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Sigma Nutrition Radio

#544: Genetic Variants and Response to Nutrients – Martin Kohlmeier, MD PhD

Sigma Nutrition Radio

Danny Lennon

Sigma, Dietetics, Evidencebased, Nutrition, Training, Health & Fitness, Science, Diet, Fitness, Evidence, Bodybuilding, Health

4.8 • 626 Ratings

🗓️ 26 November 2024

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In the realm of nutrition science, individual differences are more profound and impactful than many realize. For decades, we’ve developed dietary recommendations with a “one-size-fits-all” approach, assuming that most people respond similarly to specific nutrients. But Dr. Martin Kohlmeier, a pioneer in precision nutrition, challenges this very notion.

How might an individual’s genetic makeup alter their need for certain nutrients?

With advances in nutrigenetics, we’re beginning to see how personalized nutrition could bridge long-standing gaps in dietary efficacy. Dr. Kohlmeier’s work highlights fascinating examples, from the APOE4 gene’s influence on cholesterol metabolism to variations in folate metabolism that could affect everything from heart health to birth outcomes.

As Dr. Kohlmeier explains, precision nutrition is not simply about adding genetic testing to a wellness regimen. Instead, it requires rethinking nutrition research from the ground up—ensuring studies capture these individual variations and that public health policy moves beyond broad averages.

With genetic testing now more accessible than ever, could commercial pressures and oversimplified testing derail the science before it even gets going? In this episode, we dive deep into the potential and pitfalls of precision nutrition, exploring the future of personalized dietary advice and the road to truly individualized health.

Timestamps

  • [02:33] Introduction of Dr. Martin Kohlmeier and his background
  • [05:10] Rethinking assumptions in nutrition science
  • [07:42] The role of genetic variations in nutrient responses
  • [13:15] Practical examples of genetic impact on nutrition
  • [22:55] Misinformation and commercial misuse in nutrigenetics
  • [29:48] Case studies: cholesterol sensitivity (APOE4) and folate metabolism (MTHFR)
  • [41:03] Public health implications and the need for tailored research
  • [49:27] Future directions and the path forward for precision nutrition

Links

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello and welcome to another episode of Sigma Nutrition Radio. This is episode

0:17.9

544 of the podcast. You are very welcome. My name is Danny Lennon.

0:24.5

And today I'm going to be talking with Dr. Martin Kulmire, who is a qualified medical doctor

0:30.1

and researcher. He has been an investigator for several decades in the area of nutrition

0:36.5

science and a particular focus

0:38.4

on nutritional genetics, which we're going to focus in on today, looking at various genetic

0:43.6

variants, what that might mean for the future of things like precision medicine and precision

0:48.6

nutrition, how there might be a discrepancy between what is actually shown in some of the interesting work

0:55.2

Dr. Kohlmeyer has done versus how sometimes that ends up getting presented either through

1:00.6

commercial endeavors or from people discussing this topic online.

1:04.0

We're going to hopefully give a clear answer of seeing where the real potential for this

1:08.7

is.

1:09.8

What we actually do know and areas where there are

1:12.8

clear implications for a response to a certain nutrient bearing variable based on various

1:20.5

genetic variants. And one of the core ideas that really all of us are going to have some degree

1:26.0

of variance somewhere along the line.

1:28.8

So lots of interesting stuff to discuss here today. If you are listening on Sigma

1:34.9

Nutrition Premium, remember you will be able to get a set of detailed study notes this

1:39.2

episode in the description box here or over on the members area or in your membership dashboard.

1:46.7

If you're listening on the public feed of the podcast and you want to get even more resources

1:51.8

to help you learn from these podcast episodes, then consider checking out what we have on

1:56.6

offer with our Sigma Nutrition Premium subscription.

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