DNA/Genomic Testing

What is a gene?

Genes are made up of DNA (short for deoxyribonucleic acid) they are made up of two interconnected coils, looking much like a corkscrew. Each coil is made up of four different units looking like a ladder, these ladder rungs are made up of the letters A, C, G, and T. The importance of DNA is that they instruct the body to make various proteins. Humans have about three billion of these genetic letters. We all have two copies of each gene; we inherit one from each parent. Our genetic letters code for how our bodies function, what we look like, they give information about which proteins need to be made. Proteins are large molecules that are responsible to ensure that our bodies are functioning and repairing correctly.

An average gene is made up of about 3000 genetic letters, it is estimated that humans have between 20 000 -25 000 genes

Humans are 99,9% identical genetically, we have 0,1% that differs from person to person. Genetic testing determines the presence of a genetic variation (a change in a letter of your genetic code), these changes in genetic information are known as SNPs (short for Single Nucleotide Polymorphism).

SNPs have a serious effect on how the particular gene in which they are found functions. The change (variation) affects the biological pathway of the gene which results in metabolic (metabolism )changes which are important in maintaining good health.

Knowing your SNPs enables you to have a health advantage, through various diet, lifestyle and nutritional changes you are better able to compensate for your genetic variation.

As practitioners, we would like to treat our patients individually, we order a DNA lab test, a swab is taken of your inner cheek and sent off to the lab, your gene code is tested, small variations are detected that make you unique. Knowing this information guides us practitioners with important information on how your body uses nutrients and whether there is an increasing need for certain foods, lifestyle changes or nutrients.

In your blood there is an amino acid called Homocysteine, it is a product that is produced while making other proteins needed by the body. When doing routine blood tests and the levels of Homocysteine are found to be high it increases your risk for heart disease, blood clots, stroke and cognitive decline (memory problems).

In general to advise people with high homocysteine levels we would suggest a diet with good vitamin B foods, in particular, Folate, a type of vitamin B, found in liver and leafy greens, Vitamin B2, B6 and B12. These vitamins will assist with converting homocysteine into its next step and therefore reducing the high levels, this in turn reduces the risk for the above-mentioned diseases.

This advice is helpful to people who do NOT have SNPs in their MTHFR (short for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) gene but people with SNPs in this gene have an enzyme that is produced from the DNA coding that is defective, this means they will need nutritional supplementation to lower their homocysteine levels, this will then result in lowered disease risk.

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