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NUTRIGENOMICS


Tap into the future, tap into the revenue.


BY NANCI S. GUEST


wo women of the same age eat a diet low in fruits and vegetables and high in so- dium and saturated fat. One develops high blood pres-


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


TESTING T


sure, high cholesterol and eventually heart disease, 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 three bil- lion letter pairs that sequence our DNA. The discovery—which included the identification and mapping of approxi- mately 25,000 genes—has led to a revo- lution 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 at- tack 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


What is nutrigenomics? Nutrigenomics is a new scientific


discipline that uses modern genomics technology to study the relationship between genes, nutrition and health. It has long been apparent that some peo- ple respond to certain foods differently than others. For example, individuals with lactose intolerance experience gas- trointestinal discomfort after consum- ing certain dairy products, while others consume dairy without 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 benefit your clients? Officially launched in Canada and


Australia in the last eight months, nutrigenomics 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 indi- vidual genetic profile. Nutrigenomix laboratories tests a


panel of genes related to seven important aspects of a client’s diet. A full report of the findings and accompanying recom- mendations 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.


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


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


test results through Nutrigenomix. All ge- netic data is sent through a secure 256-bit encryption server.


What is an example of the infor- mation provided? One of the seven nutrients (along with vi-


research in the emerging field of “nutrigenomics” been able to scientifi- cally demonstrate this fact.


tamins, sodium and fats) tested is caffeine. The Nutrigenomix test kit, analyzes a vari- ant in the CYP1A2 gene that metabolizes caffeine to assess risk of heart attack asso- ciated with caffeine consumption. Clients who have the GA or AA genotype (about 50% of the population) are considered slow caffeine metabolizers (this has nothing to do with how you feel after consuming cof- fee) and may be at increased risk of heart at- tack with caffeine consumption 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 approximate-


ly 100 mg of caffeine, the recommendation 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 con- sumption, 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 allow more precision in optimizing health and performance. We can then better predict efficacy of various diets, determine risks for nutrient deficiencies 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 ad- ditional health-promoting behaviours. This cutting-edge, scientifically validated


service can provide another revenue source to help maintain or advance your club as a leader in health innovation and service. FBC


Nanci S. Guest MSc, is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a PhD student at the University of Toronto researching nutritional science, genetics and athletic performance. Visit www.powerplayweb.com for more info on Nutrigenomix testing services for your club.


September/October 2012 Fitness Business Canada 35 March/April 2013


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