Gene diet: can a DNA analysis help dieters lose weight?

Nutrigenetics: personalised diet based on your own genes

The gene diet forms part of the new field of nutrigenetics, which studies the relationship between nutrition, health and genetics. Nutrigenetics aims to develop an understanding of which foodstuffs and nutrients are best suited to bolstering individual health and well-being, based on genetic profiles. It seeks to contribute to the prevention and treatment of medical conditions by providing tailored dietary recommendations.

The basis of the gene diet is a saliva sample. This enables nutritionists to study a person’s metabolic genes and their interaction with each other, with the aim of drawing conclusions on the individual’s particular genetic predisposition. In other words: how much energy the body wins from fat, protein and carbohydrates. This information forms the basis for the 4 meta-types.

Meta-types in the metabolic analysis

Meta-types are four metabolic categories that indicate how the human body processes food. They show how fats, proteins and carbohydrates are used. This information helps to create a personalised diet plan that matches the individual metabolism.

• Meta-type alpha (α) metabolises protein-rich food best. This type should reduce the proportion of carbohydrate-rich and fatty foods in their diet.
• Meta-type beta (β) metabolises fats as well as proteins well. This type should therefore follow a low-carbohydrate diet.
• Meta-type gamma (γ) metabolises carbohydrates particularly well. This type should reduce the proportion of protein- and fat-rich foods they eat.
• Meta-type delta (δ) is equally good at metabolising carbohydrates and fats. This type should reduce the proportion of protein-rich foods they consume.
  

Besides enabling a personalised nutrition plan to be drawn up, the meta-types are also said to enable dieters to discover which kind of exercise works best for them. Each meta-type is allocated a form of exercise – either endurance or speed – that leads to the highest possible calorie consumption.

Does the gene diet really work?

As a topic with many aspects to consider, scientific research is still being conducted on the effectiveness of the gene or DNA diet. Some studies suggest that a personalised diet based on genetic information can be helpful in improving health outcomes, including losing weight. However, the link between genes and nutrition is complex, and the evidence is not clear.

Some experts argue that the genetic information currently available to us is not sufficient to provide precise dietary recommendations. But then again, people often find it easier to change their eating habits if they know that the diet or meal plan has been drawn up for them personally, as is the case with the gene diet.

What science says about the DNA diet

There has been only limited scientific evidence of a direct link between genetics and weight change to date. Genetic tests aiming to help people lose weight focus on a small number of genes and can be very expensive.

Risk of nutrient deficiencies

Failure to follow the gene diet properly or to have the results interpreted by an expert entails the risk of an unbalanced diet and potential nutrient deficiencies. Anyone wishing to try the gene diet should consult a nutritionist. It is generally safe to say that long-lasting and healthy weight loss is rarely achieved through dieting alone. Making sustainable changes to your diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep are the bedrock of a healthy weight and long-term well-being.