Personalized nutrition DNA test kits “take the guesswork” out of enhanced sports performance

17 Feb 2020 --- US-based Mako Medical Laboratories is launching a new genetic test targeted at nutrition performance and customized meal plans, created to help consumers know exactly what their body needs and what foods should be eaten in order to optimize performance. The launch comes alongside the growing demand for better nutrition, whether that is an increased focus on natural and organic food, non communicable diseases such as obesity or the desire for physical and mental performance improvements. It also underscores how advancements in technology are driving the personalized nutrition space which continues to trend this year.

“For way too long, we have questioned which types of food we should eat. There are many myths out there. Is an egg healthy? Which new diet is best for me? What foods should I eat to improve performance? Vegan or keto? All of us have been guessing,” says Chad Price, President of Mako Medical. “We spend so much time and money on our health without really knowing.”

Mako Medical seeks to change that with MakoDNA, which is led by John Nguyen, President of MakoDNA.

The process is simple, according to the makers. MakoDNA ships a kit to a consumer. A swab is then used to collect saliva. The sample is shipped back to Mako, where the DNA is analyzed. The identified genetic variations are fed into the algorithm-generating pipeline. A nutrigenetic report becomes available online (patient/consumer portal), which offers the newly defined nutritional targets. The same data is also fed to the meal plan generator. At the end of this process, the client is offered a nutrigenetic report and a customizable meal plan.

MakoDNA is a genetic test with an individualized meal plan that is specific to the person and the nutritional needs their body has, the company notes. “I have spent my life teaching martial arts and have always had to guess on what I thought was best for enhancing performance. The problem was the results varied and I was guessing,” says Nguyen. 

MakoDNA is a genetic test with an individualized meal plan that is specific to the person and the nutritional needs their body has.The launch from Mako Medical comes at a time of heightened demand for such products. According to Innova Market Insights, there has been a 23 percent average annual growth of food and beverage launches with a “sports and recovery” claim (Global, 2014-2018). Meanwhile, “energy/alertness” claims follow closely behind with 12 percent growth over the same period.

Performance nutraceuticals can address a wide range of needs and the mainstreaming of sports nutrition has created an especially lucrative market for industry. The sports nutrition market is now diversifying its product portfolios to appeal to everyone from “weekend warriors” to serious athletes. 

Personalized nutrition took off last year, with a growing consensus that previous one-size-fits-all health solutions no longer apply to modern consumers. This trend is bound for technological growth, as recently evidenced by a wealth of novel devices and strategic partnerships between tech-savvy start-ups and larger companies. 

Tremendous scientific progress in genetics and nutrition has brought a deep understanding about how the genetic structure of each individual alters his or her own nutritional requirements. This allows not only for the optimization of human performance (in areas such as speed, muscular strength, endurance, and mental focus) through nutrition but also to identify the genetically related potential of an individual for physical performance. This can be used to identify untapped potential between performance and genetic potential and could possibly be used as a factor to compare candidates for selection. 

MakoDNA is available online and in pharmacies across the US, as well as gyms, colleges, universities and local medical providers. 

Edited by Elizabeth Green