Genetic testing offers benefits for children in many important ways. Some increasingly popular reasons to test a child's DNA include to learn about about ancestry and future risk of disease.
One of the most exciting new applications of genetic profiling for children is nutrigenetics, which uses a person 's genetic information to create a diet plan that fits their individual dietary needs.
All children need good nutrition and a balanced diet to stay healthy. Most parents work hard to ensure their kids are getting all the protein, minerals and vitamins they need to grow and develop. Every child has a unique genetic profile, however, and one size does not always fit all. Nutrigenetics can provide a practical guide to your child 's nutrition.
Nutrigenetics is the science of developing a personalized diet based on each individual 's genetic profile. This revolutionary procedure can help parents provide their children with foods that will give them the best chance to live long and healthy lives. Here are some of the ways genetic testing can help parents with individual child nutrition:
Parents are often blamed for overfeeding and under exercising their overweight children. Scientists have discovered, however, that the true cause of obesity often lies in genetics. A study of more than 5,000 twins between the ages of eight and 11 found that only a small variation in obesity between children was due to family environment. Here are some details of the study's findings:
These findings do not doom children with genes for obesity to a lifetime of being overweight. Nutrigenetics can provide a way to "outsmart" a genetic profile for obesity. A 2007 study found that genetically personalized diets were effective in both maintaining proper blood glucose levels and long term weight management. Diets in this study were tailored to subjects' individual gene variations effecting their metabolism and nutrient transport.
The science of nutrigenetics has proven that diet can overcome what our genes had planned for us. The connection between genetics and nutrition, however, may go even further. Scientists are exploring that connection, and beginning to find evidence that over many generations, diet can alter genes themselves.
Our bodies produce an enzyme called amylase that helps us digest starch by converting it to simple sugars. Studies have found that people who live in countries where a great deal of starch is eaten have many extra copies of the gene that makes amylase. Those who live in countries with traditionally low-starch diets have fewer copies of this gene.
Researchers believe that natural selection is responsible for genetic adaptations to variations in diet. If this is the case, perhaps it is possible that diets designed to bring the best health to each genetic profile may lead to healthier genetic profiles in generations to come.
Bio-Medicine. (2008). Groundbreaking study proves personalized diet based on genetics leads to significant advances in long term weight management and blood glucose levels. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from the Bio-Medicine.org Web site: http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-technology-1/Groundbreaking-Study-Proves-Personalized-Diet-Based-on-Genetics-Leads-to-Significant-Advances-in-Long-Term-Weight-Management-and-Blood-Glucose-Levels-586-1/.
Feldman, D. (2007). Gene tests and gene-diet interaction. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from The Diet Channel Web site: http://www.thedietchannel.com/gene-tests-and-gene-diet-interaction.
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