- Disclaimer Recite: my opinions here are entirely my own based off my biochemistry. Due to sheer length of my nutrigenomics report (well over 100+ pages) there is simply too much for me to summarise.
- I can only share some, but not all results for interests of privacy. For more information this specific disclaimer please read my Concerns & Assurance statement
- Out of NDA / non disclosure courtesy ~ I decided not to publicly display the name of practitioner.
I nonetheless express my wholehearted thanks for being accepted as a valued client. My remarks and opinions, upon seeking further research on my own – remains my own.
Live-It-Forward,
AW.
What tests did I take?
I opted for a package of tests dedicated for Mental Health & Psychology enquiring. Main reason: This was, at the time ~ the only package covering the broadest array of categories not limited to “mental health alone”. Also ~ Immunity, gut health, dairy, gluten intolerances, iron handling, B complex handling / methylation status, Vitamin D status, Omega 3, long list of others, and before the usual suspects ~ on caffeine and alcohol metabolism. Hence all in all :
- Fish Oil status & metabolism (15 pages)
- Vitamin D status & metabolism (30 pages)
- Caffeine tolerance (25 pages)
- Alcohol tolerance (15 pages)
- Gut Microbiome diversity (13 pages)
- Gram Positive / Gram Negative bacteria studies (8 pages)
- Iron Studies (9 pages)
- Dairy tolerance (17 pages)
- Gluten tolerance (14 pages)
- BDNF / brain derived neurotrophic factor (10 pages)
- COMT Methylation Status (15 pages)
- Choline / Phosphatidylcholine studies (11 pages)
- Vitamin B Group metabolism (53 pages)
So what are my results?
I can only present few highlights, without this entire feature write-up going overboard.
I’d speculate people are mostly interested to witness only the negatives, perhaps as assurance for them to feel better, or to re-confirm that none of us are special.
Well, not a mystery at all then ~ I do have “problems”. And certainly that I am` not a genetically “elite”.
Nonetheless ~ suggestively, my nutrigenomics report finds that I am:
- Completely mutated / “100%” mutations that is (how motivating) ~ in terms of essential fatty acids pathway between PUFA N3 & N6 metabolism; consequenting low amounts of EPA & DHA status.
- BDNF / brain derived neurotrophic factor appears decreased (BDNF Chromosome 11 Variant 1 ~ ++). As per the reports emphasis ~ “major risk factor” associated with a range of mental health problems.”. “Very rare to have a double mutation in this gene.”. “More frequent in Asian populations.”
- Despite suggested to be 50/50 inbetween Val (Warrior) or Met (Worrier) variant of COMT – it appears I am more predisposed towards the excess ruminator, the “worrier” stereotype.
- Iron studies were mixed – I am 50/50 either bordering towards anemia or hemochromatic.
- The most surprising of all ~ my Vitamin D status, handling, storage conversion ~ is very confusing.
And I am advised to, once again only sharing a few suggested supplements actionables as follows:
- Consider B12, B6, B3, Gingko ~ for methylation, MTFHR support and COMT management.
- High dose krill oil protocol, at least months on end.
- Extra Vitamin D supplementation.
My Thoughts.
So here I am sharing my thoughts be it supplement related and/or the above findings. Once again for sake of readability and privacy this is not possible for me to disclose everything into just one writing.
MTHFR / B Vitamins – Part 1
This is so big so that I’m splitting these into two parts.
Firstly is MTHFR. My brief understanding on this is that it primarily helps convert the inactive Vitamin B9 (“Folate”) to biologically active form ~ 5 methyltetrahydrofolate \. Now, a variant as either a “CT” or “TT” And my basic methylation understanding suggests – that MTHFR being primarily also the most common gene one looks for is homocysteine, which ideally should be broken down to methionine, and/or cysteine with the help of existing vitamins B6, and B12.
There’s also a many other genes related in these categories – “FLOR3”, “SLC19A1”, “DHFR” to name a few. I”m attaching images below for disclosure.
What is confusing here – is the conventions. I was not able to raise enquiry on these given so many other nuances to sift through. Usually I am expecting the MTHFR status to be identified as letter codification between 677 and 1298. Eg. “C”677″T” and “C”1298″T”.
If anyone can enlighten me as to how else I should re-interpret these into the more conventional “standard” that would be appreciated .But suffice to say – given I’m seeing so many red marks have suggest – that I am more than likely to have a the more undesirable traits.
MTHFR / B Vitamins – Part 2
Now – for the actual B vitamins themselves.
For context here – nearing entire decade (if not more), I never bothered supplementing on specific B vitamins. I never feel compelled, convinced nor allured to that idea than just eating, well ~ actual meats that contains good amounts of it. Only until now
Whilst still early in my opinion despite months after wards the nutrigenomics consult, incorporating B Vitamins – B3, B6 and B12s so far did not net me any “significant” effects per se. Or at least, it is hard for me to at least isolate and relate to individual vitamin at a time. Except Vitamin B3 (the cheap NR not the NMN) is the more interesting one to me.
Let’s start with B6. This one, I believe is one of those vitamins can be easily over-doseable without one realising it. A typical cheap otc Zinc or Magnesium supplement would already net 30-50 MG amount. A quick Google search suggests 100mg be an often-cited upper limit and that peripheral neuropathy ~ tingling and/or subtle electric like sensations on wrists and joints appear to be common symptoms of overdose. Yes, I did on occassion experience these upon dosing the more affordable magnesium (oxide) which often accompanied with 40-50mg of Vitamin B6 per dose.
