COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 201
A personalized approach that emphasizes whole foods and
carefully selected, bioavailable nutrients offers the most
sustainable support for healthy methylation.
Going Deeper with Epigenetics: Purpose, Providers, &
Finding Meaning in the Chaos of SNPs
Introduction
Epigenetics4the study of how behaviors and environment can
cause changes that affect the way genes work4has
revolutionized our understanding of human biology [1].
Unlike genetic mutations that change DNA sequences, epigenetic
changes affect how genes are expressed without altering the
underlying DNA sequence. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms
(SNPs), the most common type of genetic variation, occur when a
single nucleotide (A, T, G, or C) in the genome is altered, and they
can have profound impacts on health, disease susceptibility, and
response to treatments [2].
This guide explores the landscape of genetic testing providers,
tools for interpreting your genetic data, and the most significant
SNPs that functional medicine practitioners focus on. With this
knowledge, you can better understand your genetic
predispositions and make more informed health decisions [3].
Genetic Testing Providers
23andMe
Overview: One of the pioneers in direct-to-consumer genetic
testing, 23andMe offers ancestry information and health-related
genetic reports [4].
23andMe Controversies
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