What DNA testing can tell you about your health
Mention DNA tests and our thoughts are likely to jump to paternity testing or exploring family ancestry. But did you know that DNA testing can also help you manage your weight, check for the likelihood of developing a particular health issue or identify a potential intolerance or sensitivity to certain foods?
Today, at-home DNA health tests are becoming a popular way to get personalised insights into how your body works – from nutrition and metabolism to your risk of certain health conditions.
Understanding the differences between Health and Ancestry DNA Testing
DNA testing has become a popular tool for individuals seeking insights into their genetic makeup. However, it’s important to understand that not all DNA tests are the same – particularly when comparing health DNA tests with ancestry tests. They serve different purposes and provide distinct types of information.
Ancestry DNA testing is designed to explore your genetic heritage.It aims to uncover an individual's ethnic background, geographic origins, and familial connections. By analysing specific genetic markers, these tests compare your DNA to reference populations worldwide to estimate the regions your ancestors may have originated from. They can also help identify potential relatives who share common ancestors.
Health DNA testing, by contrast, focuses on genes that influence how your body functions. These tests can provide information about your predisposition to certain medical conditions, carrier status for inherited diseases, and how your body might respond to specific medications. By understanding these genetic factors, individuals can make informed decisions about their health and lifestyle choices. It's important to note that while these tests can offer valuable insights, they do not diagnose diseases and should be interpreted in conjunction with professional medical advice.
For example, your DNA can affect how well your body digests, absorbs, and metabolises nutrients, which in turn can influence your overall health – including organ function, weight management, and risk of developing health problems.
How DNA testing can help you personalise your health
Here we explore just some of the ways you can use DNA testing to benefit your health, from the comfort of your own home.
1. Weight management
How many times have you been frustrated when a diet that has worked brilliantly for a friend has made absolutely no difference to your weight loss efforts?
All of our bodies are different and react in different ways to different foods, so most of us have to rely on trial and error when trying to find a diet that works for us. The problem is that our diets are so multifaceted that it can be hard to know what has and hasn’t worked. Luckily, DNA dietary testing can eliminate some of this confusion and unpick the key factors that will improve your individual health and wellbeing.
The tests have been developed by medical experts to help you understand whether a particular genetic reason may be impacting your individual ability to lose weight.
Also known as nutrigenomics, DNA tests can tell us how our bodies uniquely respond to different nutrients. It works by testing for genetic markers to examine how we process fat, protein and carbohydrates - as well as other substances. This helps us understand how we can change our diets to aid weight loss, blood pressure control, lower cholesterol, improve our gut health and our overall health and wellness.
A good example is the FTO gene, which has 3 possible variants AA, AT or TT. Only people with the AA variant - just 1 in 5 people - will benefit from following a high protein diet, while for those with the AT or TT variant, the same diet will be ineffective. People with the FTO AA genotype also benefit from exercise to aid weight loss whereas for others, it may not produce the desired results, whereas, focussing on a low carb diet, a low-fat diet or switching from animal fat to plant fat could be more effective.
A DNA test can also identify other, specific reasons why you might be struggling to manage your weight. For example, your body may not be able to metabolise certain nutrients, such as glucose. MyHealthChecked's Weight Management DNA Test is designed to explore these types of genetic factors, helping you better understand what could be affecting your weight.
2. Digestive health
Most of us will have experienced some kind of digestive disorder at some point in our lives and know all too well how uncomfortable and embarrassing it can be, not to mention how difficult it is to know what’s causing the symptoms. A DNA test can help you identify whether you are likely to have one of the most common intolerances, lactose or gluten.
Lactose intolerance occurs when we don’t have the ability to digest the sugar that’s in milk past the age of 5. The LCT gene encodes for the enzyme that breaks down lactose. If your body doesn’t produce enough of this, it can lead to bloating and diarrhoea whenever you consume dairy products.
Wheat intolerance can be identified using the HLA gene to find out if you have the variant that puts you at a higher risk of developing coeliac disease, an allergy to gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
MyHealthChecked’s Intolerances & Sensitivities DNA Test is designed to check for these key genetic variations, helping you understand whether common food intolerances could be playing a role in your digestive symptoms.
3. Food sensitivities
As well as finding out your body’s sensitivity to food groups, taking a DNA test can also identify how you react to substances such as caffeine and alcohol – all important factors when controlling blood pressure and blood lipids.
Take caffeine for example. Differences in our CYP1A2 genotype determine whether we are able to metabolise caffeine quickly or slowly. While fast caffeine metabolisers may be able to drink 1 to 3 cups of coffee every day without any health issues, slower caffeine metabolisers should limit their caffeine intake to control their blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart problems.
