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;
GSTP1 gene - no increased risk with mutations;
TNF-alpha gene - much higher risk if no mutations (significant because it has been shown that having TNF-alpha mutations, while increasing allergy risk, is better for cancer risk);
Diabetes
ADR2A gene - no increased risk with mutations;
SLC0A8 gene - the most significant finding of the study; 91.8% increased risk with one or two mutations; only 8.2% with diabetes had no mutations; this gene has to do with absorbing zinc;
TCF7L2 gene - no increased risk with mutations;
Arthritis
COMT gene - much higher risk with mutations; highest for one mutation;
IL-6 gene - very high risk with mutations; highest for one mutation;
Depression
COMT gene - much higher risk with mutations; highest for one mutation;
TPH2 gene - no increased risk with mutations;
MTHFR (A1298) gene - no increased risk with mutations;
CONCLUSION
Mutations of the COMT gene, which is the most important part of the methylation cycle, greatly increases the risk of cancer, arthritis, or depression;
Mutations of the IL-6 gene greatly contributes to the risk of arthritis;
Mutations of the SLC0A8 gene immensely contributes to the risk of diabetes. 91.8% of those with mutations had diabetes themselves or in their family history. The importance of having proper zinc stores cannot be understated!
No mutations of the TNF-alpha gene increases of cancer. As we have said in the past, having some genetic mutations is not a bad thing. In the case of TNF-alpha, a partial mutation offers protection against cancer.
Mutations of DRD2 gene and MTHFR (C677T), the former more than the latter, increases the risk of Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia.
The results from this clinical study should not be looked upon fearfully. As we have said incessantly, every one of the genes can be positively modified with diet and lifestyle. To act badly, genetic mutations must be unlocked by poor lifestyle choices. Our job is to help you prevent your genes from acting badly, or if already doing so, mitigate it with optimal diet and lifestyle.
Unless you learn about your genetic mutations, however, we cannot ascertain your individual needs. Think about how much you can help yourself, your family, and future generations with this knowledge!