EpigeneticsChanging Your Own

Genetic Destiny

Understanding One’s Genetic Strengths and Weaknesses Empowers One to use Epigenetic Strategies to Prevent

Disease and Realise Genetic Potential.

“Relying on the wisdom and holistic approach of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Natural Therapies, and a 6000 year unbroken history of Herbal Medicine, I offer a healing system that focuses on the cause of disease, not merely the suppression of symptoms.

My goal is to discover the individuality of your health problem, treat its cause, and stimulate your body to heal itself as soon as possible”.

FELLOW •AustralianAcupuncture&ChineseMedicineAssociationLtd

MEMBER •AcupunctureEthicsandStandardsOrganisation(A.E.S.O.) •FellowAustralianAcupunctureAssociation(A.Acu.A.) •NationalHerbalistAssociationofAustralia(N.H.A.A.) •AustralianTraditional-MedicineSociety(A.T.M.S.)

Personal HistoryDennisVanderKraatswasborninToronto,Canadaandgrewupwithapassionfordistancerunning.HerepresentedCanadanationallyandinternationallyonanumberofoccasions,includingthe1979WorldCrossCountryChampionships.HissuccessinathleticsearnedhimascholarshipfromtheprestigiousUniversityofNotreDame(USA).

AfterarrivinginAustralia,DennisandhiswifeMarionsuccessfullyoperatedahealthfoodstoreandthisstimulatedDennis’sdesiretofurtherhisknowledgeofnaturaltherapies.

Aftereightmoreyearsofstudy,DennisgraduatedfromtheMelbourneCollegeofNaturopathyandHomoeopathy, theNanjingCollegeofAcupuncture,andthe Australian Acupuncture College (VictorianUniversity of Technology) tobecomeaqualifiedNaturopathandAcupuncturist.

Dennis is now in private practice, and the director of Vander Kraats &Associates,evidencebasednaturalmedicineinWesternAustralia.

Dennis Vander KraatsB.A.,N.D.,Dip.Acup.,D.B.M.

Copyright © 2012 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part withoutpermission isprohibited.Ifyouare interested inpurchasingadditionalcopiesof thisbookletpleasewriteortelephone:VanderKraats&Associates291WarwickRoad,GreenwoodWA6024Phone:(08)94477868Web:www.vdk.com.au

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Epigenetics: The New Science

Inrecentyearstherehasbeenarevolutionaryparadigmshiftin

theunderstandingofthefunctionandroleofgeneticsonhuman

development.Theemergingnewscienceofepigeneticshasrevealed

theprofoundinfluence,previouslyunderstated,thattheenvironment

hasonwhoweare.Andmoreimportantly,whowecanbe.

Disclaimer: IMPORTANT – The information contained in this booklet is intended foreducational purposes only. It is not provided to diagnose, prescribe or treat any disease,illnessorinjury.Theauthor,publisher,printeranddistributorsacceptnoresponsibilityforsuchuse.Thoseindividualssufferinganydiseaseorpersistentsymptomsshouldconsultwiththeirphysician.Itishopedthatthisinformationwillempoweryoutomakemoreinformeddecisionsregardingyourhealthandwellbeing.

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Gene SwitchesThenotionthatourDNAcode is thesoledetermining factorofourphysicaldestiny has been superseded by the construct thatmany of our genes haveswitches.Thesegene“switches”comeintheformof“onandoffswitches”aswell as “dimmer switches”. These switchesareactivatedby the interactionbetweenthegenesandtheenvironment.

Amoretechnicaldefinitionofepigenetics is thedifferingexpressionsof thegenescausedbyenvironmentalinfluenceswithoutactuallychangingtheDNAcode.Imaginethatthegenesarelikethemembersofanorchestraandthattheepigeneticsinfluenceisthe“conductor”.Thegenesarecapableofplayingmany“symphonies”dependingonthedirectionsoftheconductor.