Differences in our genes can also mean that some of us metabolise alcohol more slowly, which leads to higher levels of HDL cholesterol levels. We all cope differently too with varying levels of sodium in our systems. While the majority of us will benefit from a low salt diet to lower blood pressure, for other genotypes there will be no benefit, and others may even experience increased blood pressure on a low salt diet.
MyHealthChecked’s Intolerances & Sensitivities DNA Test can offer insights into how your body responds to everyday substances like caffeine, alcohol and salt - all of which can have a significant impact on your health and wellbeing.
4. Heart health
Getting a deeper understanding of your heart health and how your nutrition choices are likely to affect it can help you spot any potential risks of developing cardiovascular complications in the future.
Our Heart Profile DNA Test focuses on how your individual heart health is influenced by your genes. Developed by expert scientists, the test will specifically analyse a range of genetic markers that are directly related to our heart and circulatory system to measure your level of risk of developing certain cardiovascular conditions.
Knowing now whether you are more likely to develop heart complications in future can help you make the necessary changes to your diet and lifestyle before you have any issues.
5. Vitamin or mineral deficiencies
We all know that a good, balanced diet will give us most of the vitamins and minerals we need for our bodies to function effectively, but it can be difficult to know if we’re getting enough of the right foods to stay healthy.
Our DNA test has been developed by experts to help you identify any potential vitamin or mineral deficiencies - including Vitamin D and iron - you may have and will give you advice on how to increase your intake if needed.
MyHealthChecked’s Vitamins & Minerals DNA Test highlights how your genes affect your ability to absorb and use specific nutrients, while the Vitamins & Minerals Profile Blood Test helps you understand your current levels and what steps to take next.
6. Understanding blood sugar response
Glucose is a type of sugar and is your body’s main source of energy. Severely low or high glucose levels can lead to major health problems so it can help to understand your body’s unique response to blood sugar.
Variations in our genes can affect all sorts of things - including our insulin secretion, zinc intake and B-cell function - all of which have an impact on the glucose levels in our blood.
Taking our Glucose Management DNA Test may indicate whether you have a genetic predisposition to impaired glucose levels and, if so, what that means for you.
Are the DNA tests easy to use and is my personal data secure?
A DNA test is really easy and comfortable for you to use in your own home. Simply take a quick cheek swab and send it off to our UK laboratory for processing. You’ll receive your results along with clear, actionable, advice via our secure website platform within 10 working days.
Your sample is analysed in a UK-based lab and your results are delivered securely online, with simple guidance that helps you take meaningful action based on your unique genetic profile.
The quick and easy tests will help you get a deeper understanding of your body as part of your journey to better health. But remember, your DNA results are only a piece of the puzzle. These tests do not give a diagnosis but will indicate whether you’re more likely than others to develop certain sensitivities, intolerances or health conditions, based on your individual genetic profile.
Using the highest quality scientific expertise and genetics insights, the tests will help you to be more informed about your own body, making it easier for you to take control of your own health and wellbeing.
At MyHealthChecked, we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, and we demonstrate this by prioritising the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We have stringent data protection measures in place, safeguarding your data. Please also be assured that we will never sell your data to third parties. We are ISO 27001 accredited, and our customers' data and security is of paramount importance to us. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for detailed information on our data handling practices.
For more information about MyHealthChecked’s full range of at-home DNA health and wellness tests, including options to explore food intolerances, vitamin absorption, and heart health, visit our products page.
References
1. NHS. Lactose intolerance. NHS.uk. 2021. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lactose-intolerance/
2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Lactose Intolerance. 2020. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/lactose-intolerance
3. NHS. Coeliac disease. NHS.uk. 2023. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coeliac-disease/
4. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Caffeine. 2020. Available from: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/caffeine/
5. NHS. High blood pressure (hypertension). NHS.uk. 2023. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/
6. NHS. Vitamins and minerals. NHS.uk. 2022. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/
7. Diabetes UK. Sugar and diabetes: myths busted. 2023. Available from: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/diabetes-food-myths/myth-sugar-causes-diabetes
8. Vyas S. Advances in Nutrigenomics and Applications in Public Health: A Recent Update. Curr Res Nutr Food Sci 2022; 10(3). Available from: https://bit.ly/3WwGnAn
9. Genomics England. Understanding Genomics. 2023. Available from: https://www.genomicsengland.co.uk/genomic-medicine/understanding-genomics
10. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing. Cambridge: CUH; 2022. Available from: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/direct-to-consumer-genetic-testing/