Genetic testing for a variety of metabolic issues has been available for quite some time. However, until recently the cost was prohibitive. Over the course of the past two years competition and technical advancements have driven the price of testing down to a very practical level.
Today you can test 28 different genetic snippets for $250. These genetic variations relate to cardiovascular fitness, glucose balance, salt sensitivity, triglyceride clearance, cholesterol metabolism, collagen formation and bone structure, aerobic capacity, detoxification, inflammatory response, vascular flow, B vitamin metabolism, and antioxidant function.
For example, the gene MTHFR codes for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase which converts folic acid (folate) in food to 5-MTHF, the biologically active form of folic acid in the body. Eight percent of the population has inherited altered snippets (SNP’s) from both parents and are unable to convert folic acid in the small intestine. These patients will be anemic unless supplementation with 5-MTHF is added to the diet.
