tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post9075714190849392526..comments2024-02-27T07:37:46.350-05:00Comments on K-Line: In Which I Go On (and On) About Genetic TestingK.Linehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-60931673958836563042016-09-10T16:14:03.689-04:002016-09-10T16:14:03.689-04:00I heard about that crack down. Weirdly, 23 and me ...I heard about that crack down. Weirdly, 23 and me is pairing with DNAFit (I didn't know this till last week) to provide the kind of feedback that the US companies aren't allowed to release any longer.<br /><br />And seriously - isn't is SO good that you learned that info about your clotting propensity? I worked with a woman who had a similar thing and was advised not to get pregnant. She did get pregnant and then they had no idea of how to deliver the baby - a C section would be a problem from a clotting perspective and a labour might move clots from her legs to her lungs. It was very dramatic but all worked out in the end. She did not have another child.<br /><br />Fascinating that you went for the Alzheimer testing. I have to say that I would not do that, even though there is no specific risk in my family, because I don't know that I would want to deal with the results (if they weren't good). But I applaud you for going there and for taking the information to better yourself in the long run.K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-134407524832354982016-09-05T14:52:44.848-04:002016-09-05T14:52:44.848-04:00I was all set to get the 23andMe (google's) te...I was all set to get the 23andMe (google's) test...when the FDA cracked down on it and so they're not allowed to extrapolate any health data from it. However, Stanford U. has a program where you can upload your raw data free and get all that info separately. Yay freedom?<br /><br />Anyhoo. They did do some genetic tests when I had the PRP procedure on my knee. Mainly to suss out blood clot risk, of which I thought I had little. Wrong. I'm at triple risk for that, ie, I carry one gene (my dad carries both and is at 13x, evidenced by bilateral blood clots in his lungs that came out of nowhere). The Doc said, 'You're that person they're talking about when they tell you to do those ankle circles on planes.' So they put me on omegas to mitigate that factor. Also interesting to know that it's linked to higher stroke and heart attack risk, which is indeed how 90% of my fam goes.<br /><br />Another gene testing for this is also linked to Alzheimers, so I had a moderate risk for this, which I is better than high, but not as good as average. Also good to know. I want to see that one coming. Over the last 3 generations, it has hit one member each time, so about a 20% rate. They recommended pregnenolone & DHEA, neither of which I tolerated well. Side effects like facial hair are just not something I'm prepared to put up with for uncertain benefits.<br /><br />Vit D testing is common here. But I was shocked to learn how genetically predisposed I am to deficits. I mean, growing up in desert country & drinking a lot of milk, I thought I was fine. Nope. I started taking 4,000 IU/day. Barely bumped it into normal range. Then 8,000 IU; Dr said still not good enough. So now I'm on 10,000 IU and have finally achieved optimal levels. Takeaway: Celtic genes trump growing up in constant sunshine.<br /><br />ComfyCurvyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15066188358572221432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-28236319293893035042016-09-04T15:53:03.268-04:002016-09-04T15:53:03.268-04:00Mona - this is an excellent comment and I totally ...Mona - this is an excellent comment and I totally hear you. Science is hard. My ability to interpret it is minimal (and DNAFit is not doing the best job of this - I can tell and I'm not a scientist). But it's raw data (which I am willing to believe is achieved via best practice methods, though I may well be wrong) and I can use that data in many ways going forward. UofT also provides genetic testing services and I'm half-considering doing that testing just to compare results. But that costs @1000 bucks - so I have to wait till I have a bit more disposable income lying around. Thank you for saying this!K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-14428525074070581442016-09-04T13:20:19.949-04:002016-09-04T13:20:19.949-04:00Some things to consider from a scientific perspect...Some things to consider from a scientific perspective (caveat: I am a chemist, not a geneticist or MD): DNA testing is not regulated well in the EU (the USA has CLIA) and one can only hope the DNAfit lab is following best practices. They do not make any statements on their website and their scientists' credentials do not impress me. This means the results you get may not even be what they say they are. Do they include error margins in the results they sent you? Discuss the accuracy? This is not even taking into account that diseases/propensities of genes are linked to probabilities not definite facts. <br /><br />As for using/interpreting the results: Science is hard, really hard. If there were a clean connection, it would be used as a diagnostic tool (e.g. some breast cancers). But even that is tied to privacy of genetic data. Example: I worked in bone research and learned from others how hard it is to study a disease because many affected people refused to be DNA tested, so it will take a lot of effort to get significant data. Even osteoporosis and arthritis (hugely common) are not well understood on a personal genetic level - most is studied in sheep and male mice, not exactly close to the main affected group - menopausal women. This is not even taking into account race differences and epigenetics. There is much more to it than DNA and genes. The equipment to read the genome is comparatively cheap and that lends itself to quackery.