Everyone has a unique genome, which is composed of the DNA in each person’s genes. This complex testing can help identify genetic variants that may relate to your health. Genetic testing involves examining your DNA, the chemical database that carries instructions for your body’s functions. Genetic testing can reveal changes (mutations) in your genes that may cause illness or disease.
Genetic testing has potential benefits whether the results are positive or negative for a gene mutation. Test results can provide a sense of relief from uncertainty and help people make informed decisions about managing their health care. For example, a negative result can eliminate the need for unnecessary checkups and screening tests in some cases. A positive result can direct a person toward available prevention, monitoring, and treatment options.
“The impact of diet, lifestyle, exercise, and environment on an individual’s genetic makeup is important to determine and understand,” Jeff explained., “Knowledge of how genes are influenced by external factors enables the development of personalized health programs not only in supporting the chronically ill patient to improve health, but also for someone at peak fitness levels to gain the most from their training programs.”
Genetic testing plays a vital role in determining the risk of developing certain diseases as well as screening and sometimes medical treatment.
Different types of genetic testing are done for different reasons:
- Diagnostic testing. If you have symptoms of a disease that may be caused by genetic changes, sometimes called mutated genes, genetic testing can reveal if you have the suspected disorder. For example, genetic testing may be used to confirm a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s disease.
- Presymptomatic and predictive testing. If you have a family history of a genetic condition, getting genetic testing before you have symptoms may show if you’re at risk of developing that condition. For example, this type of test may be useful for identifying your risk of certain types of colorectal cancer.
- Carrier testing. If you have a family history of a genetic disorder — such as sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis — or you’re in an ethnic group that has a high risk of a specific genetic disorder, you may choose to have genetic testing before having children. An expanded carrier screening test can detect genes associated with a wide variety of genetic diseases and mutations and can identify if you and your partner are carriers for the same conditions.
- Pharmacogenetics. If you have a particular health condition or disease, this type of genetic testing may help determine what medication and dosage will be most effective and beneficial for you.
If the genetic test result is positive, that means the genetic change that was being tested for was detected. The steps you take after you receive a positive result will depend on the reason you had genetic testing.
If the purpose is to:
- Diagnose a specific disease or condition, a positive result will help you and your doctor determine the right treatment and management plan.
- Find out if you are carrying a gene that could cause disease in your child, and the test is positive, your doctor, medical geneticist or a genetic counselor can help you determine your child’s risk of actually developing the disease. The test results can also provide information to consider as you and your partner make family planning decisions.
- Determine if you might develop a certain disease, a positive test doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get that disorder. For example, having a breast cancer gene (BRCA1 or BRCA2) means you’re at high risk of developing breast cancer at some point in your life, but it doesn’t indicate with certainty that you’ll get breast cancer. However, with some conditions, such as Huntington’s disease, having the altered gene does indicate that the disease will eventually develop.
IHC For Men has partnered with DNA Life (www.dnalife.healthcare) to provide genetic testing that helps chart a course for patients’ wellness plans.
The tests include pre-consultation with IHC For Men co-founder Jeff Hogrefe, R.Ph., AFAARM, to determine which test is best suited for each client. It also includes a one-hour consultation after the results return with IHC For Men medical personnel to review the results and implement actionable strategies.
Simply put, each test provides a unique insight into a patient’s genetic code. This reveals sensitivities, susceptibilities, and keys to their true health potential.
The four tests include:
DNA Health
The DNA Health test helps establish optimal nutrition necessary for good health, longevity and disease risk mitigation.
DNA Health tests for 36 gene variants involved in the following biological processes that have been linked to risk for diseases of lifestyle:
- Cholesterol metabolism
- Bone Health & risk for osteoporosis
- Methylation and risk for cancer
- Inflammation and oxidative stress
- Detoxification
- Insulin Sensitivity and risk for diabetes
- Food Responsiveness, including Lactose intolerance, Caffeine processing, Salt sensitivity and blood pressure & Iron overload disorders
DNA Sport
The effectiveness of training and sporting performance is affected by key biological areas. DNA Sport helps personalize a training strategy that maximizes a client’s genetic potential, and identify the right lifestyle, nutrition and environmental interactions to achieve that genetic potential.
The DNA Sport test can distinguish every aspect of a person’s athletic potential. These insights can then be used to personalize a training program and identify appropriate training and nutrition choices.