The EnvironmentThe term “environment” has a much broader meaning in this context.Environmentalinfluenceonthegenescanbeintheformoffood,drugs,herbs,chemicals,radiation,emotions,andlifestyle.Inonesense,ourgeneticheritageispartofourenvironment.Sciencehasshownthatepigeneticinfluencescanbetransgenerational.Inotherwords,

changes to gene activity due to our epigenetic influences in our parent’senvironmentcanbepassedontothechildren.

NutrigenomicsNutrigenomicsmorespecificallydescribesstudyoftheinteractionbetweenourgenesandnutritionalsubstancesandlifestyle.

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Pharmagenomics... Transgenerational Side Effects? Pharmagenomicsreferstothestudyoftheepigeneticchangestogenesasasideeffectofpharmaceuticaldrugs.Theunderstandingthatdrugscouldhaveepigeneneticsideeffectsisfrightening.Drugstrialsinthepasthavestudiedsideeffectwhilstpatientsaretakingthedrugs.Longtermstudiesofepigeneticside effects of drugs (if undertaken!), including transgenerational studies,couldforcepeopletoreassesstherisksandbenefitsofmedication.Imaginetheimplicationsifone’schildrensufferfromdruginducedepigeneticillnessesduetotheparents’drugtherapyprotocol?

Striving For Your Genetic Potential Technology is now available to test anumberof importantgeneswhichhaveaprofoundinfluenceonone’shealth.Unlikesomegenetictestingwhichfocusesongene-diseasecausation(forexampletestingforagenewhichrelates toaspecificdiseasesuchasbreast cancer), thegeneswe testrelate to physiological processes such asimmunity, inflammation, fatmetabolism,cardiovascularprocesses,bonehealth,andtheabilitytodetoxandpreventoxidativestress. Thesephysiologicalprocessescanlead to disease, but more importantlyrespondtoepigenenticinfluenceswhichcanprevent disease and enhance well-being. The good news is that epigenetic alterations of gene behavior are generally reversible.

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Realise Your Strengths and Enhance Your Weaknesses With Personalised Genetic Profiling Genetictestingisaccurate,safe,affordable,andvirtuallynon-invasive.Apainfreeswabistakenfromtheinsidethemouth,inthepouchbetweentheteethandcheek,whereasampleofthebody’scellsaretaken.Fortygenesarethentestedandanextensivereportisprovidedwithanalysisofone’sownuniquegeneticprofileofstrengthsandweaknesses.Asmentioned,geneexpressionandsubsequenthealthimprovementordeteriorationareinfluencedbyepigeneticinfluences,buttheindividual’sDNAcodeitselfneverchanges.Therefore,onlyonetestisrequired(forthegenestested)duringone’slifetime.

Anonymity Assured Since this type of gene testing measures physiological processes and notdiseases,thisinformationcannotbeusedtodiscriminateintheworkplaceoraffectinsurancerisks.

Anonymityisassuredsincenopersonalinformation,suchasnames,addresses,etcarelistedonthereport. AnIDnumber,notanameisassignedtoeachindividualprofileandonlyyourpractitionerandthelabwillknowtheidentityoftheresults.

Liberation, Not Determination When we understand the power we have to influence our geneexpression, the old attitudes, thatwe are chained to and doomed to our genetic heritage are superseded with empowerment and liberation. Ourpersonalised unique genetic profilejustifiablymotivatesustotakemoreresponsibilityinthechoiceswemakewhichaffectourhealth.

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Truly Holistic and Preventative Medicine By learning our genetic weaknesses inthe processes that lead to disease,we canintervene and take a truly preventativemedicinerolebeforethediseasemanifests.

Genetictestingallowsustotreatnotjustsymptoms, but systems. Most symptomsthatoneexperiencesaremerely“thetipoftheiceberg”. Theholisticapproachdelvesbeneath the surface to treat the systemsthatcausethesymptoms.

Laser Target Your Treatment Armedwiththeprofoundinformationthatgenetictestingprovides,aspecifictreatment protocol based on the individuality of your test results will beformulatedandimplemented.

Nolongerwilltherebeguessingaboutwhichsupplementswillsuityouandnolongerwillyouhavetohaveashoppingbagfullofpills.A“genesmart”dietisatrulyhealthenhancingdiet.

