New DNA kits promise to give us a deeper understanding of ourselves – and tell us how to make our lives healthier, happier and longer. Jenny Southan takes the plunge.

Over the past few weeks I have made some interesting discoveries about myself – my risk of developing  type-2 diabetes is 5.4 times higher than the average person; I am unlikely to be gluten intolerant; red wine is good for me (but gin and champagne are bad); I’m best suited to short bursts of high-intensity training; and I am 16 per cent Scandinavian.

Home DNA testing is set to revolutionise our understanding of ourselves – we no longer have to feel bad about why we find yoga so difficult (I am genetically inflexible) or worry about whether our unborn child will have cystic fibrosis. Today, a simple saliva sample can reveal what kind of diet or fitness regime will be most effective for you, where your ancestors came from and how likely you are to suffer a sudden cardiac arrest. The prospect is at once terrifying and empowering.

Genotyping – comparing common differences in known genes – first entered the consumer marketplace in 2006 with the birth of California-based company 23andMe (the name comes from the 23 pairs of chromosomes found in every human cell). It was set up by Anne Wojcicki, the ex-wife of Google founder Sergey Brin, who provided financial backing in the early stages of the start-up.

The journey the company has taken has not been without controversy. Home tests for 254 diseases and conditions were made available to US citizens but, in 2013, were banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because of concerns about a lack of accuracy. In 2015, 23andMe improved its analysis of 36 hereditary diseases and relaunched kits in the US with FDA approval.

23andMe arrived in the UK in 2014, and its home kits cost £149. Today, 80 per cent of its 1.2 million users have consented to participate in scientific research. What’s happening with all this information? In January 2015, 23andMe signed its first multimillion-dollar deal with drug company Genentech. It is now sharing anonymised data with more than a dozen pharmaceutical giants.

Other DNA companies, such IamYiam and Pure Genetic Lifestyle, which launched in the past year or so, charge more for home tests (between £387 and £1,365) but, as a consequence, promise not to farm out your data. Personally, so long as there was no connection between my name and my DNA, I don’t take issue with the idea of crowd-sourced medicine if it is for the greater good. But it’s a question of trust that the end is ethical.

Knowledge is power

There are about 25,000 genes in the human genome. Some of these will determine the likelihood of developing certain disorders, while others are responsible for traits as wide-ranging as alcohol flush reaction and hair curl. Genetic variations in DNA sequence can determine anything from poor eyesight to aerobic capacity. Maarten van Dijk, founder of Pure Genetic Lifestyle, says: “We want to make people happier, healthier and older.”

Gaining an understanding of your make-up can be hugely beneficial to your wellbeing. But can you trust the results? Lorena Puica, founder and chief executive of IamYiam, says: “Genetic science is a probabilistic science. Basically, what we say is that over 95 per cent of the people that have that specific gene are predisposed to hypertension, for example.” So if you know you are predisposed to coronary disease, you could start doing regular sport, give up smoking and go vegetarian.

In 2013, UK fitness trainer Matt Roberts (mattroberts.co.uk) began offering personalised training based on a person’s genetic response to
nutrition and exercise. East London gym Ethos (ethos.co) has followed suit. Both partner with DNAFit (dnafit.com) to interpret 30 genes and their variants. For example, the tests look for variants in the ACTN3 “power gene” common in Olympic athletes and the FTO “fat gene”, which determines how likely your body is to store saturated fat. Other sensors highlight alcohol and salt sensitivity, sports injury resilience and aerobic potential. DNAFit tests cost £99-£249 (or £49 if you have already used 23andMe, with which it collaborates), while the 100-Day Fat Burner or Muscle Builder programme is a £49 per month add-on.

Roberts says that a DNA test can show “in a snapshot exactly what it is about your body that would make training easier”. If you are not built for endurance, running a marathon will be more difficult for you than other people. He adds: “We can also establish how to programme your diet to make it that bit more productive to your needs.”

Isn’t it time you reached your genetic potential?

FOUR DNA KITS TRIED & TESTED

All of these kits are bought online and require a saliva or swab test to be carried out at home before being registered, and posted back using an envelope or box provided. Results can take several weeks to arrive and all medical conditions tested for can be delayed or prevented. 

IAMYIAM

What does it test? This company analyses 41 genetic parameters to provide a profile of your DNA-based weaknesses and strengths across four categories – diet, nutrients, fitness and health. By identifying the presence of genetic variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs), you can establish the probability of certain dispositions. For example, if you have SNP rs4988235 located within your MCM6 gene, you will likely be lactose intolerant.

What will my results look like? Once you have registered your kit and created an online account, you will see a pie chart for each category, with colour-coded slices relating to the different elements. I discovered I am “excellent” at metabolising caffeine and gluten, for example, but “poor” at processing salt, carbs and monounsaturates (fatty acids found in avocados, for example). I am able to metabolise Vitamin A, D and B9 efficiently, but not B12 or Vitamin E, so there is a chance I could be deficient. My body is best suited to resistance training and muscle building (“expect good results, fast”), but my flexibility is bad.

What next? Pinpoint advice is given for every trait being tested. This includes nutrients to boost your flexibility, such as taurine and fish oil rich in Omega 3. A custom algorithm that links your results with more than 136,000 human-based scientific papers then creates a tailored plan for you to achieve your goals. For example, if I want to lose weight, I should try Pilates, acupuncture or nutritional therapy.

