Genetic testing experience

[SAmama]

I know that a few moms did genetic testing and supplementation accordingly a while ago. We need to pursue this for our daughter and I was curious about experiences with it. Right now we cannot afford the Yasko test, and we are not in the US anyway, so I am considering 23andme. From the wiki it seems that I would have to figure much of it out myself, which I am willing to do. I would love to hear your experience and recommendations with it. 

[Cynthia Mosher]

I've not done genetic testing. Never heard of it actually. Care to give some basic information about what the benefit in genetic testing would be in treating allergies? I'm quite curious as I have several different allergies in my children.

[SAmama]

I don't know near enough of it. As I understand it there are some genetic mutations that can influence detox pathways in your liver, methylation and I guess a whole bunch of other things, like risk for cancer, heart disease and maybe some autoimmunity (I am totally speaking under correction here). It can influence how you metabolize folate, for instance, or how much of some nutrients you need, how you get rid of food chemicals like salicylates. Also, from what I read in the Guess your genetics thread, it seems that in some cases you can try to heal the gut all you want, but if you do not correct the nutritional needs these mutations cause, it won't work. We have been allergy testing, eliminating, healing the gut, Gapsing it out and still are not seeing any progress. So, it is time for us to consider something more. Dr Amy Yasko does testing and has a protocol she develops then according to the tests. A few years ago there was a lot of discussion on these boards about methylation, detox pathways, MTHFR, genetics, etc. It can get overwhelming very fast, but it is full of good info. 

[Cynthia Mosher]

Thanks for sharing. I;ll have to read up in it and see if it is something we might benefit from. 

[rush2ady]

For the information it provided, the 23andme test was so worth it.  $99 was cheap compared to other testing I was looking at!

I plugged the raw data into genetic genie to give a Yasko-like result.  I'm heterozygous for MTHFR A1298C, which I suspected due to my poor processing of food folate (my folate level was off the chart as "excess" when I had my blood work done).  I've been taking methyl B12 and methylfolate because I suspected the mutation.  I've been feeling better on it, but it was affirming to have the actual test result.  It's something I'll have to keep an eye on for the rest of my life and I'm glad to be aware of this.

The other enlightening result was a homozygous CBS C699T mutation.  This apparently is an upregulator and results in excess end products of sulfur and ammonia.  So for the last 2 weeks I've been off onions, garlic, cruciferous veggies, and other high thiol (sulfur) foods.  I'm trying to follow this list:  http://www.livingnetwork.co.za/chelationnetwork/food/high-sulfur-sulphur-food-list/

I've been on GAPS for a while, have switched over to basically a Paleo diet (I'm gluten and casein sensitive), make sure to get ferments in my diet, and yet still having bloating and digestive issues.  Seriously for the first time in my life, avoiding the sulfur foods is making a real difference.  My stomach was actually flat!  Til a few days ago I thought I'd see how sensitive I am and indulged in a high thiol meal.  I reacted right away and experienced painful bloating which was miserable to endure.  I have to figure out how strict the diet needs to be and what other supplements would be useful.

I also have hetero results in all the MTRR genes.  I'm still figuring out the implications of this, if anything.

I'm soooo glad I did the 23andme.  I was at my wits end and had thought I'd tried everything.  Now I'm able to approach things in a much more informed way.  If you're on the fence, and can afford it, just do it!

My results did take a looooong time to process tho, like over a month, so be prepared for a wait.