Functional Genomics

A Fundamental Epigenetic Understanding

Introduction to Functional Nutritional Genomics

Functional Nutritional Genomics explores how your unique genetic blueprint influences your nutritional needs. Each human body operates differently due to genetic variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) – these are variations in DNA that determine how your genes function and how your body processes (or doesn’t process) nutrients.

This field bridges genomics, biochemistry and nutrition science. It studies the intersection of your DNA, the body’s ideal biochemical reactions and the nutrients that support them – revealing how your SNP differences affect your digestion, detoxification and nutrient usage.

By investigating inherited genetic variants, you can identify the root causes of chronic dysfunctions such as inflammation, allergies, metabolic imbalance and even mental health challenges. Understanding the functional details enables true personalized nutrition – dietary adjustments designed to support weak organ systems to enable more optimal function.

It is a fiction that all foods are good for everyone

Let’s upgrade our outdated nutritional beliefs

Rare Diseases versus Common Conditions

Technical Review: Compromised function +|+, partial function +|-, full function -|-. is how individual SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) strengths are described in shorthand for homozygous, heterozygous, and null combinations in our DNA.

Rare genetic diseases present in humans with a SNP combo that hinders a critical function. For example Sickle Cell Anemia causes glitches in red blood cells’ hemoglobin production. Incidence is 0.27% = 1 in 365 for African Americans in the US.

There are also very rare genetic diseases. Such as babies born with spontaneously mutated genes that unfortunately cause serious survival issues. For example in Dravet Syndrome a key brain protein is not being made. The incidence is 0.0064% = 1 in 15,700 births/year. If you’re interested, here’s my deep dive into Dravet Syndrome | Chronic Epilepsy in Children.

On the spectrum of disease severity there are also our common conditions that cause health issues for broad swaths of people. Heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer all have ‘common’ symptoms that can include inflammation, brain fog, and metabolic imbalances. There are now known SNPs that contribute to these common diseases. Many of these SNPs act as dimmer switches: they don't shatter the process entirely but do dial down efficiency just enough to tip the scales toward trouble over time (faster in stressed environments.) Most us have several dimmer SNPs.

Diabetes Example: a Pancreas SNP that slows glucose metabolism (rs7903146 SNP in the TCF7L2 gene). A person with a homozygous version ramps up type 2 diabetes risk by 50%, however this only presents in ~10% of European descendants. Where as the heterozygous version (partially dimmed function) boosts risk by ~30% and is present in ~40% of European descendants. Now if these two groups of individuals eat a carb-heavy processed food diet and live an inactive lifestyle, then their Pancreatic organ system is under such pressure that high blood sugar will likely become a symptom.

Wouldn’t you agree that knowing the spots where your ‘engine systems’ are not working perfectly might be good to know?

Analysis of your SNP profile is in comparison to the ideal human being functioning at 100%.

Of course a perfectly functioning human adult does not exist. Everyone presents with dimmer SNPs that show up as subtle disease states that we’ve called aging.

The complex systems within complex systems of our human body are overwhelming for our brains to grasp. Fortunately there are now new tools and methods to help us see the details of our individual physiology.

Let’s continue by remembering that a key purpose of your DNA is to provide the instructions for 3,400 protein processing enzymes for 5,000 biochemical reactions.

Take a look at this enzyme example.

Understanding Enzymes for Nutrient Processing

We can think of enzymes as tiny molecular "scissors" involved in biochemical reactions to serve our bodily systems. While all organ systems rely on enzymes, there are "top" sets that stand out for their direct role in handling key nutrients for vitamin processing. Let’s start with this ingrained belief.

We’ve all been taught that Vitamin C is great for us!

That’s because Vitamin C as ascorbic acid is processed primarily as an antioxidant defense and for regeneration utilizing these enzymes:

  • Catalase: Decomposes hydrogen peroxide, indirectly supporting ascorbic acid's antioxidant role.

