“Personal genetic analysis lets you identify your own strengths and weaknesses” health and the reduction of disease risk. In this book we will be looking at genes and SNPs that impact your metabo-lism, diet and stress. These three fac-tors are closely interlinked when it comes to your weight, energy levels and diet. Some of them are associated with the development of diseases such as Type 2 diabetes but it is important to bear in mind that such diseases have multiple etiologies and contributing factors. Personal genetic analysis lets you identify your own strengths and weaknesses and allows you to make sensible lifestyle choices to potentially improve your overall health and well-being. It may also help you achieve your ideal weight. If it can help reduce your risk for certain diseases, then that is an added benefit. Prior to our initial consultation, Anna had run herself through the 23andMe DNA test. Having signed up though the 23andMe website, Anna received a testing kit within 1 to 2 days, which included a specimen bottle for a saliva sample and instructions on how to fill it. She returned the specimen to 23andMe in a pre-paid envelope along with a signed form. Three to four weeks later Anna received an email indicating that her genetic data was available. She was then able to log into her account and access both her raw data and a basic report. The raw data is a huge file containing gene and SNP codes for approximately 1500 genes and is not useful in any practical manner. How-ever, I am able to process the file using my GeneRx.ca program to produce a report, which is both informative and practical in terms of providing a diet, lifestyle and supplement protocol. Anna sent me her raw data file and prior to our meeting I ran it through the program. Part of the report based on Anna’s genetic profile indicated the following: 1) Significantly increased weight-gain and hunger when consum-ing more than 22 grams of saturated fat per day. 2) Moderate increase in desire for energy rich foods and increased weight gain with a low protein, high saturated fats diet.3) Higher risk of progressive weight gain and worse with a high saturated fat diet. 4) Overall she handles carbohydrates well. 5) In-creased inflammation with endurance exercise. By ignoring her genetics and follow-ing the latest “ketogenic” dietary trend, Anna not only failed to lose weight, she actually gained more. In addition, the diet had caused an imbalance in the systems in her body and brain con-trolling feelings of hunger. The diet had also resulted in higher levels of inflam-mation resulting in feelings of soreness, “puffiness” and fatigue. By dropping her carbohydrates and increasing calories from saturated fat GENETIC CASE STUDY Anna is a 36-year-old professional woman who came to see me because of unwanted weight gain despite her strict diet and exercise regimen. Her weight had increased 18 pounds in eight months. She felt hungry all the time, had low energy and had muscle and joint soreness. Anna had originally wanted to eat more healthy and planned to lose about five pounds. On the recommendation of a friend, she had radically changed her diet from a higher protein, moder-ate carbohydrate diet with “minimal fats” to more of a “ketogenic” diet in-corporating high fat, low to moderate protein, and restricted carbohydrates with fewer vegetables, and no fruits, whole grains or starches. Within a couple of months she began to feel “puffy” and inflamed and then started to put on weight. To counteract this she began running 30 minutes to one hour, four times a week and be-came stricter with her diet. Despite this, she reported increased feelings of hunger and craving and continued to gain weight. She felt progressively more fatigued, particularly during exercise. www.Cndoctor.ca Anna’s genetic coding had led to in-creased fat accumulation, particularly around the abdomen, which posed a significant health risk. It also led to higher levels of her hunger hormone (ghrelin), which resulted in poor satiety and cravings for energy-dense foods. Restricting her carbohydrates was un-necessary as she actually coded well for these and by doing so she limited her energy supply leading to additional fatigue. Increased fatty weight contrib-uted to increased inflammation. Based on her genetics I recom-mended the following protocol: 1) Reduce her daily lean protein intake calculated according to her body weight. 2) Slightly increase whole grains to 2/3 the physical size of her protein portion. 3) Vegetables and sal-ads allowed in unlimited quantities. 4) Reduce her saturated fat intake to less than 22 grams per day. 5) Supple-ments. 6)Resveratrol Extra. 7) Tri-Met-abolic Control (TMC) Anna lost three pounds in the first week, and 16 more over the next eight weeks. The “puffiness” and inflamma-tory feeling were significantly reduced by day 10 and completely gone by two weeks. Energy levels, both day-to-day and with exercise, were back to normal by four weeks. At two-year follow-up Anna continued with a moderate and balanced diet and had maintained a healthy weight. Diet trends come and go and they work for some people but not others. In some cases, like Anna’s, they can be detrimental. Genetics provides insight into your individual metabolism and allows a highly personal, safe and effec-tive program to be designed. Anna’s Detailed Genetic SNP cod-ing: • APOA2: CC – significantly increased weight-gain and hunger when con-suming more than 22 grams of satu-rated fat per day. • FTO: TA – moderate increase in desire for energy rich foods and in-creased weight gain with a low pro-tein high saturated fat diet. • PPARG: GG – higher risk of pro-gressive weight gain and worse with a high saturated fat diet. • TCF7L2: CC – handles carbohy-drates well. • IRS1: TT – handles carbohydrates well. September/October 2022 Chiropractic and Naturopathic Doctor 21
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