Personalized Genetic Health Assessment
Genetics & Our Health
Our body is controlled by a set of genetic instructions known as our genome or chromosomal blueprint. Our individual DNA provides codes for everything from eye colour to antibody production. It determines our risk for disease, our reaction to stress, our response to illness or injury and how we respond to food, exercise and medication. As an example, some people seem to respond well to high-protein low-carb diets, while for others it is inefficacious. Some individuals benefit from more exercise while others need to control stress. What fits your body best is all coded in your DNA.
The expression or strength of an individual gene can be equated to that of a dimmer switch.
It can be in a high “on” position, or close to a low “off” position. While we can’t change our genes, we can change the strength with which they express their traits.
This can be achieved through natural supplements, diet, exercise and lifestyle variables. For example, our detoxification pathway is broken down into 2 phases.
Phase-1 is the process whereby the body takes pollutants such as those inhaled from the air or ingested in food, taken as medication or produced as metabolic bi-products, and changes their shape in order to “flag” them for phase-2.
Phase-2 detoxification occurs simultaneously, identifying the flagged phase-1 toxin, binding and clearing it from the body. Unfortunately, the “flagged” toxins are particularly pro-inflammatory and carcinogenic until excreted. Some individuals have the CYP gene (controlling Phase-1) turned on “high” and the glutathione/SOD gene (controlling Phase-2) turned off, which results in persistent high levels of “flagged” toxins with subsequent chronic inflammation and high cancer risk. Specific supplements and dietary changes can counteract this situation, not only decreasing the risk of cancer and other inflammatory diseases, but also increasing the overall effectiveness of the detoxification pathways and thus health in general.
Tailoring lifestyle, diet and a supplement regime according to your genetic profile provides a highly individual and more effective way to treat and prevent disease and achieve optimal health.
What’s in a genetic report?
Metabolic
This section looks at the production of and sensitivity to the 3 main hormones, adiponectin, leptin and ghrelin, which control the rate of metabolism, satiety, hunger and food cravings. It also looks at how the central nervous system impacts lipogenesis, the formation of fat from food, as well as examining the genetic influence on thermogenesis. Finally it identifies which individuals have a metabolism that functions best with intermittent fasting or 3 meals a day. It creates an individualized protocol to maximize metabolic function helping to prevent and treat weight gain and obesity, diabetes and unstable blood sugar levels.
Protein
This section will show the exact gram content of protein per meal that is ideal for each person by considering how protein affects the production of their metabolic hormones, their ability to use fatty acids readily as a fuel source, and the level at which protein will increase general inflammation in the body. Finally, it identifies which individuals have a metabolism that functions best with intermittent fasting or 3 meals a day to maximize metabolic function and prevent acidosis and inflammation.
Short Term Stress and Long Term Stress
These two sections look at the production of hypothalamic and adrenal stress hormones and the strength with which they bind to receptors. The overall function and feedback within the HPA axis is evaluated along with its response and ability to exaggerate the stress reaction emotionally and physically. The impact of dysfunction within the HPA axis is reported along with an analysis of its impact on anxiety, sleep disorders, depression, hyperactivity, panic attacks, ADD, ADHD and PTSD.
Injury Susceptibility and Prevention
This section looks at the production of enzymes that break down collagen in tendons, ligaments and joints as well as the ability of the body to increase production of collagen in order to repair and strengthen those tissues. It also examines the production of inflammatory cytokines that further breakdown and degrade joints and collagenous tissue. Treatment recommendations are aimed at boosting collagen production, inhibiting damaging enzymes and reducing inflammation.
Phase 1 and 2 Detoxification
These 2 sections look at a series of genes involved in the molecular alteration of toxins (Phase 1) and their chemical binding and elimination from the body (phase 2). Such toxins include caffeine, several herbs, medications such acetaminophen and ciprofloxin, cigarette smoke and steroid hormones. Balancing these two pathways plays key roles in the prevention of inflammation, cellular toxicity and the harmful effects these have on gene expression.
Carbohydrates
This section looks at how the body responds to carbohydrates in several ways. Through various genes we can discover who produces more than the normal amount of insulin in response to carbohydrate intake, or who has impaired beta-cell activity in the pancreas. It shows who has impaired glucose transport and uptake leading to destabilized blood sugar levels following carbohydrate consumption. The report identifies those who have altered cellular growth and differentiation pathways in response to carbohydrates and those that have a greater inflammatory reaction to carbohydrates. This section will provide the suggested level of carbohydrate consumption, meal frequency and timing to minimize the negative effects of carbohydrates.
