• Easier control of weight by making sure that patients are not craving nutrients missing from your diet.
• Optimize the health and durability of skin, hair and bones.
• Reduce susceptibility to the big three diseases -- heart disease, cancer and diabetes -- by harmonizing diet and life-style with the genome.
• Easier compliance with self-improvement program because personalized advice lets patients know that what they are doing is based on their unique needs and will be effective.

The Genelex Genetic Nutrition Analysis Panel is not a classical genetic test which measures relative risk based purely on gene associations. It is a metabolic profile screen, using known variations in particular genes as surrogate markers for variations in the activities of proteins involved in nutritional metabolism. The test profiles proteins which have been very well characterized by decades of research, the variations of these proteins have demonstrated effects on activity and thus the way in which dietary and other environmental components are metabolized. By testing for the variants at the gene level rather than at the proteins level it is possible to perform the test in a noninvasive cost-effective manner. Nutrition, environment and metabolism are the important aspects of the test - as genetic inheritance is not an element of the test, no training in genetics is required to understand and interpret the results. The only genetic knowledge required is to know that genes code for proteins and that even very small changes in gene sequence can have dramatic effects on proteins activity, in some cases abolishing it altogether.

All of our products are developed by a well qualified research group (including 4 PhD's with over 45 years combined academic experience) in close consultation with medical doctors, confidentiality advisors, professional ethicists, regulatory bodies, professional dietitians and eminent academics. All of our products are independently and critically reviewed as part of the development process.

The genes selected for the screen are all well characterized proteins that have important roles in nutritional metabolism and there is little doubt among the scientific/medical community that variations in these enzymes can have an effect on health. The criteria for selection include this unequivocal knowledge as well as the important condition that something can be done (by altering one or more of diet, supplementation and lifestyle) to counteract the potentially negative effects of the variation. If no positive intervention is possible then the protein is not included in the screen.

Criteria for Enzyme Selection:

MTHFR

MTHFR (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) is a key enzyme which directs folate from the diet either to DNA synthesis or to homocysteine remethylation. Homocysteine remethylation is the source of methyl groups for DNA, which are added to an existing DNA chain. DNA methylation is used by the cell as a mechanism for the control of gene expression as well as DNA repair, and therefore has an important role in cellular function and development. Lower activity of this enzyme leads to a build up of homocysteine in the blood stream which has been linked to cardiovascular disease, venous thrombosis and neural tube defect. Both vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 are also involved in the methylation pathway and low levels in the body will decrease the efficiency of the pathway. There is substantial evidence that individuals with the MTFHR polymorphisms, C677T and A1298C, have increased requirements for folate, and they tend to respond rapidly to folate supplementation.

A lot of people are aware that folate supplementation is important in women planning a pregnancy. Fewer people are aware however that folate supplementation is highly recommended in a large subset of the population that carry MTHFR variant enzymes (up to 45% of the population depending on country, UK level is estimated to be between 35-40%). It is important also, and again this is not common knowledge, that folate supplementation can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency so it is recommended that this and other vitamins be included with folic acid.

There is much evidence linking homocysteine levels to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and there are several examples where folate supplementation in carriers of the variant MTHFR enzyme has a direct and demonstrable effect on lowering homocysteine levels. The work published by Fohr et al. and Ashfield-Watt et al. represent some of the clearest demonstrations of how knowledge of an individuals gene/enzyme profile can lead to dietary changes and health benefits. The papers quoted below reinforce this quite dramatically:

Wald et al. BMJ; 324; 1438-1442, 2002
The meta analysis of Wald et al. covering 92 studies based on 20,000 individuals indicates that lowering homocysteine concentrations by 3µmol/l from current levels (achievable by increasing folic acid intake) would reduce the risk of ischaemic heart disease by 16% (11 to 20%), deep vein thrombosis by 25% (8 to 38%) and stroke by 24% (15 to 33%) . The link between genetic variation in the MTHFR gene and folic acid metabolism has been exhaustively documented. Other studies and reviews also conclude that characterization of such gene polymorphisms will enable targeting of nutritional advice and treatment to 'at risk' groups.

Klerk M et al, JAMA 2002 Oct 23-30;288(16):2023-31
In observational studies, individuals with elevated levels of plasma homocysteine tend to have moderately increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The MTHFR 677C –› T polymorphism is a genetic alteration in an enzyme involved in folate metabolism that causes elevated homocysteine concentrations& Individuals with the MTHFR 677 TT genotype had a 16% (OR, 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.28) higher odds of CHD compared with individuals with the CC genotype& Individuals with the MTHFR 677 TT genotype had a significantly higher risk of CHD, particularly in the setting of low folate status. These results support the hypothesis that impaired folate metabolism, resulting in high homocysteine levels, is causally related to increased risk of CHD.

The Genetic Nutrition Analysis Panel Lifestyle Questionnaire

This is a very important component of the profile and has been developed by professional clinical dietitians. It is based on the Food Frequency Model, in this approach respondents are asked to report their usual frequency consumption of each food from a list of foods for a specific period. It is understood that only information on frequency of a list of foods is collected with little detail on other characteristics of the foods eaten, such as the methods of cooking or eating or combinations of foods in meals. Some food frequency tools also incorporate portion size questions or specify portion sizes, this questionnaire will usually be referred to as a semi quantitative questionnaire. The importance of the error in estimating a usual portion size had been debated widely. Because frequency is believed to be a greater contributor than typical serving size to the variance in intake of most foods, some prefer to use food frequency questionnaire without the additional respondent burden of reporting serving sizes. The food frequency method has become a common way to estimate usual dietary intake.

The Genelex questionnaire does not attempt to quantify nutrient intake at a microgram or gram level. The environment in which the questionnaire is used and the information that is required do not demand it.

The questionnaire's aim is to estimate the respondent's usual intake of foods, it is easily self administered and requires a reasonable amount of time to complete. Specifically we aim to evaluate the usual intake of those foods that will impact most on the enzyme variations that have been identified in the screen.

Without quantitative information being gathered the measurement of the questionnaire is done by comparing usual intake against government recommendations, and recommendations made in peer reviewed research. An example of this would be the recommendation of '5 a day' (fruit & veg) . With the frequency data obtained it is possible to evaluate whether the respondent is meeting these guidelines, and suitable advice given.

Outside of a clinical research environment, the use of a self-administered food frequency questionnaire is considered to be a suitable, appropriate and responsible choice.

Start unraveling the mystery of your DNA today, call 800-523-3080 to order your Nutritional Genetic Profile for only $395, $525 with in depth nutritionist review of results, $625 with a menu plan or $1200 with a 6-week Rapid Results weight loss program. You can also order on-line, or download the order form and fax or mail in your order. Don't forget to take a look at our other informational genetic testing products now as you receive significant discounts when ordering tests at the same time.

Confidentiality and Counseling
Genelex has created a directory of qualified nutritional experts for your reference if you would like assistance in implementing the reccomendations set forth by our nutritional genetic profilea.

All information and materials provided to us by our clients and all test results are held in strict confidence and stored in monitored, secure facilities under the supervision of trained personnel.

Personal, identifiable information of any kind will not be released to a third party without express written instructions. We are required to provide de-identified information of a statistical nature to our accrediting agencies and reserve the right to use such anonymous information for research purposes.

Client privacy concerns are Genelex concerns. If you have any questions or comments regarding privacy issues, please direct them to info@genelex.com.