 your genes. Without controlling for genetics in earlier studies, you can imagine why the statistics might be all over the place.
A single nucleotide variation in the CYP1A2 gene drastically changes the risk of heart attack and high blood pressure from caffeine intake. This gene codes for a liver enzyme that is involved in the break down and metabolism of caffeine. In the graph below, you can see how drastic a difference this variation makes. The “AA” or “fast metabolizer” genotype actually has a lower risk of cardiovascular problems with greater daily coffee intake. On the other hand, the “AC” and “CC” or “slow metabolizer” genotypes have dose-related risk of cardiovascular issues with caffeine intake.
So, for someone with an “AC” or “CC” genetic variation, it would be wise to limit caffeine intake. However, for someone with an “AA” variation, drinking coffee is actually a great idea! This is nutrigenetics in action. By understanding how our underlying base genetic code influences our response to a certain substances, we can modify our habits to best support our genome.
So, how new is this?
Well, in a sense its a very new approach to health, and in another, its something that traditional cultures have been doing for thousands of years just without the understanding of the genetic mechanisms. The ability to look deeply at the human genome, and compare our genetic variations to traits and outcomes has only been possible since the human genome was mapped in the early 2000’s. Since then, the research has exploded, and we’re now at a place where there is robust data that can be used to truly help people. But, traditional cultures have been looking at what foods and practices create the optimal genetic expression in their offspring for hundreds of generations, they just didn’t have the language for it, or the precision we have now.
Think of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics as the art of creating health. The science is clear – most of us are not at the mercy of some uncontrollable descent into degeneration as we age. There are clear steps to increasing longevity, improving body composition, and optimizing cognitive health. Ancient cultures did the best they could with observation, and now we’re rediscovering the art of creating health with individualized precision and the tools and techniques to accelerate the process.
We have the means to know what your body needs on the deepest levels. These tools provide a template to go beyond healthy to optimal. These precision genetic tools allow us to move away from “dieting” and toward sustainable and delicious eating habits that simply become part of everyday life. Feeding your body the nutrition it wants from the ground up makes it easy to sustain those eating habits. Its a positive feedback loop.
How do nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics work?
Our DNA code is built out of pairs of four different molecules called nucleotides. Adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. They’re abbreviated by the letters A, T, C, and G. These letters are arranged in specific patterns that act as an instruction manual to create different proteins, which create the sum total of our biochemistry. We each have 3 billion of these letters in our DNA, and 99% of that code is the same from person to person. The 1% that differs between us gives us our unique differences. Its easy to imagine how different color eyes, skin, or hair can be related to genetic variations. Those are only the differences that show up on the surface, so imagine just how many subtle differences there are in the different biochemical pathways that are responsible for the way we react to different foods and nutrients inside the body.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms
Each one of those 3 billion pairs of A’s, T’s, C’s, and G’s has a specific location it occupies within a gene. This allows us to compare one person’s genome to another person’s genome and make note of where the differences exist. The 1% of nucleotides that differ from one person to anther are called “single nucleotide polymorphisms” or “SNPs” for short. These are simply substitutions