A genetic test for diet has been around for a while, but a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Associations suggests that genetic testing for diet and lifestyle traits may be important in preventing heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other chronic diseases. Researchers studied a large sample of families and found that genetic differences between family members could account for approximately 10% of the risk of these serious diseases. The study looked at four genetic variants that are related to obesity, insulin resistance, type II diabetes and inflammatory diseases such as allergies, arthritis, and Cohn’s disease. The genetic testing for diet traits is a combination of genetic and molecular genetic testing. It differs from genetic testing for other conditions in that it simultaneously examines genetic differences that could affect health and well-being. This genetic testing for diet traits was done on families who were interested in learning more about their genetic history and future health.
When looking at the results of this genetic testing for diet traits there was surprising evidence that a genetic variant that impacts metabolism may help to prevent certain diseases. One genetic variant was found to be associated with insulin resistance, another with obesity and yet another with diabetes. But what was also surprising was that when examining a person’s genetic testing for diet traits, obesity was found to be the condition that had the strongest genetic effect. The genetic testing for diet traits also indicated an association between genetic variation that impacts insulin resistance and type II diabetes. These genetic variations seem to be able to tip the body’s metabolism to either burn fat or store it, depending upon which hormone is not produced in the body.
Other genetic testing for diet traits also found genetic variations that affect inflammation levels. Research has shown that genetic variation that affects inflammatory molecules may help to cause certain illnesses. One of those illnesses is cancer. In addition to the metabolic connection, another association was found with colon cancer and genetic testing for diet traits. This means that if someone has a genetic variation that impacts the regulation of the immune system then they are more likely to be at risk for cancer. Another study indicated that the metabolisms of metabolically active tissues may also differ by genetic trait.
Research has also indicated that genetic testing for diet traits can also help to find treatments for specific disorders. For instance, there is a genetic test for abdominal fatness. Abdominal fat is known to be an indicator of diabetes. Therefore, genetic testing for diet traits is associated with diseases such as diabetes. There is also genetic testing for depression.
People with higher than average amounts of genetic variance are considered to have genetic variants that influence their propensity to develop psychiatric disorders. Those with genetic variants that increase the risk of developing schizophrenia are more likely to have the disorder than others. Researchers examined those with schizophrenia and related behaviors and genetic testing for diet traits showed a striking difference between these two groups. The participants with the highest genetic variant had much higher body mass index values, were considered to be obese and had higher rates of co morbidity with psychiatric disorders. Schizophrenia is also an anxiety based disorder that has been shown to be influenced genetically.
