Nervous System Report

The nervous system supports the transmission of messages around the mind and body, enabling an individual to respond to their environment. A neurotransmitter is a molecule that carries signals between neurons and across nerve junctions (synapses). Excitatory neurotransmitters increase the likelihood a neuron will fire a signal, while inhibitory neurotransmitters have the opposite effect. In order for us to interact effectively with our environment these must remain in balance.

Symptoms of neurotransmitter imbalance can include: mood imbalances, depression, mania, attention deficit and obsessive compulsive disorders, addictive behaviours, motor control disruption, anger, aggression and restlessness.

It analyses gene variants that impact serotonin (contentment) and melatonin (sleep), dopamine (motivation), noradrenaline and adrenaline (fight or flight); glutamate (the major excitatory neurotransmitter); GABA (the major inhibitory neurotransmitter) which is critical for relaxation; and endoCannabinoids (AEA/ anandamide) which regulate other neurotransmitters. The report provides detailed recommendations for nutritional support to alleviate symptoms and to optimise mental health.

Genes Included

Serotonin: ALDH2, HTR1A, HTR2A, MAOA, MTHFR, SLC18A1 (VMAT), VDR and TPH1 &2
Kynurenic Acid: FKBP5, IFNG and TNF
Melatonin: ASMT and MTNR1B
Dopamine: ALDH2, COMT, DRD2, MAOB, MAOA, MTHFR, OPRM1, SLC6A3 (DAT), TH and VDR
Adrenergic: ADRB2, COMT, DBH, MAOA, PNMT, SLC6A2 (NET) and SLC18A1 (VMAT)
GABA: ALPL, GAD1, GAD2 and GABRA2
Cannabinoid: CNR1, TRPV1 and FAAH

Nutrient Core Report

This test analyses how gene variants can affect food tolerance (and intolerance), appetite control and blood sugar balance, vitamin and mineral needs, detoxification ability, and susceptibility to inflammation and infection.

Nutrient Core will help you understand the fundamental genetic interactions with diet and lifestyle and indicate whether specific functions require further genetic testing. It includes genes that have been shown to affect:

• food response - gluten (coeliac) and lactose intolerance

• caffeine - sensitivity and metabolism

• microbiome - diversity

• vitamin need - vitamins A, B9 (folate), B12 (cobalamin), C, D and K

• blood pressure - sodium-potassium balance & salt sensitive hypertension

• detoxification - glutathione

• metabolism - blood sugar control (insulin), appetite (leptin)

• inflammation - specific (infection response) and systemic

• circadian rhythm - early bird or night owl predisposition

Genes Included:

Food Response: HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1 and LCT
Caffeine: CYP1A2 and ADORA2A
Microbiome: FUT2
Vitamins: BCO1, MTHFR, FUT2, TCN2, SLC23A1, COL1A1, GC, VDR and VKORC1
Blood Pressure: ACE and AGT
Detoxification: GSTM1
Metabolism: FADS1/2, FTO, TCF7L2, PGC1A and LEPR
Inflammation: TNF and IFNG
Circadian Rhythm: CLOCK and PER1

Methylation Report

Methylation is the process of adding methyl groups, consisting of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms, to other molecules. It is involved in almost every metabolic process in the body, occurring billions of times every second in our cells and contributing to numerous crucial functions.

Imbalances in methylation - too little or too much - can increase susceptibility to chronic health conditions such as heart disease, circulatory problems, chronic fatigue, infertility, immune and autoimmune conditions, food and chemical sensitivities, and mood and psychiatric disorders, as well as cancer and premature ageing.

The Methylation test examines genes involved in five sub-cycles - folate, methionine, neurotransmitter, transsulphuration and urea. Genetic results will inform whether someone is likely to be poor or overly efficient at processing cofactors - B6, B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin), methionine, betaine, choline, zinc and magnesium; and inhibitors - chemicals, moulds, drugs, hormones and heavy metals and provide guidance on how to support or bypass bottlenecks or weaknesses.

Genes included:

Folate Cycle: DHFR, FOLH1, MTHFD1, MTHFR, RFC1, SHMT1 and TYMS
Methionine Cycle: AHCY, BHMT, CHDH, FUT2, MAT1A, MTR, MTRR, PEMT and TCN2
Neurotransmitter Cycle: COMT, MAOA, MAOB, MTHFR, PNMT, QDPR and VDR
Transsulphuration Cycle: CBS, CTH, GSS, MUT and SUOX
Urea Cycle: BDKRB2, NOS and SOD

All of the Lifecode Gx reports include:

• personalised, colour coded genotype results

• gene function and SNP impact descriptions

• clinically relevant SNPs

• nutrient and other epigenetic impacts

• links to research evidence

Mental Health Advanced £799

Reports included in the Mental Health Advanced package:

• Nervous System Report

• Nutrient Core Report

• Methylation Report

The nutrient core report gives insight into areas that can influence how we feel. For example the FUT2 gene which influences gut microbiome diversity is relevant to mental health because of the direct connection between our gut and our brain. Other examples include insight on Vitamin D which can impact mood and caffeine which is relevant for dopamine. Also included in this package is the methylation report as methylation (an important biochemical process) has so many interactions with neurotransmitters. For example the making of them is dependent on having enough of a nutrient called methylfolate made as part of the methylation cycle.

More detail….