Theweaknessesthataremeasuredingenesarereferredtovariants.Thegeneticvariants thatare testedaregroupedaccording to theirprimarybiochemicaleffecttheyhaveonthebody.

Fortygenesaretestedandyouwillreceiveacomprehensiveanalysisinwrittenform.

What Do I Do Next?OnceyouhavecompletedandsignedtheDNAconsentform,we’lltakeanon-invasiveDNAsamplethatwillbetestedinaNATAaccreditedlaboratory.Aswab is gently taken from the inside of yourmouth, between your jaw andcheek.Thereisnoneedforbloodandyouwillexperiencenopain.Thecellsthataretakenwillprovideaprofoundinsightintoyourgeneticprofilebasedon40mostpotentgenesinrelationto:

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The Six Systems That Are Tested

1.InflammationandImmuneSystem,

a. Pro-inflammatoryproteins

b. Acutephaseinflammation

2.CellDefence,

a. Cellularanti-oxidantdefence

b. Detoxification(Phase1and2liverdetox)

3.CardiovascularHealth,

a. Homocysteinemetabolism

b Bloodpressureregulation

c.Bloodcoagulation

4.FatMetabolism,

a. Fatmetabolism

b. Energymetabolismandthermogenesis

c. Cholesterolregulation

d. Leptininsulinsignallingpathway

5. Taste,and

6. BoneHealth.

1. Inflammation and Immune System Genes That Affect Your Inflammation and Immune ResponseInflammation is our body’s protectivemechanismwhich protects us againstinfectionsandtheeffectsofinjury.Undernormalcircumstancesinflammationhelps our body to heal itself. For example, if you strain a muscle by over-exertingyourselfduringsports,theresultinginflammation,characterisedbyswelling,painandstiffness,ispartofthehealingprocesstoremovedamaged

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muscle cells andhelp thehealingprocess by replacing those cellswithnewcells. Normally the inflammation decreases within a few days and healing/recoveryprocessbegins.

Chronic inflammation,ontheotherhand, is totallydifferent, inthat itdoesnot go away quickly, and in fact some people finish up with permanentstiffness,swellingorpain.Extensivescientificresearchhasfoundthatchronicinflammation is the fundamental cause of most chronic diseases, such ascoronaryheartdisease,cancer,diabetesandarthritistonameafew,andaffectsmillionsofpeopleworld-wide.

Chronic inflammation istheconsequenceofan injurytothebody,combinedwithgeneticvariantsandnutrientdeficienciesorimbalances.

Inaddition,webecomemoresusceptibletoinflammationasweage,butthiscanbereversiblegiventherightinterventions.

2. Cell Defense and Detoxification Genes That Affect Your Nutrition and Detoxification (Cell Defense)It is now widely accepted in the medical and scientific communities thatoxidative stress of cells in our bodies by ’FreeRadicals’ is one of themajorcausesofmanydegenerativediseases,suchascardiovasculardisease,diabetes,cancerandalsohasanadverseeffectontheageingprocess.

WHAT ARE FREE RADICALS*?

Free Radicals are damaged, very unstable and highly reactive molecules which are capable of destroying entire cells and reprogramming DNA.

Free Radicals can actually fast forward the ageing process.

Sources of Free Radicals include:

• Alcohol and/or coffee,

• Smoking and/or passive smoke,

• Sunlight and/or UV rays,

• Deep fried and/or burnt food,

• Strenuous exercise and/or workouts,

• Stress,

• Pollution, chemicals and/or toxins,

• Medications, and

• Food preservatives and/or additives.

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The effects of Free Radical damage are not immediate and can take several years to become evident.

Our overall health and well-being are influenced, not only by the nutrient intake through our diet, but also by our body’s ability to remove waste products and toxins, referred to as ’xenobiotics’ from our body by a process known as detoxification.

*The correct scientific term for free radicals is Reactive Oxygen Specific (ROS) or Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS)

Examples of Xenobiotics Include:

• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) produced by barbecuing, frying or char grilling meat,

• Caffeine from coffee and cola drinks,

• Alcohol,

• Nicotine from tobacco smoke, and

• Chemicals such as benzene.

