Expanded gene testing: Nutrigenomix reveals challenges and opportunities in personalized nutrition

22 Jun 2020 --- The growing personalization trend has given life to a slew of technology innovation, but Nutrigenomix tells NutritionInsight that increased consumer awareness is still needed for the trend to fully take off. An early predictor of the personalized nutrition trend, Nutrigenomix has grown its gene testing panel of validated markers from 45 to 70 genes, which expands the dietary assessment tool to complement its DNA-based recommendations, according to an individual’s genetic profile. Nutrigenomix elaborates on the misconceptions in the personalized nutrition space, limitations for growth and the importance of genetic analysis.

“We hope that our products will be widely incorporated in healthcare settings globally, not only for maximum health benefits for individuals, but also for cost savings to healthcare systems resulting from decreased disease burden,” Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy, Founder and Chief Science Officer at Nutrigenomix tells NutritionInsight. He is also a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Nutrigenomics at the University of Toronto, Canada.

“Our plan is to continue to add genes to our suite of genetic tests as the scientific evidence base for actionable recommendations continues to grow,” he adds. The new 70 gene report considers an individual’s DNA-based nutrient requirements, response to dietary components, food intolerances, personal preferences and weight management goals.

Nutrigenomix offers specific versions of its genetic tests, targeting consumer groups interested in the sport, fertility and plant-based categories. The personalized recommendations are customized to the individual’s genetic test results, but their focus may differ depending on their ultimate health and wellness goals. Nutrigenomix offers specific versions of its genetic tests, targeting consumer groups interested in the sport, fertility and plant-based categories, for example. 

To ensure accurate interpretation of the results, Nutrigenomix testing is available only through a healthcare professional such as a Registered Dietitian or physician. They help translate the complex results into simple action, behavior change, accountability and compliance. In addition to its offices in Canada, the US, the UK, Australia and Brazil, the company also has a team of in-house dietitians who can provide remote consultations.

The right genes needed for nutrition recommendations
The human genome is estimated to consist of somewhere between 20,000 and 25,000 genes. From a technical standpoint, Dr. Bibiana García-Bailo, Director of R&D at Nutrigenomix, explains that testing all genes itself is not the larger issue at hand, considering whole genome sequencing is already accessible.

“However, it’s important to understand that the number of genes tested is not nearly as important as which genes are included in a specific test. This is because we do not know what many genes do, and even when we do, their effects are not necessarily modifiable by diet and lifestyle. The 70 genes included in our new test are those for which the current scientific evidence is robust and knowledge of a person’s makeup for those genes allows us to make specific recommendations to change aspects of their diet or lifestyle for health benefits,” Dr. García-Bailo states.

Last week, NutritionInsight reported on a nutritional study that found that genetics play only a minor role in determining personal nutritional responses. “It is true that some genetic variants play a small role in determining personal nutritional responses, but other genes play extremely important roles in the metabolism and responses of specific foods and nutrients and the research shows this unequivocally,” Dr. García-Bailo comments.

“That is why personalized nutrition advice must be developed based on the right combinations of genes and nutrients for which the scientific evidence is solid. Without being able to make such targeted, actionable and personalized recommendations, simply knowing that [consumers] carry a specific version of a gene is not meaningful and is unlikely to result in positive changes in behavior,” she highlights. 

The growing demand for DNA-based nutrition advice runs parallel with obstacles regarding efficacy, privacy concerns and amplifying awareness.Dr. García-Bailo exemplifies this with individuals’ coffee consumption. While current recommendations for coffee consumption lie at a maximum of four cups per day (400 mg of caffeine), new research shows that many adults have the ‘slow’ metabolizer version of the CYP1A2 gene that increases consumers’ risk of heart disease if they consume more than two cups (200 mg of caffeine) per day.

“This is an undeniably large effect,” she flags. “With the Nutrigenomix test, a practitioner will know which CYP1A2 gene variant their client has and can provide more specific advice based on their results. The same concept applies to other aspects of the diet where the general guidelines may actually be harmful to some or ineffective for others, depending on their genetic makeup,” she says.

Limitations for growth
The growing demand for DNA-based nutrition advice runs parallel with obstacles regarding efficacy, privacy concerns and amplifying awareness. “The main limitation for growth is currently awareness of the benefits of testing and knowledge by consumers and healthcare practitioners alike.”

Some consumers also have concerns of data privacy given their genetic information could be used to discriminate against them in their job or for health insurance coverage. “[However], in the US, the Genetic Information Non‐discrimination Act (GINA) was signed into law in May 2008 and offers federal protection against such discrimination. In Canada, the Genetic Non‐Discrimination Act (GNA), formally known as Bill S‐201, was passed into law in May 2017 and protects individuals from insurance companies and employers using, requesting or requiring genetic test results.”

Nutrigenomix also ensures the anonymity of all samples and uses the most stringent standards for secure data transfer, privacy and security. Notably, the company does not test for genetic markers that are diagnostic of any disease.

On the genetic horizon
As scientific evidence in the field of nutritional genomics continues to grow, Nutrigenomix aims to develop more comprehensive genetic algorithms of response to specific nutrients and foods. Doing so will enable the company to provide even more refined recommendations for diet and lifestyle, depending on a person’s genetic makeup. 

As scientific evidence of nutritional genomics continues to grow, Nutrigenomix aims to develop more comprehensive genetic algorithms.“Another innovation may be the incorporation of other ‘omics’ technologies to track a person’s response to a given recommendation so that healthcare practitioners can monitor effectiveness and compliance,” Dr. García-Bailo notes.

“For example, today we are technically able to track individual responses to diet and lifestyle by measuring changes in the metabolome or the microbiome. But to date, these technical advances remain difficult to incorporate into routine clinical practice due to their high price and complex interpretation. Within the next seven years, we should be able to make important inroads in simplifying the technology required to both measure and interpret these omics markers, so that we can make them part of the healthcare provider’s standard personalized nutrition toolkit,” she foretells.

A final innovation Dr. García-Bailo projects to have a large impact on the personalized nutrition sector is the adoption of technologies such as cell phones and wearable devices to track compliance and effectiveness in real-time. “Being able to use a smartwatch to track, say, blood glucose or blood pressure responses to specific foods and beverages throughout the day will enable healthcare providers and consumers alike to truly understand and target individual health responses,” concludes Dr. García-Bailo.

By Anni Schleicher