My GeneSNP Journey: Part 1

Author: Sean Wells

Like most people nowadays, I thought I knew pretty well what genetics were, but until holding this job I wouldn’t say I was familiar with Epigenetics, Nutrigenetics or Nutrigenomics—reading this article helped quite a bit. I think this is where my eyes may have started to open a little, even if I didn’t know it at the time.

Like most people, I felt like I had a good working knowledge of what it meant to be healthy and how to do it (it’s “eat right and exercise”, right?). I’d figured that simple phrasing and of course whatever genetic cards I’d been dealt would be enough to carry me through, and of course if they weren’t, what was I going to do about it, really?

Along these same lines, for most of my life, I’d always thought that my genetics, whatever their nature, were something to be accepted, tolerated and maybe, every once in a while, cursed—depending on my mood. Again, I felt like genetics were something that were just sort of there, unchangeable, and if I happened to be feeling inadequate, I could always blame them.

To be fair, while I certainly have nothing to brag about in this area, I don’t really have anything worthy of complaining about either. I’m about average height, about average weight, and in a roomful of people or on a street corner in the city, I imagine I would just blend in: Caucasian male, medium build, dark hair. I wouldn’t stand out, and chances are good I wouldn’t particularly be noticed, one way or the other.


In truth, it may actually be this overall sense of “average-ness”—so to speak—that has sometimes made me pause and wonder a little about things like doing my best and making the best choices. In general, I’ve always done just fine on my own, but what if I had a little more information? Suppose I had some guidance? Could I do more, maybe, than “just fine”?

This first thought, as it turns out, was the start of my GeneSNP Journey. I’d started to know a little about it, and the more I knew, the more I wanted to know. I’d always believed there was no substitute for experience–maybe this was a way for me to get a few answers and stop wondering.
As might be obvious by now, I was sold. The next step was to order a kit.

Natural Relief for Allergies...

Natural Relief for Allergies – Pycnogenol® is the Answer 

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Crystal Shelton

The body’s immune system plays a very important role in respiratory health, specifically in conditions like hay fever/allergies and asthma. Allergens, such as pollen, pet dander or dust, can cause the immune system to be triggered, igniting inflammatory responses which in turn lead to a series of uncomfortable symptoms we know all too well.

Pycnogenol^® is a natural plant extract from the bark of the maritime pine tree which grows exclusively along the coast of southwest France. The extract is a combination of procyandins, bioflavonoids and organic acids and has been clinically studied for a wide range of benefits. Pycnogenol^® has been shown to help in a variety of health areas due to its four basic properties: acting as a powerful antioxidant, acting as a natural anti-inflammatory, selectively binding to collagen and elastin and aiding in the production of nitric oxide which helps to dilate blood vessels.

Mostly due to its anti-inflammatory properties, Pycnogenol^®has a defined role in respiratory health, specifically with asthma and allergies. In human studies, it has been shown to help normalize the immune response by inhibiting Nuclear Factor-Kappa B and lowering the sensitivity level for triggering an immune response. Pycnogenol^® has also been shown to inhibit the release of histamine from mast cells. When an allergic person comes into contact with an allergen, these cells release histamine which triggers the onset of symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, wheezing, itching, etc. – also referred to as hay fever. Hay fever is a huge concern, but many of the prescription drugs have unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness, and consumers are looking for that natural alternative.

Pycnogenol^® has been shown in human clinical studies to block histamine release and thus decrease these allergic response symptoms. Additionally, other research identified Pycnogenol’s effects of improved breathing for people suffering from allergic asthma.

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OPC-3 with Pycnogenol

Click to Order: OPC-3 with Pycnogenol

Vitamin D - Comparing 2,000 IU/day vs. 5,000 IU/day

March 29, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD (Courtesy of Vitamin D Council)

Dr. Terry Diamond and colleagues of St. George’s Hospital in New South Wales just published the first head-to-head comparison of 5,000 IU/day to 2,000 IU/day. Remember, the Food and Nutrition Board says 4,000 IU/day is the upper limit, but Dr. Diamond knows the pharmacology of vitamin D well enough to know that quite a few people will still have inadequate levels at 4,000 IU/day.

