Dietitians Shed Light on the Effectiveness of a DNA-based Diet

Brittany Risher
byBrittany Risher
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Dietitians Shed Light on the Effectiveness of a DNA-based Diet

New companies such as DNA Fit, Vitagene and Profile are popping up promising to offer a personalized diet基于您的个人遗传构成. The idea behind it is you receive an at-home kit, perform a simple cheek swab and send it back, then the companies sequence specific genes to determine what大量营养素的比率(carbohydrate,fatandprotein) is “ideal” for you. Touted benefits of following these plans include万博彩票下载安卓, optimal performance, improved skin and more.

虽然听起来很棒且尖端,但仍需要进一步的研究。在尝试这些基于DNA的饮食之一之前,您需要知道的是:

THE DNA-DIET CONNECTION

Scientists know specific genetic variations, or polymorphisms, in part, dictate how we respond to specific diets and what our health outcomes will be if we follow a certain diet, explains Megan Baumler, PhD, RDN, director of the graduate program in dietetics at Mount Mary University. “What we don’t know is which genes, which polymorphisms, which diets or which outcomes,” she adds.

On top of that, these companies only sequence a handful of the tens of thousands of genetic variations that impact our nutritional needs. Plus, those aren’t the only things that matter:Lifestyle behaviorssuch as smoking, how much alcohol you consume and physical activity are also important factors.

WHAT THE SCIENCE SHOWS

今年早些时候,研究人员回顾了39篇有关多态性和卡路里,脂肪和碳水化合物摄入量的文章。在发表的文章中Advances in Nutrition, they concluded “current knowledge is too limited to derive dietary advice for weight management on the basis of genetic information.” An earlierclinical trial of 600 overweight adultspublished in JAMA如果一个人遵循饮食与其DNA匹配,体重减轻没有狗万体育买球万博彩票下载安卓差异。

COULD THE PLANS STILL BENEFIT YOU?

Science aside, some of the companies offer coaching to go over your plan or even meet with you regularly (in person or virtually) to check on your progress. This may help you stick to your plan and successfully adopt new, healthier habits. “Everyone needs different levels of motivation, and this support may serve to inspire somebody,” Baumler says.

Some also offer meal delivery or have stores where you can pick up their food products. While this makes eating according to your plan easy and saves time, you also may come to rely on these foods rather than learning how to cook for yourself.

THE BOTTOM LINE

“The science is too premature, and the evidence is too weak at present,” says George Patrinos, PhD, associate professor of personalized medicine at the University of Patras School of Health Sciences in Greece. Rather than spend the money on a DNA test, find ahealthy diet you can sustain, which makes you feel good, says Baumler, who also recommends working with aregistered dietitianif you need help.

About the Author

Brittany Risher
Brittany Risher

Brittany is a writer, editor and digital strategist specializing in health and lifestyle content. She loves experimenting with new vegan recipes and believes hummus is a food group. To stay sane from working too hard, she turns to yoga, strength training, meditation and scotch. Connect with her onTwitter,Instagram, andGoogle+.

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