Exploring DNA and genomics to unlock personalized nutrition and longevity

As personalized nutrition gains momentum, genomics can help consumers fine-tune supplementation strategies based on their genetic makeup. We meet with a functional medicine expert who advocates using genetic insights to optimize health with tailored interventions. 

Bryce Wylde, co-founder of The DNA Company, tells Nutrition Insight that genomics is the study of genes, collectively known as the genome, and how they interact with each other and the environment. “It goes beyond genetic traits — it explores how your genes influence health, predict disease risk to some degree, and guide personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies.” 

“You can’t change your DNA,” he adds. “However, you can modify genetic expression.” For example, he points to diet, lifestyle, and supplements to manage a genetic aptitude. 

“We know some of these modifications are quite powerful, what we do to sleep better, exercise more, move our bodies, and choose the right foods and ingredients.” 

At the same time, he cautions that using the wrong supplements can backfire. “That’s why personalization matters so much.” 

For example, some people process caffeine or gluten poorly, while others might need methylated B vitamins. 

Wylde says that genomics also helps optimize longevity by improving people’s healthspans, managing inflammation and detox pathways, or supporting mental health based on people’s genes. 

“Genes don’t control everything”

Although DNA plays an important role, Wylde says the most significant misconception in genomics is that genes control everything. “We have a saying: genes load the gun, but your environment pulls the trigger.” 

“Your DNA gives you a predisposition, not a prediction,” he explains. “It helps to inform, but lifestyle, diet, stress, sleep, and toxic exposure — all of these up- or down-regulate your genes, how your genes express.” 

He highlights the human gene APOE as an example. This gene regulates the production of apolipoprotein E, a protein involved in fat metabolism. A subtype of this protein is implicated in Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular diseases. 

We recently discussed genomics and DNA testing with Bryce Wylde.Wylde points to research showing that people carrying the gene variant APOE4 have a 40% higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease, while the variant APOE4,4 increases the risk of getting the disease by 70–80%. 

“But are you really?” he adds. “It depends on different factors and subtypes. If you were predisposed to diabetes and you have APOE4,4, watching your sugar and glycation end products and managing methylation could easily thwart that.” 

Functional genomics in healthcare

Wylde observes a growing acceptance that genetics can play a role in managing healthcare, for example, how genetic pathways work for hormones or pharmacogenetics — how genes affect how individuals respond to medications. He says healthcare practitioners need to be educated on these topics. 

“Most physicians still aren’t trained to interpret functional genomics. Medical school curricula haven’t caught up. We need continuing education programs that demystify genetic pathways to help clinicians and support preventive care, not just diagnostics. Where is somebody in their healthcare journey, and what genetics or pathway genomics do they express?” 

In addition, it is important to learn early what an individual’s predispositions are and how to avoid them. 

“We must embed this into electronic medical records, align genomics with clinical guidelines, and reframe genomics as risk reduction. It’s not about predicting disease with certainty but understanding susceptibility.” 

Wylde says that genomics can be a cost saver, for example, by helping to reduce emergency room visits or medication side effects. He says building multidisciplinary teams with physicians, dietitians, naturopaths, and genetic counselors is crucial to guiding patients toward optimal outcomes. 

“We’re not replacing medicine,” he adds. “We’re reframing it, we’re refining it. Genomics isn’t an alternative to conventional care. It’s a lens that brings the whole picture into sharper focus.”

Matching a genetic blueprint

Wylde explains that people’s genes dictate how they absorb, activate, and utilize nutrients. “Supplements need to match your genetic blueprint. They aren’t one-size-fits-all.” 

Supplements need to match a person’s genetic blueprint, as genes dictate how they can absorb, activate, and utilize nutrients.“Predisposition doesn’t mean destiny, but it tells you where you’ll likely need extra support. If you don’t detoxify well, we’ll support your glutathione pathway. If your serotonin transport gene is slow, we’ll support tryptophan metabolism and the gut-brain axis.” 

For example, he states that understanding someone’s complete methylation pathway “changes their life.” The gene involved in this pathway is methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), which is central to folate and homocysteine metabolism. This amino acid is broken down in the body into other chemicals. 

According to Wylde, the methylation pathway has been misunderstood, with people overly focusing on MTHFR mutations. However, he says that methylation involves multiple genes working together. 

Understanding that pathway is key to knowing if someone needs vitamin B12 in the form of methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, or hydroxocobalamin, and the type of folate they can best metabolize. This depends on the variations in these genes. 

“Genetic predispositions guide what you need or don’t,” he continues. “Someone with an MTHFR variant may need methylated folate or folinic acid, but not folic acid. Someone with a different variant might do worse on high green tea extract or quercetin doses.” 

“If you have somebody’s whole methylation pathway and you understand that they do better on adenosylcobalamin, but applied under the tongue because their gut can’t carry vitamin B12 into the methyl pathway, or that they need folinic acid instead of methylated folate, you are changing their life.”

Over- and under-hyped ingredients

A person’s genetic susceptibilities impact which supplements or ingredients work well. Wylde says there are many overhyped ingredients based on what people can absorb. 

Wylde explains that diet, lifestyle, and supplements can help modify genetic expression.Although turmeric or curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties, he cautions that not everyone absorbs it well. “Some may even over-methylate if it’s combined with piperine long-term — it depends on your genetic susceptibilities.”

He believes nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is an overhyped ingredient as well. This is one of the main precursors of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) — an essential enzyme for critical cell functions. However, Wylde suggests that combining “D-ribose and niacinamide is simpler and more effective at increasing ATP — the currency of energy.” 

“Adaptogens are great for stress, but those with slow MAO (monoamine oxidase) or low cortisol clearance might make people feel more tired or apathetic,” he continues. 

“Berberine, which is popular as mimicking GLP-1 drugs, is not suitable for everyone, especially if they have impaired bile flow or mitochondrial variants within their genes, then berberine is going to do them more harm than good.”

At the same time, he says that AI will drive the future of ingredient discovery and points to several interesting up-and-coming ingredients, such as Akkermansia and upcycled Chardonnay pomace powder for prebiotics. 

“We’ve been irresponsible with probiotics — the true story is prebiotics and postbiotics. I think giving people too many probiotics is an issue.”

“Longevity-focused polyphenols like Himalayan Tartary buckwheat show promise,” Wylde adds. “Black seed oil is back — but with standardization of thymoquinone.”