Ultimately, DNA Sport can determine the best way to improve sporting potential, prevent injury and optimize recovery to reach peak levels of conditioning.
DNA Sport reports on the following areas:
- Structural integrity of soft tissues
- Inflammation & oxidative stress
- Blood flow & respiration
- Energy during exercise
- Fuel during exercise
- Caffeine metabolism
- Muscle and bone composition
- Aerobic capacity
- Power/strength potential
DNA Diet
Your DNA is unique to you, which is why it makes sense your diet should be customized for you, too.
DNA Diet is designed to help create a personalized healthy eating plan based on individual genetic differences. DNA Diet also provides additional insight into how each patient individual reacts to carbohydrates, saturated fats, and exercise.
This helps design an eating plan that is scientifically driven to work. Weight management and healthy eating are integral to long-term health and can prevent poor health and various chronic diseases. There is no one diet or way of eating that is correct for everyone, but DNA Diet idenitifes the best plan for each person.
.DNA Diet tests several gene variations that impact metabolism, absorption and storage of fats and carbohydrates, as well as eating behavior to understand how an individual’s genetic profile will impact their response the most effective healthy eating plans.
DNA Oestrogen
A majority of breast cancer occurs in women with no family history of it, but oestrogen gene testing can assist in identifying at-risk individuals and thereby lessen the risk of undetected cancers. DNA Oestrogen tests for gene variants that have been shown to have an impact on how oestrogen is processed in the body and if the processing of oestrogen and related compounds is efficient and healthy.
The DNA Oestrogen test guides the personalization of diet, hormone and nutritional supplement recommendations to improve oestrogen metabolism. DNA Oestrogen benefits men and women who suffer from numerous oestrogen-dominant conditions.
When implementing Nutrigenomics in predictive and preventative health, there are 3 main biochemical processes to focus on, Methylation, Detoxification, and Inflammation.
Methylation is the biochemical process of adding a Carbon and 3 hydrogens (methyl group) to various chemicals in our body. Methylation is used in over 250 biochemical processes in the body. The most notable functions include
- repairing DNA Damage
- improving immune function
- rebuilding cell walls (membranes)
- increasing energy production within our cells (mitochondrial function)
- clearing out dead cells and repairing damaged cells
- producing Neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, melatonin)
Nutrigenomic testing can determine how well the body methylates. Certain gene variations can decrease methylation by 75-80%. This can lead to such things as increased cancer risk, fatigue, inability to fight infections, increased risk for heart attack and stroke, and anxiety, depression and other mood disorders. Fortunately, it is possible to overcome genetic variations in methylation by identifying the variations and bypassing the biochemical processes with proper nutrition and supplements.
Poor methylation also decreases production of glutathione. Glutathione is the most important substance the body uses to detoxify and remove harmful substances from the body. Nutrigenomic testing can determine how well glutathione is conjugating and detoxifying harmful chemicals and carcinogens. Poor detoxification can increase risk of asthma, auto immune disease, cancer, and dementia. The goal is to determine overall detoxicification, and develop strategies to improve this process and decrease risk of disease (or slow onset of disease).
Nutrigenomic testing can predict levels of inflammation. Genetic variations can increase ability to express inflammatory chemicals that can increase risk of obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, auto immune disease, and dementia. Current belief is that inflammation is tied to the initiation of most cancers as well.
Determining overall levels of inflammation and genetic variations that can affect the expression of inflammation is critical to predict overall health. Implementing strategies such as reduction in inflammatory foods (trans fats, sugar, omega 6 oils, animal fats, and processed foods) increasing low inflammatory foods (overall reduction is carbohydrates, omega 3s, fish, cruciferous vegetables, anti-oxidant fruits (berries) and olive oil) as well as proper supplementation: high dose omega 3s, standardized curcumin extract, quercetin and vitamin c, CBD oil, and resveratrol) is vital in prevention of disease.
Nutrigenomic testing would most benefit individuals suffering with migraines, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, unresolved thyroid issues, ADD and ADHD, Autism, Metabolic syndrome, allergies, dementia, family history of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and anxiety, depression and mood disorders and women taking hormone replacement therapy.
For more information about IHC For Men’s genetic testing, visit www.ihcpharmacy.com.