These waste products and toxins must be efficiently removed from our bodies otherwise they can cause significant harm. Xenobiotics are broken down and flushed from of our bodies in a two-stage detoxification process. This process occurs primarily through the liver with secondary organs also contributing such as, the kidneys, lungs, colon and skin.

The two phases of the detoxification process are:

Phase 1 — The xenobiotics are metabolised into free radicals

As mentioned above, Free radicals cause oxidative stress which can damage the cells in our bodies.

Therefore, if this phase is over-active, the over-production of free radicals can have adverse effects on our health.

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Phase II — The free radicals are neutralised and made water-soluble so that they can be easily removed from the body.

If the enzymes associated with this phase are not functioning properly, then the body’s ability to remove these xenobiotics is diminished which results in an increased accumulation of toxins in the body and hence can result in many health problems, such as:

• Fatigue,

• Headaches,

• Poor concentration,

• Chronic fatigue,

• Inflammation,

• Allergic reactions,

• Muscle and joint pain, and

• Poor sleep patterns to name a few.

3. Genes That Affect Your Cardiovascular Heath & Fitness

Ahealthycardiovascularsystemwithahealthyheartpumpingbloodthroughwideopen,uncloggedarteriesandelasticarterialwalls,isvitalfordeliveringoxygen,energyandnutrientstoallthebody’scells,tissuesandorgans,aswellasremovingwasteproducts.

UnfortunatelycardiovasculardiseaseisthenumberonecauseofdeathinAustralia,causingnearly34%ofalldeathsin2006.

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Therearefivemajorriskfactorsandfiveminorriskfactorsforcardiovascular disease.

The Five Major Risk Factors Are:

1.Oxidizedfat

2.Cigarettesmoking,

3.Hypertension(highbloodpressure),

4.Diabetes,and

5.Genetichistoryofheartdiseasebefore55.

The Five Minor Risk Factors Are:

1.Obesity,

2.Physicalinactivity,

3.Stress,

4.Specificinfections,and

5. Gout.

Foodisdirectlyinvolvedinmanyoftheriskfactorsforcardiovasculardisease,andsinceourgeneticmakeupisoneofthemajorriskfactors,geneticprofilingcanbeapowerfultoolformaximisingfitnessandhealthpotential.

Thehealthofourcardiovascularsystemisinfluencedbyseveralfactors,includingtwochemicalprocessesinthebodywhichcancausenarrowingofthearteries,hardeningofthearterialwallsandreducedbloodflow,namely:

•‘Methylation’andtheformationofhomocysteine,and

•‘Oxidativestress’andtheformationofFreeRadicals.

Forexample,highlevelsofFreeRadicalsinourbodiescandamageourarteries,ourDNAandthegenesthatkeepthevariouscellsinourbodiesfunctioningproperly.

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In addition, high homocysteine blood levels can cause:

•Bloodtobecome‘stickier’andclotscanformmoreeasily,

•Elasticfibreinarterialwallstobreakdowncausingthearteriestobegintostiffenandloseflexibility,

•NitricOxidelevel,whichiscriticaltoarterialwallflexibility,tobelowered

Three other processes which influence the health of our cardiovascular system are:

•Inflammationwithinthearterialwalls,

•BloodCoagulation,

•AdeficiencyofNitricOxidesuppliedtothearterialwalls(Seebelow).

Cardiovascular Fitness

Thekeytoachievingthebestcardiovascularfitnessoutcomesistoundertakeregularphysicalactivityinthethreeareasof:Endurance,Strength,andFlexibility.Thepurposeoftheendurancecomponentistoimprovecardiovascularfitnessandourcirculatorysystemsothatnutrientscanbeeffectivelydeliveredtoallthebody’stissues,andwasteproductsandtoxinscanbequicklyeliminated.

Ourgeneshaveamajoraffectonavarietyofprocessesconnectedwithphysicalactivity,suchasourcardiovascularfitness,strength,flexibility,enduranceandoverallperformance.

