Nutrigenomics: Can You Change Your Genes With What You Eat?

(c) @johnlapuma CHEF Clinic.
Nutrigenomics and Your Health
John La Puma, M.D.
Chef Clinic/ChefMD
Santa Barbara, California
www.drjohnlapuma.com

FYI: My Recent Projects and Path

3 Parts
What is Nutrigenomics?
What might it do for you?
How should you think about it?

Definition: ”an emerging field of research in
science which focuses on the effects
of foods and food constituents on gene
expression.”
Mission: “to optimize nutrition with respect to
an individual's genotype”
Vision: “accurate clinical tool available to every
family regardless of income”
I. What is Nutrigenomics?

• Nutrigenetics: how genes affect how we use
food and nutrition
• Epigenetics: how our environment, along with
nutrition and exercise, affects gene expression
• Nutrigenomics: how the nutrients we consume
affect our genes
Other terms

Genes are made of
DNA, and are
on chromosomes. 23
pairs of chromosomes
have ~20k protein-
coding genes.

Individuals with rare genetic disorders such as
phenylketonuria, galactosemia and hereditary
fructose intolerance as well as more common
disorders (e.g. lactose intolerance, celiac disease)
tailor food intake to bypass the metabolic/genetic
deficiency.
Personalized Nutrition Isn’t New

Regulation, Ethics of Concern

Part 2
How can your family start?

What are Specialty Fields in
Nutrigenomics?
1.Aging
2.Obesity
3.Cancer
4.Very specific amino acid, vitamin or
genetic defects, rare and unusual
In other words, advice should not be
one-size-fits-all.

What are Ways in Which
Nutrigenomics Is On Offer?
1.Microbiome Assessments (for the gut, of
course)
2.Genetic/genome assessments
3.Wearables and digital health…very little
data, but lots of ?s.

DNA Diet
ISOThrive - prebiotics for better poop
Nutrigenomix
PanTheryx- natural immunoglobulins
Second Biome- biotech/pharma
Second Genome
Ubiome- DNA test for poop
Viome- $1k/year for quarterly poop samples
Whole Biome
Selected Companies:
The Poop

Methylation
Mitochondria
Neurotransmitter Function
Inflammatory Potential
Detoxification
Health Precautions
What companies test, and
advertise

DNAFit
Jimonz
DNA Wellness Testing Kits: Swab Companies

Started with 23 and Me, Ancestry DNA, NatGeo
DNA…now GeneDx, Ambry, Fulgent.
FDA Cease/desist 2015 changed offering to carrier
status and AR disorders (cystic fibrosis, Tay Sachs,
Sickle Cell)
In 2017, allowed variant analysis for late-onset
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s; 2018 for BRCA1 and
BRCA2…but not binary data, not dx, and 3/1000
genes.
DNA Testing and Companies: Genetic Not
Nutrigenomic, but Rising

Part 3
How can your family start?

And if you’re curious, more information, which
you can interpret yourself!
– promethease.com
•literature retrieval system that builds a
personal DNA report an unknown inborn
error of metabolism.
– snpedia.com
•Lots of errors and one interpretation.
Benefits: Tests give you
structure

Risk: potentially unnecessary surgeries/
avoidances/anxieties
Tell me again: eat fish instead of beef,
more protein versus less, nuts instead of
chips, drink tea instead of soda…isn’t that
what culinary medicine does?
Risks: Tests give you false positives,
and tell you what you already know.

Yes, if you have
– an unknown inborn error of metabolism.
– extra disposable income and are curious, and
not impetuous or anxious.
– an urge to read spreadsheets about your body.
No, if you’re concerned about data security,
privacy, wasted resources, or want to keep your
money and do what’s proven instead…
Testing Worth The Money?

1. For obesity, for example.
2. Other common conditions…
e.g., diabetes
Nutrigenomics “Precision Nutrition”
Alternative: Use What’s Known About Food

Eat more cruciferous veggies
Add vitamin D (lowers SHBG)
Eat more mono fat (avo, nuts, oil)
Get enough zinc (oysters)
(from La Puma J. REFUEL (Harmony,2014)
Low T: Boost T With Nutrition

1. Pecanbon--
– 41 g fat, 48 g sugar, 900 calories
– 3+ hrs on a t-mill (15 deg @ 3.5 mph)
2. Cheesecake Factory Carrot Cake--
– 84 g of fat, 14+ oz, 1560 calories
– OR 5+ hrs on a treadmill
3. Bloomin’ Onion at Outback--
– 163 g fat, 2100 calories
– 8 hrs on a treadmill
Avoid Pornographic Foods

4 Ways Food Can Be Your
Culinary Medicine

Some Eating Patterns and
Individual Foods Work as Well or
Better Than Meds or Supplements
What if Your Doctor Wrote Foods and Recipes
on Prescription Slips, Too?
What if Your Family Found that Food, Cooking
and Gardening were Disruptive Technologies in
Health Care?

• Dx: Diabetes, Type I or II
• Improves insulin sensitivity by 30% and pp
glucose by 20%
• Cost: 5 cents, vs. ~$1.16 for daily 500mg
metformin (Glucophage), an effective
glucose-lowering Rx.
Rx: 1.5 T apple cider vinegar, pre or post
high carb meals.
Vinegar improves insulin sensitivity to a high-carbohydrate meal in subjects with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
Johnston, C. S. et al., Diabetes Care 2004 Jan;27(1): 27-282; Diabetes Care and January 26, 2010 vol. 33 no. 2 e

Dx: Hypercholesterolemia
• Lowers LDL cholesterol by 19 mg/dL, on
average
• Cost: about 16 cents, from dried beans,
including garlic, onions and oregano
– vs $5 per pill for rosuvastatin (Crestor®, any
dose), an effective cholesterol-lowering
medication.
Rx: One-half cup well-flavored,
delicious pinto beans daily

1. PubMed.gov for original articles.
2. Food4me.org for media reports as well
3. Tech in medicine : @erictopol
4. @nutragenious (M Kohlmeier)
5. @elsohemy (Ahmed El-Sohemy)
6. @ordovas_phd (Jose Ordovas)
Best Sites For More Info
About Nutrigenomics

Nutrigenomics and Your Health
John La Puma, M.D.
Chef Clinic/ChefMD
Santa Barbara, California
Learn How: Let Food and Nature Be Your Medicine Too
www.drjohnlapuma.com
@johnlapuma on Twitter
@johnlapuma on Instagram

Nutrigenomics: Can You Change Your Genes With What You Eat?

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Nutrigenomics: Can You Change Your Genes With What You Eat?

Similar to Nutrigenomics: Can You Change Your Genes With What You Eat? (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Nutrigenomics: Can You Change Your Genes With What You Eat?