"The future of medicine is personalised, predictive, preventive and participatory." — Leroy Hood, founder of systems biology
You are not the average. Your genes shape how you metabolise food, hormones, caffeine, alcohol and medicines; how efficiently you detoxify; how well you methylate, sleep, recover and respond to stress. Without that information, every nutrition plan, supplement protocol and lifestyle strategy is — to some degree — guesswork.
What this is — and what it isn't
Nutrigenomics is the science of how your genes interact with food, nutrients and lifestyle. We look at single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) — tiny variations in your DNA that influence how well specific biochemical pathways work in your body.
This is not a disease-risk test. It's a working manual: what your biology runs well on, where it struggles, and exactly where targeted nutrition, supplementation and lifestyle changes will give you the most leverage.
What we look at
Key pathways covered by a Functional Genomics Variant Report:
- Methylation — folate, B12 and methionine cycles. Affects mood, energy, neurotransmitters and detoxification.
- Detoxification — CYP450 enzymes, GST. How efficiently you clear toxins, hormones, medicines and alcohol.
- Hormones & oestrogen metabolism — critical for women's health, perimenopause and HRT response.
- Histamine clearance — DAO. Drives migraines, IBS, anxiety and food reactions.
- Neurotransmitters — dopamine, serotonin, GABA, glutamate. Mood, focus, sleep, stress resilience.
- Mitochondrial function — energy production and oxidative stress.
- Inflammation and immune — cytokine production, autoimmune tendency.
- Vitamin and nutrient metabolism — vitamin D response, B vitamins, iron, antioxidants.
Who this works best for
- Optimisers — knowing where your effort is wasted and where it's underplayed
- Complex or unresolved cases — fatigue, hormonal symptoms, autoimmunity, methylation issues
- Pre-conception couples — folate, methylation and detoxification before pregnancy
- Anyone over 40 focused on healthy ageing — detox capacity, inflammation, methylation, hormones
My approach
A DNA test on its own is data. Value lies in interpretation and translation into action.
1. Initial consultation
Case history, what you want to optimise or resolve. We decide together whether DNA testing will genuinely move your treatment forward.
2. DNA test
Completed at home with a simple swab, posted to the laboratory.
3. Interpretation session
A dedicated appointment to walk you through your report in plain language.
4. Personalised protocol
Foods, food-state nutraceuticals, lifestyle and any follow-up testing. Test once. Reference for life.
The laboratories I use
- MTHFR Genetics / Lifestyle Genomics Research Centre (UK) — my primary panel. Comprehensive Functional Genomics Variant Report covering methylation, detox, hormones, neurotransmitters, mitochondrial function, inflammation, histamine and nutrient metabolism.
- Lifecode GX (UK) — additional nutrigenomic and pharmacogenomic SNP panels.
Combining DNA with other testing
DNA tells you the potential. Functional testing tells you what's happening right now. Together they're powerful:
- DUTCH hormones + oestrogen-metabolism SNPs
- Organic Acids Test + methylation SNPs
- GI-MAP + detox SNPs
- Mycotoxin testing + HLA + detox SNPs
See the Laboratory Testing page for the full picture. I'll only recommend what changes your plan.
FAQ
Is this the same as 23andMe?
No. Consumer ancestry tests look at different SNPs and provide no clinical interpretation. A Functional Genomics Variant Report is built for clinical use with detailed pathway analysis.
Will it tell me my disease risk?
Not directly. It identifies susceptibilities — pathways where you may be more vulnerable to inflammation, hormonal imbalance or detox burden — and what to do about them.
Is the data secure?
Yes. UK-based, GDPR-compliant, not shared or sold.