4. Fat Metabolism and Insulin Sensitivity - Genes That Affect Your Body Fat Metabolism (Lipid Metabolism and Insulin Sensitivity)

Scientificresearchhasshownthatthetendencytogainweight—andnotgetridofit—isnotonlyaboutourlifestylechoicesbutalsoembeddedinourgenes.Comparedwiththegeneralpopulation,theriskofbecomingobeseistwotothreetimeshigherforanindividualwithafamilyhistoryofobesity.

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Obesityismorethanunhealthy—itislifethreatening.ObesityalsoincreasestheriskofType-2diabetes,heartdisease,stroke,certainformsofcancer,jointproblemsandanumberofbreathingdisorders.

Havingageneticpredispositiontopoorbodyfatmetabolismcanexplainatendencytogainweight.However,wecan’tlosesightofthefactthatpartoftheexplanationisbadlifestylechoicesinthat:weover-eatandunder-exercise.

ResearchhasshownthattheinflammatorysubstanceTNF-α which is also producedinfattissuehasbeenspecificallyassociatedwithType2Diabetesandinsulinresistanceaswellasobesity.

5. Taste Receptors. Genes That Affect Your Taste and Appetite (Satiety)

Ourdietaryhabitsdependonacomplexcombinationofsocial,environmentandgeneticfactors.Therefore,manyotherfactors,apartfromourperceptionoftasteandflavours,caninfluenceourchoiceoffoodssuchasage,education,metabolicrate,hormonelevelsandsocialstatus.Foodpreferencesarealsostronglyinfluencedbyculturalbackground,peergroupinteractions,learnedexperiencesandsimplyeatingforpleasure.

Despitethiscomplexcombinationoffactors,scientificresearchhasshownthatinheritedgeneticvariationshaveasignificantinfluenceonourtasteperceptions,whichcanpotentiallyleadtodifferentdietaryhabitsandtherebyinfluencenutritionrelateddiseases.

Humansshowsignificantdifferencesintheirsensitivitytobitterandsweetstimuli.

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Themostprominentexampleofthisvariationintasteistheperceptionofthebittercompoundphenylthiocarbamide(PTC).

Somepeople,classifiedas‘PTCtasters’cantasteminuteconcentrationsofthissubstancewhereasothers,classifiedas‘PTCnon-tasters’,arevirtuallytasteblindtothebittertasteofPTCevenatconcentrationsseveralhundredtimes higher.

Thereisverystrongmolecular,geneticandfunctionalevidencetosupporttheviewthatvariationsintheTASR38genedefinethePTCtasterstatus,andhence,ourpreferenceforfood.PTCtastersaremoreprevalent.

Approximately30%ofEuropeansare‘PTCnon-tasters’andtheremaining70%‘PTCtasters’.

The‘PTCtaster’statushasbeenassociatedwithvariousdifferencesinfoodpreferences,notonlyforvegetablesandfruits,butalsofats,alcoholandsweeteners.Forexample,‘PTCtasters’tendtofindthatcertaincruciferousvegetables,suchasbroccoli,brusselsproutsandcabbagetasteverybitterandtendtoavoideatingthem,whereasthe‘PTCnontasters’don’tnoticetheperceivedbittertaste.

OneverygoodexampleoftheeffectofthePTCtasterstatusisascientificstudythatlookedatthebehavioraloutcomesofchildrenbasedontheirgeneticsensitivitytobittertasteperception16.Childrenhaveheightenedpreferencesforsweettastingfoodandagreaterrejectionofbittertastingfoods.Therefore,ifthechildisa‘PTCtaster’andthemotherisa‘PTCnon-taster’thenthechildismorelikelytorejecteatingvegetables,suchasbroccoliinpreferenceforsweettastingfoodsandthiscanleadtodifferentbehavioraloutcomesatmealtimes.

Leptin,mentionedintheprevioussection,alsoinfluencesourappetiteandoursatiety(afeelingofbeingfullysatisfiedaftereating)bysendingsignalstothebrainthatourbodyhashadenoughtoeat.Therefore,circulatingLeptinlevelsgivethebraininputwithregardtoenergystoragesoitcanregulateappetiteandmetabolism.

