FBC


TRAINERS » Profi t Centres Programming


Nutrigenomics Testing By Nanci S. Guest


Tap into the future, tap into the


revenue. Two women of the same age eat a


diet low in fruits and vegetables and high in sodium and saturated fat. One develops high blood pressure, high cholesterol and eventually heart dis- ease, while the other lives a long life without chronic disease.


Two experienced male weightlifters


of the same age take creatine for eight weeks and follow the same resistance training program. At the end of eight weeks, one has gained three pounds of muscle and the other has gained none.


When we study diet and disease or


supplements and performance, why do the outcomes, such as these described above, have mixed results? Only over the last few years has this mystery be- gun to unravel.


In 2003, after 13 years of research,


scientists conducting the Human Genome Project decoded the 3 billion letter pairs that sequence our DNA. The discovery—which included the identi- fication and mapping of approximately 25,000 genes—has led to a revolution in medical research.


Over 300 genes relevant to health


and fitness have been identified. These genes range from those affecting car- diovascular endurance, muscle power and body composition to those that modify our response to nutrients that affect blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack risk and obesity.


While it’s long been suspected that


genetics plays a critical role in de- termining how a person responds to foods and nutrients, only recently has research in the emerging field of “nu- trigenomics” been able to scientifically demonstrate this fact.


What is nutrigenomics? Nutrigenomics is a new scientific


Nutrigenomix laboratories tests a


panel of genes related to seven impor- tant aspects of a client’s diet. A full re- port of the findings and accompany- ing recommendations is provided to the consulting dietitian. Armed with this information, the dietitian is able to develop the best dietary plan to help clients meet their health and wellness goals.


How is the testing done? A simple saliva sample, taken by a


club staff member or dietitian, is sent to the Nutrigenomix laboratory for analysis. Results are typically pro- cessed within 2-3 weeks.


Who has access to the test results? Only your client’s dietitian can


access the test results through Nutrigenomix. All genetic data is sent through a secure 256-bit encryption server.


What is an example of the informa- tion provided?


discipline that uses modern genomics technology to study the relationship between genes, nutrition and health. It has long been apparent that some people respond to certain foods dif- ferently than others. For example, in- dividuals with lactose intolerance ex- perience gastrointestinal discomfort after consuming certain dairy prod- ucts, while others consume dairy with- out problems.


Nutrigenomics allows us to under-


stand how our genes affect the way we respond to the foods, beverages and supplements we consume.


How can a nutrigenomics test ben-


efit your clients? Officially launched in Canada and


Australia in the last eight months, nu- trigenomics testing by a Canadian company out of the University of Toronto (www.nutrigenomix.com) is motivating people to truly change their eating habits by revealing their individual genetic profile.


One of the seven nutrients (along


with vitamins, sodium and fats) tested is caffeine. The Nutrigenomix test kit, analyzes a variant in the CYP1A2 gene that metabolizes caffeine to assess risk of heart attack associated with caffeine consumption. Clients who have the GA or AA genotype (about 50% of the population) are considered slow caf- feine metabolizers (this has nothing to do with how you feel after consuming coffee) and may be at increased risk of heart attack with caffeine consump- tion equivalent to two or more small cups of coffee per day (caffeine is also in tea, chocolate, colas, etc.)


Since one cup of coffee has approxi-


mately 100 mg of caffeine, the recom- mendation is that clients with the GA or AA genotype limit their caffeine consumption to 200 mg/day to reduce their risk of high blood pressure and/ or heart attack. (Recommendations for those without this variant are based on Health Canada’s recommendations for caffeine consumption, which is up to 400 mg per day.)


Nutrigenomics takes into account


one’s unique health and fitness goals along with one’s genetic profile to al- low more precision in optimizing health and performance. We can then better predict efficacy of various diets, determine risks for nutrient deficien- cies and help gym-goers choose the right supplements to optimize health and performance. Research shows that once one health behaviour is ad- opted, individuals are motivated to pursue additional health-promoting behaviours.


This cutting-edge, scientifically


validated service can provide another revenue source to help maintain or ad- vance your club as a leader in health innovation and service.


34 Fitness Business Canada March/April 2013


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48