Dairy-lactose
This section looks at one’s response to the sugar lactose found in dairy products. It will determine the ability of the small intestines to break down dairy via the production of the enzyme lactase regulating symptoms such as gas and bloating.
Cardiovascular Exercise
This section analyzes muscle fibre type, which dictates whether an individual is more suited to high intensity (e.g. sprinting) or endurance (e.g. distance running) type exercise. It examines blood perfusion and electrolyte delivery to muscles, blood vessel reactivity, muscle injury and healing response following exercise. It also considers the ability of the lung bronchi to dilate during specific types of exercise and thus optimally oxygenate tissues. Variables are combined to produce specific exercise recommendations.
Immunity
This section looks at SNPs that affect cytokine production, virally-mediated activation of interferon, macrophage function and the major histocompatibility complex. These genes have a significant influence over immunity-related conditions such as allergies, asthma, eczema, auto-immune disorders and infection. They also affect the incidence and severity of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. As inflammation and immunity are so closely intertwined, analyzing the combination of these genes is extremely important in order to balance the immune response.
Vitamins, minerals and methylation
This section looks at the absorption, transportation and binding of several vitamins including A, C, D and those involved in methylation, B12, folic acid and B6. It also examines transportation of the mineral Zinc, which plays a vital role as a co-factor in numerous metabolic processes and gene expression. Treatment combines single nutrients or a combination of vitamin products to maximize vitamin and mineral activity with the fewest supplements possible.
Fats
This section looks at how saturated fats can affect the production and response to the 3 metabolic hormones leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin. It explains how fats can not only influence weight gain but can alter satiety and food-seeking behavior. It shows who has a decreased ability to break down stored fat on the body, who increases LDL production and who produces more inflammatory substrates when consuming saturated fats. This section will then provide the exact gram content of recommended saturated fats per day to help prevent high cholesterol and obesity. A table of saturated fat content in foods to help guide better dietary choices will also be provided.
Serotonin & Dopamine
These 2 sections look at the production, transportation, binding and clearance of serotonin and dopamine through a combination of several genes. It generates treatment protocols that optimize these hormone levels and function to moderate depression, motivation, low mood, learning and memory, addictive behaviours, bowel irregularities, sleep and response to stress.
Resistance Training
This section looks at how an individual responds to resistance training such as weight lifting. SNP analysis will identify those that tend to accumulate subcutaneous fat with the wrong type of exercise. It also looks at the production of inflammatory mediators, the degree of muscle breakdown and the flow of blood within muscles during weight training. Variables are combined to produce specific exercise recommendations.
Inflammation
This section looks at the production of two of the most important and potent inflammatory cytokines, IL6 and TNF. Individuals with certain genotypes produce far more than the normal amount of these cytokines in response to injury or infection. This has a direct effect on inflammation and causes excessive stimulation of the inflammatory cascade. Increased inflammation has a profoundly deleterious effect on disease risk and leads to the adverse expression of many genes. Treatment is directed at reducing inflammatory cytokine production and stabilizing the inflammatory response.
Reproductive Hormone: Estrogen
This section initially looks at baseline levels of estrogen production from the adrenals and gonads. It then further considers conversion rates of estrogen into 2-hydroxy-estrogen or 4-hydroxy-estrogen, which has a profound affect on the activity and safety of estrogen itself. This impacts PMS, menopause, PCOS and estrogen-receptor tissues. Treatment is aimed at increasing the 2-OH from while reducing the 4-OH form creating a healthy estrogen profile.
Reproductive Hormone: Testosterone
This section looks at the degree to which an individual converts inactive testosterone into its active form, dihydro-testosterone and how quickly that hormone is cleared from the body. The balance between these two factors affects prostate health, libido, PCOS and bone health. Treatment is aimed at creating an optimum balance that promotes the beneficial effects of testosterone over its harmful ones.
Sleep
A look at circadian rhythms, the ability to transition from one stage of sleep to the next, the time spent in deep stage 4 sleep and the strength of the wake/sleep cycle.
Thyroid
A look at the production and regulation of TSH and the conversion of T4 into T3 to help determine the strength and functioning of the thyroid and ability to utilize medications.
“a wealth of information”
“Dr. Bristow was a wealth of information and so kind and caring during the appointment. She explained everything in detail and I left feeling very informed and positive about my health and the methods we are going to use to make some great changes! Thank you!”
- Carla F.
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