Dec 7, 2017 4 min read

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During half a century of holiday seasons, I’ve watched plenty of people indulge in the usual onslaught of carbohydrate-laden food and beverages.

Yes, I’ll admit to being one of those people. But whenever I eat like that, I’m ready for a handful of Tums, while my buddies are ready for another round at the buffet table.

Why does that happen to me and not to them? Nutrigenomics might have an answer.

I recently spoke with Melissa Pintar, director of nutritional Services at Valleybrook Pilates and Fitness in Peters Township, who told me she was looking for answers when she had a nutrigenomics test conducted.

The results showed she has a genetic predisposition that could lead to calcium deficiency, and that she should be consuming at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day.

“I am a dietitian, and I know that,” Pintar says. “But it wasn’t until I found this out that I actually started really looking back at my diet and realizing I’m not meeting my recommended daily allowance. I should, because if I’m not getting that daily, over time I might be increasing my risk for osteoporosis.”

So she has been doing the math, calculating how many milligrams of calcium she takes in through eating and adding a supplement containing the amount necessary to reach 1,200.

A graduate of Peters Township High School and Youngstown State University who recently became a registered dietitian nutritionist, Melissa works with people who go the nutrigenomics testing route – it costs about $500, including a professional consultation – to help them set courses of action toward better health.

“I look at what you’re already getting in your diet, and if you’re not getting enough, how can we help you meet the RDA for it?” she says.

The test simply involves submitting a saliva sample, which is analyzed for genetic code and related risk factors for health issues such as vitamin deficiencies, high blood pressure, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and lactose intolerance.

Oh, and Achilles tendon injury. Apparently, I have an elevated risk of hurting the band of fibrous tissue connecting my calf muscles and heel bone, based on my “CT variant of the COL5A1 gene.”

That’s according to my own personal nutrition and fitness report from Nutrigenomix, the company that tested my sample, compiled the information and returned everything in about a month to Pintar so that she could walk me through the results.

Here’s some of what I learned:

My genes have bestowed upon me elevated risks for deficiencies in Vitamin D, folate and calcium. It looks like I have a slight lactose intolerance and that I have a propensity to eat between meals. And I have a high tolerance for pain, which has come in handy during visits to the dentist.

I also have an elevated risk of high blood pressure – that’s no surprise, as I’ve been battling that for at least 20 years – and heart attack if I consume too much caffeine. I guess I’ll have to cut out that afternoon cup of coffee … and risk nodding off at my desk.

The report includes guides for what to eat and what not to eat, given my propensities. Chicken liver, for example, helps considerably with the folate levels. But for the sake of not grossing out everyone else in my family, I probably will stick with the next item on the list, soybeans.

Seriously, I’m looking forward to following the report’s suggestions as I find myself qualifying for more and more “senior discounts.” And Pintar is available to help me or anyone else who seeks knowledge that can lead to better health.

As she explains her role:

“I educate them and give them the best recommendation, but it’s always supposed to be up to the patients. It’s their choice. They make an informed decision.” n