Unlock the Secret to Optimal Health and Wellness with DNA Analysis
True wellness embraces mind, body, and spirit. Our mission is to enable individuals to foster youthful aging and longevity.
About NucleoHealth
Our Philosophy
As a turnkey solution for our holistic approach toward optimal health, we seek to enhance overall well-being by addressing an individual's life's physical-, mental-, emotional-, and spiritual facets. Analysis of the body’s system biology acknowledges the interplay of various factors that impact health, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of how to achieve and maintain such optimal health. This philosophy supports an integrative strategy to improve physical health, vitality, emotional resilience, clarity of mind, and overall quality of life.
Dr Leunis van Rooyen (PhD)
As a registered Specialist Wellness Counsellor, I specialise in coaching individuals on health and wellness topics such as longevity, youthful aging, and chronic disease risk for a healthier and fulfilling life journey management, intermittent fasting, and long-term wellness strategies. I am passionate about empowering others to take charge of their well-being.
11 Reasons to have your Genes tested to Empower Longevity
Personalised Health Insights and Management
Understanding your genetic makeup can offer personalised insights into your current health risks or future disease risks, enabling proactive measures to mitigate such conditions. Tailored advice on diet, exercise, fitness, nutrition, supplements, and mental health can be based on this genetic profile, often referred to as a "birth specification."
Disease Susceptibility Awareness
The early identification of health risks can bolster strategies to prevent chronic diseases. Recognising genetic predispositions to specific diseases early allows for the pursuit of preventive care and lifestyle adjustments to reduce those risks, to secure advice for therapeutic choices.
Lifestyle Modifications
Understanding your genetic predispositions enables you to make informed lifestyle choices that foster longevity, enhance strength, and manage weaknesses. This knowledge is instrumental in optimising performance and addressing vulnerabilities. Lifestyle modifications involve a range of changes aimed at boosting overall well-being. Such changes typically involve alterations in diet, exercise routines, stress management techniques, social interactions, sleep patterns, and work environments. These adjustments can substantially enhance physical health, mental wellness, and the overall quality of life.
Metabolic Pathway Insights
Genetic testing identifies issues in crucial pathways such as methylation, detoxification, oxidative stress, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and lipid metabolism.
Hormonal Health Guidance
Understanding oestrogen detoxification pathways is vital for cancer prevention and may help prevent the onset of various conditions. Hormone pathways, which are intricate and varied, control many physiological processes. Comprehending these pathways is essential to grasp how hormones regulate functions like metabolism, growth, reproduction, and stress response, ensuring homeostasis. Oestrogen hormones affect the growth, differentiation, and function of different target tissues. Improving oestrogen metabolism is beneficial for women with oestrogen-dominant conditions such as endometriosis, premenstrual syndrome, and uterine fibroids. Testing can reduce the risk of breast cancer and other hormone-related conditions, especially for those on long-term hormone replacement therapies and oral contraceptives.
Pharmacogenetic Testing (Precision Medicine)
To enhance the effectiveness and tolerance of medications, your genetic information can be used to customise prescriptions based on your genetic profile, while taking into account potential side effects or dosage adaptions .
Resilience and Mental Health
Guidance on genetic predispositions can offer insights into mental health, alongside strategies to manage stressors, build resilience, and enhance overall well-being. This includes identifying potential mood disorders, dyslexia, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), stress responses, neurological risks, emotional stability, chronic pain management, and addictive behaviors.
Food Intolerance Confirmation
Genetic testing can confirm food intolerances by identifying genetic markers linked to sensitivity to specific foods, which assists in personalising dietary adjustments. It can verify lactose or gluten intolerance and provide insights into digestive health. Additionally, these tests can reveal an individual's potential taste and palate sensitivities, as well as snacking preferences, by identifying their perception of flavours and sweetness. This information guides personalised dietary preferences and nutritional recommendations, enabling tailored dietary choices for enhanced enjoyment and health.
Family planning
Genetic testing can enhance the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy and optimal birth outcomes by identifying hereditary health conditions. This allows for valuable insights and proactive steps to be taken for the unborn baby's health.
Empowerment and Awareness
Genetic testing enables individuals to manage their health proactively and enhances their understanding of their bodies. Knowledge of genetic predispositions to aging can lead to personalised recommendations that help maintain optimal health and quality of life over time. Comprehending one's genetic profile can provide peace of mind and promote resilience by enabling informed health decisions and proactive health management.
Immune-related Health Functions
DNA testing for autoimmune risks, particularly within the Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) gene family, enhances longevity by pinpointing genetic predispositions. This enables early interventions and tailored health strategies to reduce the risk of autoimmune diseases and enhance overall wellness. Similarly, microbiome dysbiosis and periodontal health risks warrant equal attention.
