DNA Testing - You Have More Control Over Genes Than You Think

All things related to science and the body fascinate me, but there are a few topics that I feel are huge game changers in medicine today and that too few people know about. DNA testing is one of them. I have benefited from my own DNA findings and really encourage everyone to do the same because understanding your genetic profile can lead to adopting a targeted diet and lifestyle that can improve your health and lifespan. In fact, many functional and integrative doctors are using this today in order to treat people more effectively.

What is DNA?
At the center of your cells, there is a nucleus containing 46 molecules called chromosomes, 23 from your mother and 23 from your father. They are basically an instruction set for the construction and maintenance of your body. Each chromosome is made of helix-shaped DNA molecules. If your cell was a computer, theses molecules would be the program that gives them instructions on how to be run. The helix is made of two long strands that are connected with what we call nucleotides, which come in pairs. You’ve got six billion pairs of nucleotides in each of your cells, and among these six billion nucleotide pairs are around 23,000 genes. A gene is a distinct stretch of DNA that determines something about who you are. Your genes store a lot of information. Examples include your risk of certain diseases, your predisposition to weight gain, whether certain supplements can be detrimental or beneficial to you and the types of exercise where you perform best.

This week, I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Sean Penny, a licensed Homeopathic Practitioner at The Hundred Wellness Centre in Dubai, who has a wealth of experience in the area. I hope you enjoy and learn from it!

WM: How do you perform DNA testing?
SP: It’s very simple: we get a swab of your saliva and send it to a specialized lab. Once we get the raw data, it gets analyzed and we sit down with our patients to discuss the results.

WM: Some people are scared to find out about their DNA – they worry that knowing about certain risky polymorphisms could affect the expression of that gene in a bad way. What are your thoughts?
SP: I think it depends on the genes that are tested. With regards to the testing we do, the genes we study merely provide information regarding risks that are dependent on lifestyle. In other words the expression of the genes tested are influenced by lifestyle. The most common analogy is this: genes tell you if you have a loaded gun but lifestyle pulls the trigger. It’s the premise of what we call “epigenetics”. Who wouldn’t want to know if their current lifestyle was harming them? I do agree that testing genes which indicate health risks that are not (or are minimally) influenced by lifestyle or medical interventions may result in anxiety or depression. Some would rather not know while others prefer to. It comes down to the individual. But the testing we do shouldn’t lead to such situations because there is always encouragement that changes in lifestyle can vastly reduce the expression of “bad” genes. We have a lot more power over our own genetics than we think.

WM: One of the genes that can cause concern is APOE ε4, which is associated with Alzheimer’s risk. You look at this in your General Health test, how can lifestyle turn it off?
SP: Great question. The APOE ε4 gene variation is associated with Alzheimer’s but evidence suggests it can be turned off with epigenetics. There was a study done in Nigeria, where the frequency of individuals with APOE ε4 is one of the highest in the world. Despite this, when they looked at an elderly population and found that they had one of the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s. In fact, there was no association between an APOE ε4 variation and Alzheimer’s when studying this specific Nigerian population. One of the explanations was the fact that these individuals had much lower cholesterol and lipid levels; they also tended to have a more plant-based diet compared to other populations. Many other studies, including this one, show that the right nutrition could turn this gene off. Of course, it is more complex than that, but my point is that just because someone has that gene variation does not mean they are going to get AD, especially if they know about it and can alter their lifestyle accordingly.

WM: What type of lifestyle changes do you suggest when looking at epigenetics in general?
SP: Depending on the genes, we can give targeted recommendations dietary modifications and specific supplementation (nutrogenomics), movement, sleeping patterns, detoxification programs, and then the more drastic things like moving to a different environment where risk factors for an individual are lower.

When we analyze a patient’s DNA results, we can also shed light on challenges and issues they might currently be facing, such as obesity or chronic inflammation.

WM: What is nutrogenomics and how does this come into play?
SP: Nutrigenomics is the study of how the food we eat can affect our genetic expression and vice versa. So for instance, someone who has a set of genes that make it difficult for them to detoxify can benefit from specific supplements that aid with detoxification. For instance if a person has a deletion of the GSTM1 gene, we know that this person will need to increase their consumption of cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower.

WM: Inflammation is a big topic these days, what genes get involved in this?
SP: It certainly is a huge topic with inflammation being implicated in cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, diabetes and cancer to name a few. There are a number of genes associated with inflammation with IL-6, TNFA and CRP being some of the more prevalent ones. Assessing a person’s DNA for predispositions to inflammation is extremely helpful when it comes to the above-mentioned diseases but it is also very useful when dealing with athletes as they can provide valuable information regarding injury risks as well as recovery times .

WM: What about diet and weight management? What kind of markers can help someone who has issues in these areas and what information can they give you?
SP: The DNA Diet test we do provides information in 2 main areas:

What kind of macronutrients (protein, carb and fat) is best suited for the individual. For instance, does a person benefit from eating low carb or do they lose fat more efficiently on a low fat or Mediterranean-style of eating? It’s focused mainly on the ratios of those nutrients.This test is really helpful in taking the guesswork out of which “diet” is best for a person. For example some people may adopt a ketogenic, Atkins or paleo way of eating, but genetically they don’t do well on saturated fats. I see this very often. By testing their DNA, that individual can ind out that they would do better on complex carbs and low fat diet.
What intensity of exercise is best suited for a person to lose weight. Certain people need to work harder with exercise to mobilize fat stores whereas others less so.

WM: How can DNA testing help manage hormonal imbalances and issues like PCOS, infertility and thyroid problems?
SP: The genes mostly associated with PCOS would be those associated with insulin resistance and the ones we test include PPARG, TCF7L2, SLC2A2, and FTO. There are more but these are well researched and have significant impacts on insulin sensitivity. I find these to be very valuable in showing the risks for insulin resistance and subsequent Diabetes, weight gain, PCOS, etc. Other genes that are helpful are those associated with detoxification and estrogen metabolism, COMT being a very useful one to study. Obviously, the methylation genes are also vital.

WM: Generally speaking what are some general lifestyle tips to protect your DNA and promote longevity?
SP: Everyone is unique but by and large, I think it is safe to say that we should move more, get adequate sleep, eat a mostly plant-based diet, regularly support the detox processes of the body, supplement well. You can really tailor your supplementation with the testing, but as a general rule one is quite safe with taking a good anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and general detoxifier like glutathione. Once you understand how you are programmed though, you can get a lot more specific about what type of lifestyle you should adopt.