Verdict Results and advice are packaged in a user friendly way. Some findings were obvious but others were surprising and useful, such as the fact that my body treats all fats as equal (even “good” ones) so an all-round low-fat diet would be preferable for weight loss.

 

PRICE £387

CONTACT iamyiam.com

 

23ANDME

What does it test? This kit looks at inherited conditions, drug response, genetic risk factors and traits, as well as your ancestry. For example, you can find out if you carry the genetic variant for cystic fibrosis (both parents must be carriers for it to be passed down). Non-health related traits picked up include bitter taste perception, coriander aversion and whether you sneeze in bright light (photic sneeze reflex). The ancestry side of the test tells you what per cent of your DNA can be traced back to 31 populations worldwide – these include Japanese, Mongolian, Native American, Iberian, Ashkenazi, Balkan and Finnish. It even reveals how much Neanderthal is in your make-up (the average person is 2.6 per cent).

What will my results look like? Results are available online after creating a secure account. You will get more than 100 specific reports arranged in drop-down menus, with subsections for more detailed explanations. In my case, variants were absent for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, which meant I had a “typical” risk of developing them. If I smoked, I would be likely to smoke more than the average person. I have one of two working copies of alpha-actinin-3 in my fast-twitch muscle fibres (many world-class sprinters have this genotype). When it came to ancestry, unsurprisingly, I am 100 per cent European (mainly British/Irish) with a bit of French, German and Scandinavian in the mix. The 0.5 per cent Sardinian is a mystery.

What next? Your results are stored as part of a giant database for furthering the understanding of human genetics, as well as helping you to trace and contact unknown relatives (this is an opt-in extra). You can also build a family tree and trace genetic traits across generations.

Verdict This test offers the best value for money but you will have to think carefully about the data you are willing to share. 23andMe says: “We will not sell, lease or rent your individual-level information to a third party for research purposes without your explicit consent. We may share anonymised and aggregate information with third parties.”

PRICE £149

CONTACT 23andme.com

 

PURE GENETIC LIFESTYLE

What does it test? This is the most comprehensive DNA-based wellness test I have come across, covering both health and nutrition. It measures the risk of developing conditions such as Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, hypertension, thrombosis, arthritis and Crohn’s disease, plus how well you metabolise certain drugs. It also analyses the genes associated with weight and how well you absorb vitamins and nutrients.

What will my results look like? Results can be accessed online or in a personalised hardback book. For every sensor examined, there is a bar indicating how low or high your risk of developing the associated condition is, as well as advice on prevention and detection. For example, my risk of developing glaucoma is “increased” so I should get my eyes tested once a year. My genetic tendency for obesity is also high, so while I don’t put on weight by eating carbs, I am sensitive to fat of all kinds.

What next? Pure advocates holistic “lifestyle genetics”, providing pinpoint information on your body’s blueprint, and then guiding you on how to avoid its pitfalls while reaching your potential. The book has a large section on menus, training sessions, and the effect of different kinds of food. How much of each item you should consume is indicated by up to six happy or sad faces. Much of it is obvious, but I should avoid coconut, balsamic vinegar, dates and gin, while chickpeas, halloumi and red wine are good for me. The final step is ordering a batch of 28 vitamins, crafted to your needs (this is part of an £89 monthly package).

Verdict The price may be off-putting but the precision and personalisation of data is impressive. Discovering you face a higher risk of cardiac arrest or breast cancer could be life saving. If you are struggling to lose weight, it could help you to see where you are going wrong.

 

PRICE £820 nutrition analysis; £1,365 complete health and nutrition analysis

CONTACT puregeneticlifestyle.com

 

AVIATION NUTRITIONIST

What does it test? This test is designed for people who spend a lot of time at altitude, writes Marisa Cannon. It educates frequent flyers about which foods, nutrients and types of exercise could help them to recover more quickly from fatigue and stress. It looks at six categories – cardiometabolic health, food intolerances, weight management, body composition, eating habits and physical activity – to calculate nutritional values such as how much Omega-3 fat, vitamin B and D you need; if you have any lactose and gluten intolerances; and more niche features such as your ability to taste fat in food or how motivated you are to exercise.

What will my results look like? Results come in a 40-page document, which gives a thorough breakdown of the benefits of each dietary or fitness component, its enzyme role, which gene variant you have of it and your body response/risk level. I found out that, unlike Jenny, I digest monounsaturated fats better than starch, but I may have low levels of Omega-3, which could increase my risk of heart disease. I also have a slight lactose intolerance, which might come from my mother’s South Asian genes, and a higher than average pain threshold, which means I should be able to withstand prolonged exercise.

What next? The Aviation Nutritionist can go through your results with you and recommend diet changes. It has also teamed up with London-based caterers Absolute Taste to tailor onboard meals that address clients’ nutrient deficiencies, although this is currently available only on private jets. My onboard meal included foods high in vitamin D and C, calcium and Omega 3s, with no gluten and limited dairy. I would be served dishes such as miso glazed salmon with grilled asparagus and cauliflower rice, grilled courgette carpaccio with goats’ cheese and cinnamon poached pear with coconut yoghurt.

Verdict While the test doesn’t reveal anything groundbreaking, it could help to know which food groups are making you feel sluggish or whether it’s the yoghurt and cheese at breakfast that’s causing your blocked sinuses, rather than dry cabin air.

PRICE £495

CONTACT theaviationnutritionist.co.uk