Is there any truth to DNA Diets?

Functional nutrition is the most exciting aspect of nutrition for me since sports nutrition. The realization that we really can uncover what causes delayed food sensitivities with such things as MRT testing, or be able to head off diseases such as cancer with cruciferous vegetables or lower our chances of heart disease with omega-3 fatty acids is what makes nutrition fun! I have several friends who are not only registered dietitians, but also educated geneticists, and the information they provide is amazing! We really are at the dawn of a new age in medicine and health.

However, although there are legitimate genetic testing labs and organizations, there are more scams out there than the ‘real’ ones, especially online. For this reason, just recently congressional investigators held hearings and the result was to caution consumers to beware of direct-to-consumer DNA tests that promise nutrition advice and sell products.

At issue is a field called nutritional genomics, which researches how complex interactions between genes and diet may affect people's risk of future illnesses. Many genetic authorities say the field has promise but that much more research is needed before offering DNA-tailored advice on a mass scale.

Yet on the internet and in some stores, people can buy kits, costing from $99 to $1,000, that let them send in a cheek swab for DNA analysis, fill out a lifestyle questionnaire and receive nutrition advice.

Investigators bought kits from companies selling through four websites, and created 14 pretend customers. The questionnaires described consumers of different ages and lifestyles, but were paired with DNA samples from a baby girl and a male agent at the GAO.

When the results were returned, the advice varied greatly, but most contained generalities such as do not smoke and that the "customers" with bad diets may risk heart disease. Certainly not personalized results worth $99- $1,000!

One company advised three of the customers to buy a "personalized" dietary supplement blend, costing more than $1,880 a year, that the company claimed could repair damaged DNA. A second company recommended a supplement blend for $1200 that you can buy in a drugstore for $35.

This is the problem. First of all, genetics experts all agree that there is no pill that can repair DNA damage, and that some of these blends could actually cause damage. Plus, they noticed that all three sample patients were recommended the exact same blend of supplements, proving there was no personalization at all.

As a result of this investigation, representatives were called in to testify. Reps from the gene-testing companies testified that they were providing an important service and were criticized unfairly because they had not had a chance to see and respond to the allegations.

If you are interested in gene testing, consult your doctor or a trained and educated genetics counselor before undergoing any genetic testing. You are not going to find reliable service of this kind on the internet. Save your money and buy more fruits and vegetables!

If you want to learn more about genetic testing, click here: http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEPC/NIH/index.html