Options for Your Genetic Testing
The Comprehensive Health Report
This report delivers an in-depth analysis of an individual's healthcare journey, covering biological processes (including genetic pathways), customised lifestyle changes, personal supplement suggestions, lifestyle planning, exercise efficacy, weight management strategies, essential nutrients, and dietary requirements.
General considerations for the body's core health include a comprehensive review of methylation pathways, which are the chemical processes in the body that can influence gene expression and contribute to various biological functions, as well as transculturation, inflammation, lipid metabolism, detoxification mechanisms, susceptibility to gluten intolerance, celiac disease, vitamin utilization, insulin sensitivity, bone strength, salt sensitivity, blood health including iron levels, oxidative stress response, lactose intolerance, caffeine sensitivity, and alcohol metabolism efficiency.
Diet recommendations are designed to tailor dietary and lifestyle advice for weight management, guiding the most suitable diet type (such as low carbohydrate, low fat, or Mediterranean) based on the individual's genetic makeup. Acknowledging that weight loss is not a universal solution, the report highlights the significance of customizing dietary plans to one's unique genetic traits.
Exercise recommendations offer insights into athletic potential, adaptability to training, sports performance including endurance and strength, risk of muscle and ligament injuries, recuperation rates, ideal training schedules aligned with circadian rhythms, factors impacting blood flow and respiration, and the management of energy reserves and fuel availability during physical activities.
The Histamine Panel
The Histamine Panel genetic report offers insights into the body's ability to metabolise histamine and provides recommendations for managing high histamine levels. Histamine acts as a mediator in the neuro-immuno-endocrine system and is produced by cells like basophils and mast cells in response to various triggers. It plays several roles, including acting as a bronchoconstrictor in the lungs, a neurotransmitter in the brain, a regulator of gastric acid secretion, and a key mediator of skin reactions such as hives and allergic responses.
High levels of histamine may lead to artery diseases and conditions like colon polyps, malabsorption, food allergies, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, functional dyspepsia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and hemorrhoids.
Furthermore, elevated histamine levels can damage the glycocalyx, a protective layer on cell surfaces, leading to inflammation and gut dysbiosis. This underscores the need for personalised interventions and a thorough genomic understanding in healthcare. Conditions linked to glycocalyx damage include cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction.
Examining glycocalyx risks due to genetic variations in histamine methylation for severe illnesses underscores the importance of tailored interventions and comprehensive genomic understanding in medical contexts. Some conditions associated with glycocalyx dysfunction or damage include cardiovascular diseases, (atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke), kidney diseases (diabetic nephropathy, acute kidney injury), inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), diabetes mellitus (type 1 & 2 diabetes can affect glycocalyx structure and function, contributing to vascular complications), infection disease including Dengue, Zika, Coronavirus, and malaria.
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) - Autoimmunity Risk
The test offers insights into genetic susceptibility factors for various pathophysiological mechanisms and environmental triggers associated with the adaptive immune response. The Major Histocompatibility Complex region, governed by HLA, can confer a predisposition to autoimmune disorders such as Alopecia Areata, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Coeliac Disease, Graves’ Disease, Hashimoto Thyroiditis, Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy, IgA Nephropathy, Lyme Borreliosis and Tickborne Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Vitiligo from birth.
Brain and Mental Wellbeing Test
This test examines variations in particular genes crucial to essential biological pathways, encompassing serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, inflammation, and methylation, which have been correlated significantly with mental well-being. It offers tailored advice on diet, lifestyle adjustments, and nutraceuticals, along with valuable diagnostic insights. Enhancing cognitive function through nutrigenomics involves personalised diets aligning with genetic profiles, and maximising nutrient intake for optimal brain performance.
Skin Health
Skin analysis is a genetic assessment providing understanding into pivotal aspects affecting skin aging, delivering personalised suggestions for topical treatments, nutraceuticals, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle modifications for enhanced results. Skin health can be evaluated by observing visible signs of ageing such as wrinkles, fine lines, hyper/dyspigmentation, and uneven skin texture.
Identifying genetic predispositions to skin ageing helps adapt recommendations for optimal long-term skin health. Genetic variations impact collagen production, nutrition deficiencies, and antioxidant defense sensitivity, affecting wrinkles and fine lines susceptibility.
Resilience and stress
Resilience provides an understanding of seven molecular aspects of resilience, aiding in the recognition of strengths and challenges while proposing personalised strategies to enhance resilience outcomes and overall health performance. This methodology is crucial for detecting any epigenetic irregularities that could disrupt a patient's balance. Identifying genetic variations linked to alterations in critical biological domains influences comprehensive health and potential predispositions to diseases.
