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Our Genetics Research 2018

Updated: Dec 31, 2018


Steve Minsky: After being in business for 33 years, there are not many times we can say "this is a first". However, we are delighted to announce that we have done our first clinical study at Nutritional Concepts.


A huge thank you to our summer interns, Sara Stanicek and Rachel Sachs, who did much of the heavy lifting!

PART ONE

As many of you who have done our Pure Genomics genetics panel know, the FTO gene is the most well researched for overweight and obesity. This gene was of such importance to us that we wanted to confirm what were seeing with our client base matched up with current research.

What we found is that clients who are FTO homozygous, which means they have a double mutation, were significantly more overweight, obese, or morbidly obese than those who were FTO heterozygous (one mutation) or FTO wild (no mutation).


Why is this so significant? 40% of all cancers are related to obesity for starters. More importantly, FTO has been shown to be a tremendously malleable gene. When the proper individualized diet and lifestyle measures are implemented, an FTO homozygous client can achieve even greater success than those with one or no mutations!

PART TWO We delved much deeper into our Pure Genomics data, which produced some incredible results! GOAL In our clinical setting, assess the link between genetic mutations and five of the most common chronic conditions plaguing modern humans today:

  • Alzheimer's Disease

  • Dementia

  • Cancer

  • Diabetes

  • Arthritis

  • Depression

METHODS Analyze each client's file to ascertain if prior to their first visit with us, did they have one or more of these chronic conditions themselves or in their family history. Analyze each client's Pure Genomics genetic report and tabulate whether he/she had one, two, or no mutations for genes associated with the five chronic conditions.

RESULTS Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia

  • BDNF gene - no increased risk with mutations;

  • DRD2 gene - much higher risk with mutations; highest risk for one mutation;

  • MTHFR (C677T) gene - slightly increased risk with mutations; higher risk with one mutation;

Cancer

  • COMT gene - much higher risk with mutations; highest for one mutation; still very high for two mutations;