most effective ways to address them.
I exclusively use Lifecode Gx® genetic tests.
The tests include results, detailed analysis of the results and general guidelines.
If you wish an additional analysis please book "Test analysis only" on my web site here
Lifecode Gx® are the leading experts in nutrigenomics testing and education, applying the latest genomics science to enable a preventative, proactive and personalised approach to health.
NUTRIENT CORE REPORT
This foundational test analyses how gene variants can affect food tolerance (and intolerance), appetite control and blood sugar balance, vitamin and mineral needs, detoxification ability, and susceptibility to inflammation and infection.
METABOLICS REPORT
Metabolism refers to all cellular chemical reactions and is essential for life. It can be divided into ‘anabolism’ (‘build up’ e.g synthesis of sugars, fats, proteins and nucleic acids) and catabolism (‘break down’ e.g., releasing energy in the form of ATP). These processes, and the balance between them, are the key to healthy energy metabolism and cellular function.
The Metabolics Report transforms our understanding of how genes confer metabolic individuality and underpin energy regulation, longevity and healthspan.
HORMONES REPORT
Steroid hormones are a group of hormones derived from cholesterol that act as chemical messengers in the body. They are involved in the regulation of many physiological processes in both men and women, such as the development and function of the reproductive system, metabolism, inflammation and immune system.
METHYLATION REPORT
Methylation is the process of adding methyl groups, consisting of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms, to other molecules. It is involved in almost every metabolic process in the body, occurring billions of times every second in our cells and contributing to numerous crucial functions.
HISTAMINE INTOLERANCE REPORT
Histamine has many functions: as a neurotransmitter, communicating messages to and from the brain and nervous system; triggering the release of stomach acid to help digestion; and it can also be released after stress, injury or allergic reaction as part of the body’s immune response.
OESTROGEN BALANCE REPORT
Oestrogen is one of the two major female steroidal sex hormones, the other being progesterone. Men also require oestrogen for producing sperm and maintaining libido, but at significantly lower levels. Oestrogen main role is to increase the growth and production of cells. It is responsible for the development of the female reproductive system and is also involved in maintaining bone density, blood clotting and affects hair, skin, mucous membranes and pelvic muscles.
DETOXIFICATION REPORT
Detoxification is the physiological removal of toxic substances from the human body. It is mainly carried out by the liver, and to a lesser extent the small intestine, kidneys and lungs. Substances such as nutrients, food additives, pesticides, medications, air pollutants, alcohol and hormones are transformed from being fat-soluble to water-soluble, allowing them to be more easily excreted from the body. The process occurs in two major phases: Phase I primes toxic molecules for deactivation and Phase II finishes the deactivation and prepares for elimination.
NERVOUS SYSTEM REPORT
The nervous system supports the transmission of messages around the mind and body, enabling an individual to respond to their environment. A neurotransmitter is a molecule that carries signals between neurons and across nerve junctions (synapses). Excitatory neurotransmitters increase the likelihood a neuron will fire a signal, while inhibitory neurotransmitters have the opposite effect. In order for us to interact effectively with our environment these must remain in balance.
APOE REPORT
The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is best known for its role in lipid (fat) metabolism by helping to remove cholesterol from the bloodstream. It can exist in three main forms known as E2, E3 and E4.
THYROID BALANCE REPORT
The thyroid is an endocrine gland in the neck that produces two thyroid hormones - triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and calcitonin. Thyroid hormones control the metabolism of almost every cell in the body, with wide-ranging metabolic, developmental and cardiovascular effects.
ATHLETE REPORT
DNA sequencing has opened the door to personalised approaches to health and fitness, enabling a more intelligent approach to training, recovery and performance. In this report, we present elements of your unique DNA profile that have been shown to affect athletic performance.
What health conditions can be supported by nutrigenomic testing
Nutrigenomic testing can support a wide range of conditions by providing personalized dietary and lifestyle recommendations based on an individual's genetic profile. Here are some conditions that can be supported with nutrigenomic testing:
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Cardiovascular Health:
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Hypertension
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High cholesterol
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Heart disease
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Metabolic Disorders:
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Type 2 diabetes
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Insulin resistance
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Obesity
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Metabolic syndrome
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Digestive Health:
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
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Food intolerances and sensitivities
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Mental Health and Cognitive Function:
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Cognitive decline and dementia
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Neurodivergency (ADHD, ASD).
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Bone Health:
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Osteoporosis
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Vitamin D deficiency
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Immune Function:
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Autoimmune diseases
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Allergies
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Liver Health:
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
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Detoxification efficiency
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Hormonal Imbalances:
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Thyroid disorders
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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
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Skin Health:
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Acne
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Eczema
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Psoriasis
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Nutritional Deficiencies:
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Vitamins (e.g., B12, D, folate)
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Minerals (e.g., iron, magnesium)
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Fitness and Physical Performance:
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Muscle strength and endurance
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Recovery and injury risk
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Aging and Longevity:
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Healthy aging
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Telomere length and oxidative stress
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Cancer Risk:
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Nutrigenomic insights into predisposition to certain types of cancer and dietary strategies for risk reduction
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By identifying genetic variations that affect nutrient metabolism, inflammation, detoxification, and other biological processes, nutrigenomic testing helps tailor interventions to optimize health outcomes for these conditions.
Get the Answers for Common Nutrigenomics Testing Questions here
How to do the test
The DNA test is a simple, non-invasive mouth swab that is easy to do at home.
Just remember to abstain from eating/drinking for at least 1 hour before testing, to ensure the sample is not contaminated with food.
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Remove the swab from the package at one end, taking care not to touch the white swab head with your fingers.
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Insert the swab into your mouth and rub firmly against the inside of your cheek or underneath lower and upper lip. Rub for 1 minute, using reasonable, firm and solid pressure to ensure you get a good sample.
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Place the swab in the tube provided. Do not touch the swab head with your fingers.
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Snap the swab handle so it can fit in the tube. Place your thumbnail in the small groove set in the handle, then snap the handle in two by bending to one side. Let the swab head fall into the tube. If necessary snip the handle with scissors.
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Find the stabilising capsule, remove from its pouch, and place the it in the tube with the swab. This keeps the sample stable during transport. The capsule will be in a small silver pouch and it does sometimes get wedged into the bottom of the main envelope.
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Seal the tube securely with the cap provided
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Complete the consent form on the reverse of the included instructions. Make sure you SIGN the consent form.
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Place the tube and consent form in the supplied envelope and post it back to us.
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Double check - have you included the stabilising capsule and SIGNED consent form. We cannot process the sample without these.
A copy of the test instructions included in the kit can also be downloaded here.