Pharmacogenomics – PGx (Prescription Medicines)
Personalised medicine has the potential to save lives and reduce adverse medication reactions. Pharmacogenomics, a field that examines how genetics affect drug responses, offers a cost-effective solution to the trial-and-error approach of prescribing. Adoption of PGx testing by labs and healthcare professionals can lead to better outcomes, lower costs, and a more personalised patient experience. Effective integration of PGx into clinical practice can make well-supported, accessible data a standard part of care.
Pain Management
Chronic pain is a debilitating issue, necessitating insights into the neurobiology of chronic pain for the development of innovative pain protocols. Pain is an evolutionarily conserved physiological phenomenon essential for survival. Understanding the biological pathways involved in chronic pain susceptibility is crucial for setting realistic expectations for therapeutic approaches. Interventions for chronic pain focus on addressing the root causes through personalised nutraceuticals, exercise regimens, lifestyle modifications, and customised dietary plans. The pain report provides valuable insights for individuals with a history of physical trauma, as well as those experiencing musculoskeletal, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Oestrogen Metabolism and Detoxification Pathway
Significant inter-individual variability has been noted in biological domains involved in the metabolism of carcinogens, steroid hormones, and both phase I and phase II detoxification. Genetic variations in these processes can pinpoint a subset of women and men with increased lifetime exposure to estrogens, estrogen metabolites, and other carcinogens. The identified gene variants suggest potential inefficiencies in estrogen detoxification, warranting further support.
It also benefits those with a family history of breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer, as well as men with prostate cancer histories. Improving estrogen metabolism could lower the risk of breast cancer, particularly for women who are considering or are on hormonal treatments such as oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies (HRTs). Comprehending an individual's genetic differences enables personalised dietary, lifestyle, and hormonal interventions.
Periodontal Health
This genetic test is designed to offer insights into your dental and oral health, including vulnerability to periodontal disease and tooth decay. Oral health is significantly linked to the risk of developing chronic conditions such as cognitive decline, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, and heart disease. Early and precise interventions, using a comprehensive systems-biology approach, are vital for improving overall health outcomes.
Maternal Health
The report provides crucial insights into enhancing health prospects for both mother and child through tailored dietary, supplemental, and lifestyle modifications, considering genetic influences. It is advantageous for women contemplating pregnancy, aiming to improve health throughout pregnancy, or facing difficulties with conception and pregnancy.
Athletic Performance Active Test
Athletic performance aids assist trainers and coaches in developing customised and effective training and nutrition programs for elite athletes, designed to help clients meet their performance and weight management goals. This method integrates aspects of sports and dietary analysis, providing a comprehensive approach for trainers seeking to maximise their clients' fitness capabilities and achieve optimal conditioning.
Metabolic and Systems Biology TestsMetabolic
Dutch Complete Test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones)
Dutch Complete Test offers a thorough evaluation of sex and adrenal hormones along with their metabolites, encompassing the daily free cortisol pattern, organic acids, and melatonin (6-OHMS, and 8-OHdG). Additionally, this test addresses liver hormone detoxification challenges, potentially increasing the risk of developing various cancers and diseases.
Mineral Balance Analysis Test
Hair and/or urine uniquely accumulate divalent cautions due to their rich sulfur amino acid content, providing strong binding sites for various essential and toxic elements. The levels of toxic heavy metals, non-metals, and crucial trace elements in these samples are typically much higher than in other tissues, making them reliable indicators of long-term exposure to these minerals and metals.
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) - Autoimmunity Risk
The test offers insights into genetic susceptibility factors for various pathophysiological mechanisms and environmental triggers associated with the adaptive immune response. The Major Histocompatibility Complex region, governed by HLA, can confer a predisposition to autoimmune disorders such as Alopecia Areata, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Coeliac Disease, Graves’ Disease, Hashimoto Thyroiditis, Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy, IgA Nephropathy, Lyme Borreliosis and Tickborne Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Vitiligo from birth.
Amino-Acid- & Organic Acid Test
Amino- and Organic Acid Tests involve screening metabolomic activity, which combines metabolomic data with insights from metabolic pathways and systems biology across various biological systems, including proteomics and transcriptomics data. This process generates a collection of endogenous metabolites that can be assessed for their role in influencing phenotypes.
Given that amino acids serve as the fundamental constituents of proteins in the body, the biochemical analysis encompasses approximately 5,688 protein (and DNA) sequences and over 5,000 potential biochemical reactions associated with these metabolite entries.
Bacteria Analysis Test (Bacteria, Parasites, or other Abnormal Organisms)
Bacteria Analysis deciphers data from stool specimen tests to shed light on patients' overall gastrointestinal (GI) health, identifying deviations in intestinal health markers or anomalies in microflora. This microflora comprises commensal bacteria typically, neither pathogenic nor beneficial, residing in the GI tract and may be imbalanced.