He recruited 30 patients with vitamin D levels less than 20 ng/ml and put half on 5,000 IU/day and half on 2,000 IU/day for three months. He measured a number of things, the most important of which was muscle strength.
Diamond T, Wong YK, Golombick T. Effect of oral cholecalciferol 2,000 versus 5,000 IU on serum vitamin D, PTH, bone and muscle strength in patients with vitamin D deficiency. Osteoporos Int. 2012 Mar 16.

After 3 months of 2,000 IU/day the vitamin D levels averaged 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/L), meaning about half the patients were still vitamin D deficient. Not so with the 5,000 IU/day group. The average vitamin D level was 45 ng/ml (114 nmol/L), right in the “natural range.” In addition, 93% of the patients had levels higher than 30 ng/ml compared to the 2,000 IU/day group, where only 45 % had levels above 30 ng/ml. Remember, one of the problems with daily dosing is that you must rely on the patient to take their medication. As an old GP, I am here to tell you not all patients take their meds; the ones that get me are the ones who look me straight in the eye and tell me something I know is not true.

In Dr. Diamond’s well-designed study, changes in grip strength compared to baseline were very significant, while the improvements in timed tests of sitting to standing and the 6-meter walk test also improved, but not significantly. What surprised me was that the improvements did not vary with dosage. That is, the 2,000 IU/day had the same improvements in grip strength as did the 5,000 IU/day, meaning muscle strength improvements are the most dramatic at changes in lower ranges of vitamin D levels. By that, I mean if your level is 5 ng/ml to start out and you get to up to 20 ng/ml, your percentage improvement in muscle strength will be much more dramatic than someone who went from 20 to 35 ng/ml.

I am glad to see Australians using daily dosing of vitamin D. Many of the “Stoss” doses, 100,000 IU/month or 600,000/year are not physiological, and are dangerous. Vitamin D was made every day in the skin of our ancestors and we should strive to replicate such dosing schedules. How much do we need? To quote Dr. Diamond, “This study demonstrates that the administration of oral vitamin D at 5,000 IU daily is superior to 2,000 IU daily for 3 months to treat mild to moderate vitamin D deficiency."

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What makes Isotonix® Vitamin D with K2 product unique?

Isotonix Vitamin D with K2 contains vitamin D3, the metabolically active form of vitamin D, along with vitamin K2, a form of vitamin K which supports vascular health and calcium utilization. Vitamin D plays an important role in bone health, heart health and immune support while working with vitamin K to support normal absorption of calcium and promote healthy arteries. Isotonix Vitamin D is the first of its kind to deliver both of these powerful vitamins with isotonic delivery.

Vitamin K is included in Isotonix Vitamin D with K2 because of its unique partnership with vitamin D. Vitamins K and D work together to support calcium absorption and utilization. Vitamin K supports the normal delivery of calcium to the bones and promotes healthy arteries.

At least two naturally occurring forms of vitamin K have been identified and are known as K1 and K2. While there are many similarities between these two forms of vitamin K, they are distinguished by their important differences. The most significant difference between K1 and K2 is their chemical structure, which results in different pharmacokinetic properties. Vitamin K1 is retained primarily in the liver where, at high doses, it may interfere with the action of warfarin and other anticoagulant medications.

Vitamin K2 has a different mechanism of action. It is transported primarily to bones and blood vessels. Vitamin K2 helps to maintain bone mass, support calcium utilization and promote elasticity of blood vessels.

Some studies have concluded that vitamin K2 does not interfere with anticoagulant medications.* However, most products containing vitamin K (including K1 and/or K2) warn users taking anticoagulants not to take the product. If you are currently taking warfarin or another anticoagulant medication, you should consult your physician before taking any product containing vitamin K1 or K2.