Did you know that our DNA makes each of us respond differently to eating the same foods and is decisive in the appearance of diseases or nutritional disorders? In this article, we explain why, and how nutrigenetics is necessary for our health.
Genetics and nutrition
DNA nutrition test is made up of more than 3,000 million letters (A, T, C, and G) organized to create instructions that are essential for any organism to form, grow, reproduce, and function. Each of us carries a different combination of letters, and where one person presents an “A”, another presents a “G”. These DNA variants are known as polymorphisms or SNPs (from English, single nucleotide polymorphism ) and they explain the characteristics and differences that each one of us presents at a physical level, but also they define our personality, the predisposition that we present to suffer illnesses or infections, or the response that we have before the medicines or the foods that we ingest through the diet. Precisely, the interaction between genetics and nutrition has been the reason for the study of many scientific trials in recent years. They have made it possible to verify how genetic variants influence the way food is metabolized, in some cases causing the appearance of food intolerances or modulating the risk or progression of various diseases.
Thus, nutrigenetics studies the DNA of people to find out how their body responds to the intake of different foods and also analyzes genetic variants associated with diseases or disorders related to nutrition, such as obesity or diabetes. Among the most relevant genetic variants and for which their interaction with food is perfectly known, we can highlight a couple of examples:
· The C/T-13910 variant in the MCM6 gene : This variant causes a deficiency of lactase (the enzyme responsible for digesting lactose in the small intestine) after the lactation period. Those people who present this variant begin to lose activity of the enzyme from the age of two and may present lactose intolerance in adulthood, suffering from nausea, diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, or stomach cramps after ingesting dairy products. In these cases, the withdrawal of milk and dairy products will be recommended.
· The rs1801133 variant is located in the MTHFR gene: this gene codes for an enzyme involved in the metabolism of folic acid and the presence of this variant in the DNA fitness test produces an increase in homocysteine in the blood, which in turn is associated with an increased risk of suffering from ischemic heart disease. Thus, all those people carrying the variant must establish specific nutritional requirements.
Nutrigenetic tests allow knowing the genetic profile of a person in order to design a personalized diet. Dietary interventions are often very useful to improve people's quality of life, but also to prevent or optimize the prognosis of chronic diseases.
DNA Institut has recently signed an agreement with DNA Nutritest to market the most advanced nutrigenetic test on the market, which allows the body's response to food to be measured in order to correct an incorrect diet and improve eating habits in order to achieve a healthier lifestyle. This nutrigenetic test is performed from a simple saliva sample and includes the analysis of 50 different genes. To understand the results of any nutrigenetic test, the intervention of a nutrition specialist is essential. For this reason, DNA Nutritest includes a 30-minute visit with a dietitian who will help you interpret the report and offer you nutritional guidelines and personalized instructions and recommendations.