However,somepeoplepossessavariationfortheLeptingenewhichleadstoaconstantdesireforfoodandthiscanresultinincreasedweight.AlthoughLeptinisacirculatingsignalthatreducesappetite,ingeneral,obesepeople

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haveanunusuallyhighcirculatingconcentrationofLeptin.ThesepeoplearesaidtoberesistanttotheeffectsofLeptin.i.e.LeptinResistantinmuchthesamewaythatpeoplewithType2diabetesareresistanttotheeffectsofinsulin.ThehighsustainedconcentrationsofLeptinfromtheenlargedadiposestoresresultinLeptindesensitization.

ThepathwayofLeptincontrolinobesepeoplemightbeflawedatsomepointsothebodydoesn’tadequatelyreceivethesatietyfeelingsubsequenttoeating.

Peoplewhohavevariants,forthesegenesareknownasthe‘supertasters’,aregeneticallyverysensitivetobittertastes,notonlyfromvegetables,suchasbroccoli,butmayalsobeadversetothetastefromsmokingandalcohol.

Peoplewhoarereferredtoas‘tasters’,andthosewhoareknownas‘nontasters’,thatis,theyaretheleastsensitivetotheabovetastes.However,aswematurewecanover-rideourgeneticpreferencesfortastethroughcomplexsocialandenvironmentalinteractions,suchaspeergrouppressure,andcan‘acquire’certaintastesthatwemaynaturallyinitiallydislike.

Ifpeoplehave‘lessbeneficial’or‘leastbeneficial’variantsforthe2LeptinReceptorgenes,theymayhaveanincreasedappetitecomparedwiththosewhohavethereferencevariant,especiallywhenoverweight.

6. Bone Health - Genes That Affect Your Bone Health

Thestateofourbonesandhenceourskeletalstructureis‘dynamicandeverchanging’,asbonesarelivingtissueandareinacontinualprocessofbreakdown(resorption)andre-building(growth).

Therearethreemajorelementsthatinfluencethegrowthandhencethestrengthofourbones:

•Thegrowthofcollagenfibresthatprovidetheelasticityandtheresilience,

•Theconcentrationofmineraldeposits,suchasCalciumandVitaminDaroundthecollagenfibreswhichmakethebonehardandstrong,

•Thepresenceofanyinflammationwhichcanpromotebonebreakdownandloss.

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Severalgenevariationshavebeenidentifiedthataffectthegrowthandhealthofourbones,suchasCol1A1,VDR,IL6andTNF-α.Fortunately,anyadversevariationsinthesegenescanbeinfluencedbygoodlifestylechoices,suchasphysicalexerciseandhealthynutrition,specificallyoptimallevelsofCalciumand Vitamin D.

Conversely,poorlifestylechoicescanincreasetheriskofbonediseases,especiallyosteoporosis,forpeoplewithcertaingeneticvariations.

Thesepoorlifestylechoicesinclude:

•Poordiet,

•Asedentarylifestyle,

•Smoking,

•Alcoholabuse,

•Caffeine,and

•Longtermuseofcertainmedications.

Even though a gene is listed in one group it canhaveamajorinfluenceinothergroupsaswell.Forexample,theprimaryinfluenceofthegene,Interleukin-6(IL-6)isinGroup1forinflammationandrecovery,however,italsohasamajorinfluenceinothergroups,suchascardiovascularhealth,fatmetabolismandbonehealth.

Themajorpurposeofthesegroupsistohelpidentifythefocusarea(s)foryourfitness,healthandnutritioninterventions.Ahighnumberof‘less’beneficialor‘least’beneficialvariantsinagroupisa‘CalltoAction’,thereforeyourfirstfocusgroupforlookingatexercise,nutritionandlifestyleinterventionsisthegroupwiththehighestpercentageofthesevariants.

Are you interested in discussing how you

can change your genetic destiny?

Giveusacallorcheckoutourwebsitetobook yourappointmentwithDennisVanderKraats.

ph (08)94477868web www.vdk.com.au