  • Glutathione peroxidase: Works with ascorbic acid to neutralize reactive oxygen species.

  • Ascorbate oxidase: Catalyzes oxidation of ascorbic acid to dehydroascorbic acid.

  • Dehydroascorbate reductase: Regenerates ascorbic acid from dehydroascorbic acid using glutathione.

Let’s take a closer look at Catalase, the first of four enzymes that helps process Vitamin C.

Of course most of us make this enzyme just fine, yet, did you know, there are ~20% of European descendants that only have partial function for Catalase production?

Catalase is the example enzyme because I’m European and carry this dimmed SNP. My body’s ability to make this enzyme in-vivo is ~30% less.

Knowing this I have adjusted my eating patterns to not overload my system.

  1. I don’t take Vitamin C supplements as an antioxidant boost or antiviral

  2. I don’t binge on high Vitamin C foods: a bowl of cherries, guava drinks, a whole raw bell pepper

  3. I pair Vitamin C foods with Catalase foods: white with sweet potato, parsley on avocado

  4. I eat foods that have both components: cantaloupe, banana

  5. I can also take a catalase supplement with a small citrus fruit bowl

What used to happen before I knew about this limitation? In high school I’d binge on six oranges as a late night snack and then wake up with wicked brain fog.

I now eat for my best functioning

What I ingest these days is very different from what I used to eat. There are many foods that are no longer on the menu. Here are some more of my SNPs, how they impact my health and how I respect them for wellness.

Liver System Detoxification | of the 22 key SNPs one is non-functioning, four have limited function.

I avoid grapefruit (bergamottin enzyme) as it blocks my detox ability and I limit aromatic amines, caffeine, charred/grilled meats, hair dyes, smoked fish.

Liver System Methylation | of the 14 key SNPs three are non-functioning, five have limited function.

I avoid folic acid in all fortified grains, cruciferous vegetables, dark legumes, allium group, high quercetin pigmented foods, black/green teas (catechins) and all alcohol.

Cognition System | No added sugar and as already mentioned I limit my Vitamin C.

Do I miss not eating certain foods? Sure, especially when I smell pizza! Yet I have no regrets.

It’s wonderful to no longer have headaches, sore joints, muscle pain, brain fog, annual fissure, breast cysts, scalp sores, extreme anxiety, etc. It’s all healed. My brain works better than ever, improved working memory, no longer dyslexic much better emotional resilience. I now know how to support my physical body for pain free living; which in turn helps my emotional and mental capacity.

Were these genetic insights the only route to my healing? No, of course not, but they were a very significant first step.

Facilitate Your Optimal Wellness

The Top Systems to Investigate

Digestion

Toxin Processing

Mitochondrial Energy

Immune Strength

Cognition

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The Analysis Journey

Obtain Your Genomic Data

  1. Use a service to obtain your genomic health data such as: Ancestry or 23andMe

  2. Download your raw database file

  3. Resave in the .CVS file format

Discover Nutritional Adjustments

  1. Compile the substance list to avoid or limit because of your weak SNPs

  2. Compile the nutrient list and supplements that support your weak SNPs

  3. Analyze foods to create a list to avoid, limit or increase

  4. Cross reference with additional test result data that could include

    1. IgG IgE

    2. micronutrients

    3. blood work

    4. skin allergy test

    5. food sensitivity

Investigate Your Common Disease Vulnerabilities

  1. Begin work with your functional professional to query your data

  2. Prompt ai to compile your deficient and weak SNPs

  3. Examine and group for top functions: detox, methylation, etc

Create Custom Meals & A Supplement Routine

  1. Set up a supplement spreadsheet

  2. Create a batch of Am and PM supplement packets

  3. Design 30 meals with non-enriched, unprocessed, organic fat, protein, plants, and fungi

  4. Donate pantry contents that conflict with your SNP profile

  5. Go shopping for ingredients and setup a stretch of meals

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