<br /><br />I agree, the possibilities of testing are exciting, but this is like buying a dictionary and a printer and expecting to get a great novel out of it. Or better: you can read anything into it and it is closer to a horoscope than science. <br /><br />MonaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-57349456063460495532016-09-03T16:30:59.042-04:002016-09-03T16:30:59.042-04:00Roni: Thank you so much for those topics to consid...Roni: Thank you so much for those topics to consider! I haven't heard about these things so I will be sure to look them up. It does show the nuclear code and the alleles that apply to you. It doesn't go into epigenetics in the report. But there's a really good blog that talks about the polymorphisms and what they imply. I'm amazed that, with certain variations, you can be healthier having the "bad alleles", but living a "good" lifestyle than the other way round. <br /><br />Sawy your email about the needles/pattern. Keep going! Seriously, there are few things as neuroplastic as a brain on knitting!K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-29216195032028233222016-09-03T15:52:03.825-04:002016-09-03T15:52:03.825-04:00Okay this is just mindblowing. I didn't know i...Okay this is just mindblowing. I didn't know it existed, and when I checked the link it led to a site in Hebrew, and apparently I know some of the people involved in Israel ( I was a triathlete so I know many dietitians etc).<br /><br />I couldn't find what it actually shows - the nuclear code? (ie ATCG)? For the alleles? What about epigenetics?<br /><br />Regarding your question about stress and anxiety - as far as I know, just as in many fields in genetics, there are some variations associated with some syndromes (like post partum depression) but with no current clinical applications. <br /><br />I don't remember - have you read about psycho-neuro-immunology? It's a growing field studying the relationship between psychological variables and immune response from a neurological point of view. You may be also interested in "allostatic load". Roni Arbelhttp://wardrobehistology.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-5603086440458864002016-09-03T15:47:00.718-04:002016-09-03T15:47:00.718-04:00OK - I want to know more about what they mean re: ...OK - I want to know more about what they mean re: soft tissue. It's one of the things I'm going to email them about. And I agree with you about the booze - the report says: Moderation is particularly advised because the alcohol is<br />rapidly metabolised to the toxic intermediate acetaldehyde which is also associated with hangover<br />symptoms. <br /><br />I don't think my issue has to do with my overall ability to metabolize it.<br /><br />FWIW, I drink a reasonable amount (a couple of glasses of wine a day is not abnormal) and I've never had an issue with a hangover. I can tell when I've had enough. It's like the booze stops tasting good. And then I stop drinking it. Plus, I always eat when drinking and I make sure not to get dehydrated. So I think this might be a relative thing.K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-42291561017192578622016-09-03T15:34:32.886-04:002016-09-03T15:34:32.886-04:00That's an interesting idea. Maybe in light of ...That's an interesting idea. Maybe in light of this info, I will get that test. But I'm still just mulling over the options and what this means.K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-81961823060568581942016-09-03T15:13:47.678-04:002016-09-03T15:13:47.678-04:00fascinating...!
you could get a bone density scan ...fascinating...!<br />you could get a bone density scan if you wanted to. I had one and I do have some bone loss, but I don't have osteoporosis (yet). <br />PS I'm a lot older than you. SewTypicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734309915613761051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-32842745936265355002016-09-03T15:03:37.261-04:002016-09-03T15:03:37.261-04:00What do they mean by soft tissue? Perhaps the soft...What do they mean by soft tissue? Perhaps the soft tissue damage propensity could be offset by weight training? I doubt there's adequate research to confirm or refute my hypothesis. I'd love to see studies that start with people whose genetic predispositions are the same, apply specific exercise regimes to counter predispositions, and gauge results a year later. In the meantime, I volunteer you as a data point of one. :) My own sporadic exercise centers on muscle building floorwork and free weights. I add stretching when I feel the need to meditate. Straight up meditation makes me fall asleep, lol.<br /><br />Bummer about the alcohol and caffeine sensitivity, K! However, I don't understand why quickly metabolizing alcohol would lead to hangovers. Wouldn't that mean you don't get hangovers? For example, if you could metabolize a glass of wine in 30 seconds, it'd be out of your bloodstream a minute later, right? I'm petite and female and slowly building up my alcohol tolerance so I can go wine tasting with friends. I'm learning what I can so I won't be the killjoy who stops drinking an hour after starting. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-25091330740195336692016-09-03T12:56:56.019-04:002016-09-03T12:56:56.019-04:00It's totally fascinating! I want to test for E...It's totally fascinating! I want to test for EVERYTHING (mwhahaha). Of course, I realize that testing for everything is on the one hand dangerous, and on the other hand, likely impossible. But I do think that this degree of information is SO helpful in the real world. I will keep you posted. I already know how I'm going to tackle things diet-wise (except for the salt thing) based on this testing (though my hormone panel may shed more light on how I should proceed to lose and then maintain weight during this time frame). I will probably start doing some sort of moderate weight-training. But, by and large, the way I exercise is appropriate for me.K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-10749259023395025552016-09-03T12:17:34.690-04:002016-09-03T12:17:34.690-04:00I'm so fascinated!!! I think you SHOULD do the...I'm so fascinated!!! I think you SHOULD do the consultation, because you are obviously invested and fascinated by all this, so why back out of the last phase? I hope you write more about what your doc and naturopath have to say about their interpretations. Gillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02306054198401843077noreply@blogger.com