new era in medicine
socialbites.ca reports the registration of Russia’s first genetic test by Roszdravnadzor. Doctors can guide patients toward tailored lifestyle choices based on their metabolism, which is influenced by genetic activity. Roszdravnadzor has authorized the Metabolic Kit 60 for medical use. This kit aims to determine predispositions to certain diseases and metabolic irregularities in the human body.
The test can reveal characteristics of taste perception, vitamin metabolism, detoxification system abnormalities, and sex hormone dynamics. It can also indicate the specifics of carbohydrate, lipid, and energy metabolism as well as neurotransmitter activity, lactase deficiency, and the predisposition to osteoporosis, cardiovascular issues, and other conditions. Metabolic Kit 60 contains 60 reagent sets, each identifying polymorphisms in specific genes that have been studied by science.
“The kit provides doctors with an essential tool for preventive medicine,” noted Valery Polunovsky, head of new product development at MyGenetics, the company behind the kit, in an interview. “Previously, kits could diagnose only existing diseases. Now, predispositions can be identified. It becomes clearer that cardiovascular disease risk depends on many factors. With our testing, both doctors and patients will be aware of these factors and can influence them.”
Valery Polunovsky also stated that an expert scientific council from MyGenetics selected the genes with meaningful polymorphisms. The council’s recommendations were submitted to the Ministry of Health and approved for accuracy.
MyGenetics researchers reviewed global meta-analyses with strong evidence to choose the genes for testing. These studies come from biobanks worldwide, including a large English biobank with information on about 550,000 people and a Chinese biobank with around 300,000 participants. This approach ensures relevance for both European and Asian populations present in Russia.
What can be learned from the test?
Metabolic Kit 60 provides a detailed analysis of various predispositions. This analysis can guide personalized nutrition, exercise, dosing, and the most effective forms of certain medications and vitamins for absorption.
The test includes a kit named Genetics of Vitamin Metabolism, which may help individuals prevent diseases linked to vitamin deficiencies or excesses, such as thrombosis, cardiovascular disease, and anemia. A deficiency in vitamins like B12 can even influence memory.
One user shared: a mutation affecting B12 absorption means injections or sublingual forms may be necessary, a crucial finding from the genetic test. Similar mutations can affect other vitamins as well.
Deficiencies in vitamin A can impair vision due to impaired carotenoid-to-retinol conversion. This conversion is controlled by BCMO1, and a mutation can hinder vitamin A entry into cells no matter how much carrot juice is consumed. The testing helps illuminate such routes.
The kit can also shed light on how serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine are metabolized in the brain, indicating susceptibility to depression, neurodegenerative conditions, ADHD, and related issues. The Genetics of the metabolism of neurotransmitters kit is used for these insights.
The Genetics of the detoxification system helps users understand reactions to foreign components in food and the environment. The Genetics of Energy Metabolism assists in evaluating risks of obesity and the effectiveness of dietary patterns, such as high-protein diets or intermittent fasting.
Clinical studies show links between specific genes and diet responses, according to Polunovsky. The Genetics of Taste Perception kit supports choosing a compatible diet. Athletic potential and injury risk can also be assessed with the Genetics of athletic abilities and Genetics of connective tissue kits. These tools can guide appropriate activity choices for weight management.
Some individuals may need to moderate heart strain during exercise. The testing can inform whether a given activity is suitable, whether it be long cardio sessions or high-density interval training, by matching exercises to genetic findings.
For hormone-related concerns, the Genetics of Sex Hormone Metabolism helps estimate cancer risk and can inform replacement therapies. Similarly, the Genetics of lipid metabolism assists in determining the most appropriate statin choices for lipid management.
Fortune telling on genes
Independent genetic scientists interviewed by socialbites.ca question the accuracy of interpreting such results since knowledge about genes and metabolism is still incomplete. They note the many incidental or passenger mutations that may appear in genome sequencing and caution that cataloged polymorphisms are not yet fully understood. Expert researchers emphasize that reading 60 or 300 polymorphisms leaves room for many interpretations and potential misreads.
Experts also point to well-known gene variants that clearly impact health, such as BRCA, which informs breast cancer risk and treatment considerations. They acknowledge that some drug responses are influenced by genetic factors, like Warfarin dosing, yet caution that not all gene findings translate into precise predictions.
In cases where doctors struggle to diagnose, the test may offer a clue. Yet practical lifestyle recommendations remain broadly similar: limiting sugar, salt, and fatty foods, plus increasing physical activity. These basics stand without testing, though the test can add nuance for specific individuals.