Then we have B12. I did tinker on this almost a decade ago, to the point which I cannot remember which brand, but I believe it was Methylated chewable version (Jarrows brand spring to mind) and I concluded it was one of those supplements I found difficult to distinguish if any ~ surrogate QOL/quality of improvement, at least back then. Now fast forward to 2022, I do feel there is some merit to this, particularly as I was tinkering what or which vitamins are still arguably okay, amidst fasting windows. I *think*, despite my prelimary on/off journalling suggest there is some improvement in mental resilience. However whether or not this is also confounded from my intermittent supplementing with Betaine HCL + Pepsin remains debateable. For those unaware for a long-time I consider Betaine HCL + Pepsin to be the most important of all nutraceuticals because it precursors most if not all micro and macronutrient partitioning. Here specifically with the intrinsic factor production Vitamin B12 seem to require stomach acidity (Ankar A & Kumar, A. 2022). Nonetheless it certainly remains food for more thoughts should (my) time permits.
Then, there is B3, this is the most perplexing of the three. considering its widely mixed sentiments on metabolic health repercussions. What caught my eye further, was that autoimmune conditions were classically treated with high dose B3 protocol. However, they were downsides. During the day taking it despite small amount (usually no more than 1/4 bite of dry tablet, in fasting window), I find myself in a state of mental “dopamine-block”. Difficult to explain, but whenever I listen to my usual end-of-long-work day music ~ such no longer interestingly “received” any “impactful” to me if at all, hence why I attribute there is potentially a dopamine mediator implication.
One positive I nonetheless speculate to B3 however, was its mild ergogenics during training, though certainly not a replacement for ALCAR. I am yet to determine whether or not it is specifically an effort/physical energy benefit or mental resilience output benefit as the more plausible improvement.
Fish oil / PUFA N3. Revisited.
My nutrigenomics report strongly suggest that I am 100% mutated and consequently need vigorous supplementation interestingly more towards Krill Oil.
My thoughts on Krill Oil is sadly sparse and infrequently revised. One primary reason? Cost. However the good news, although this can easily surmount as placebo ~ is that I felt slight improvement in mental stress handling capacity. Though my supplementation regime on this was not long enough to grant me any conclusive evidence perse. This I think could be a keeper for me to revisit later at some stage.
For bit of context – many years I felt ambivalent about PUFA N3. In 2019 I was compelled that linseeds gave me unexplainable heartburn-like sensation. Even earlier in 2018 – I started to think fish oils were hardly worth anything, if at all on markers of wellbeing. I do however enjoy occasional mackerels, sardines and/or salmons. But by no means I felt they are immediately corrective nor supportive to my needs.
Vitamin D Status
And, the most perplexing and surprising of all is Vitamin D.
The report strongly suggests I am very low in VIT D status. Severely compromised in utilisation, conversions (presumably from sun exposure > hepatic > renal > VDR receptors) and then all the way to storage mechanism. This was very surprising to me, despite copious amount of supplementations, with K2 and other supporting co factors you name it ~ from potassium, calcium, boron (only dietary source mostly), and magnesium ~ both cheaper and slightly more expensive (amino acid chelated and glycinate-labelled).
For those not up to speed, all my prior years amidst CKD+IF; I supplement at least in the regions of 5K daily though in summers whenever I am exposed to sunlight at least for good 20-30 minutes at a time, I’d forego supplement altogether. Though on winters I intentionally increase to 10k to 15k iu though sporadically.
What is even more strange is all my prior blood panel tests on Vitamin D have had always been above reference ranges. So, either my entire Vitamin D nutrigenomics reported a somehow unexpected mistake, or ~ I may just happen to be naturally fluctuating on these metrics, day to day.
A few months later I decided to invest for specific Vitamin D pathology test, privately of course . The proper 1,25OHD calcitriol status (which takes an entire 7 days to process), then semi active version 25(OHD) calcidiol, PTH, and mineral studies.
Result: the 1,25 OHD came back exactly as I envisioned it – high side ~ 145 pmol/L (note: PICO mol ~ reference range = 60-200). The 25(OHD) ~ 141 nmol/L. Parathyroid ~ middle of reference range of 4.4 pmol/L (reference range 2.0-8.5). And likewise.all minerals, including calcium were right in the middle of reference.
In light of these these certainly warrants more enquiring and/or testing. However as time and finances are at times not on my side – it sadly remains perplexing at this stage.
For more close up look on this I have written a four-part article encompassing altogether as my very first “Self’-Meta”. I’d be grateful and appreciative for your patience, for this feature spans almost an entire mini book length.
In light of all these.
I am nonetheless grateful, for taking this opportunity for the very first time.Certainly there’s a lot I am yet to comprehend and not able to put them here egiron studies, dairy vs gluten intolerances, possible fructose malabsorption, and so on. I do not think, sadly, I have the time to 100% disclose and them a page at a time.
As with all things “genetics” – there is one outcome one must deal with ~ “fate”.
Do I think the entire Nutrigenomics dictates my fate? No. Fazed? Not really. Thankfully, my own experiences, insight and research led and prepared me thus far a softer landing and less fear about whether or not it plunges me to existential crisis.
I’d wager if anyone is easily anxious, reading Nutrigenomics report may though I hope not ~ driving them in worse predicament. This might sound demotivational I apologise but reading something that relates back to you and your life, biological data, that is after about 20-30 years of life thus far – can be really significant.
But in any case, there is a lot to Nutrigenomics that I am yet to know. It is certainly an investment that I am glad nonetheless, putting myself into it more than just yet another “blood test”. That part – I am glad at least, is a lot more interesting to read than just a one pager result.
AW.