Disorders in GI health may surface in individuals with genetic predispositions to disease risks. Symptoms and conditions may include autoimmune diseases, systemic illnesses, seizures, GI symptoms, IBD/IBS, inflammation, joint pain, abdominal discomfort, toxic overload, neurological issues, dyslexia, nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal tenderness, loss of appetite, lactose intolerance, nutritional deficiencies, food allergies/sensitivities, calcium loss, decreased bone density, infertility, miscarriage, difficulty swallowing, acid reflux, heartburn, obesity, anorexia, smoking, ageing, and post-appendectomy or tonsillectomy effects. A compromised glycocalyx structure can also increase the risk of gut microbiome dysbiosis (refer to the Histamine test).
Such indicators could lead to damage in the small intestine, with contributing factors like bacterial overgrowth, microflora imbalances (Dysbiosis), pathogenic bacteria, yeast, parasites, malnutrition, chronic maldigestion, consumption of food allergens impacting the bowel's absorptive surfaces (Villi), reduced gastric acid production, exposure to toxic irritants, and the use of antibiotics and NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs).
Science behind testing
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
The current disillusionment felt by many who value longevity often mirrors a broad sentiment of distrust and a longing for change. The recent years, riddled with scandals and betrayals, have diminished trust in both institutions and individuals. A shift towards a system rooted in human-to-human interactions, where trust stems from personal relationships and openness, may offer a path forward. Such a model prioritises empathy, responsibility, and community involvement, paving the way for a deeply revised mission statement dedicated to health and wellness.
Historical Epistemology for Health and Wellness
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
As the nature of historical knowledge, epistemology is an approach to the study of (primarily) scientific knowledge pursued by science historians today. A human existence is aligned to and lived according to personally constructed reality concerning cultural customs, religious beliefs, and socially conditioned interpretations of reality. Hence mind/body approaches and psychosomatic aspects should always be considered.
Ontology – Nature of Reality
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
Background for Genetic Testing
The concept of a web of existence suggests that everything, from the vast cosmos to the smallest microbe, is interconnected. Therefore, counselling should be contextual and not isolated. Wellness counselling focuses on providing care and support rather than seeking a cure. It identifies deficiencies and weaknesses to create a health profile instead of diagnosing pathology, aiming to enhance overall well-being rather than treating specific ailments. This represents a shift from the traditional allopathic model, making wellness counseling a comprehensive practice that utilizes a diverse array of tools and techniques.
Background for Genetic Testing
Genetic Analysis for Optimum Health and Well-being
Background for Genetic Testing
Since Watson and Crick discovered the DNA structure in 1953, genetic testing has evolved significantly. The introduction of high-throughput sequencing technologies and enhanced methods have reduced the costs of nutrigenomic genetic testing by about 90%. In 1959, a notable advancement was made in the study of specific phenotypes with the identification of Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), the most prevalent chromosomal disorder, which was initially described by John Langdon Down in 1866.
The Benefits of Genetic Testing
Genetic Analysis for Optimum Health and Well-being
Genetic Analysis for Optimum Health and Well-being
Genetic testing is the analysis of a person's genetic material to understand its structure, function, variations, and interconnections. This testing enables individuals to make knowledgeable choices regarding their health, family planning, and lifestyle by considering genetic predispositions and ancestry. It encompasses the examination of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis to comprehend genetic characteristics, inherited conditions, evolutionary links, and various biological health risks.
Genetic Analysis for Optimum Health and Well-being
Genetic Analysis for Optimum Health and Well-being
Genetic Analysis for Optimum Health and Well-being
Genetic analysis broadly pertains to health care rather than disease care. It aims to direct individuals on their path to longevity and improved quality of life, as well as achieving their peak health and wellness objectives. Wellness is primarily concerned with proactive treatment, unlike allopathic and homeopathic medicines, which are more focused on diagnosing and managing or suppressing symptoms. Specialist analysis includes areas such as nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, metabolomics, microflora, hormones, and pharmacogenomics (prescription medicine).
The Difference Between Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics
The Difference Between Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics
The Difference Between Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics
Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics are scientific disciplines that explore the interplay between nutrition and genetics. The goal is to understand how an individual's genetic composition can influence their reaction to different elements, including lifestyle, environmental factors, tailored supplements, and dietary habits. This understanding is vital for preventing diseases and provides a deep understanding of the intricate relationship between genetics and nutrition.
Our Services
SPECIALIST COUNSELLING
Counselling can be easily arranged before and after test results. Our specialist counsellor provides support for individuals in comprehending complex genetic information, exploring options, and discussing implications with moral support. Wellness counselling delivers personalised advice for holistic well-being, addressing individual health needs with evidence-based strategies to empower individuals for optimal health results.