Category Archives: Genes

Do We All Respond Differently to β-glucan Fibre? Genetic Individuality

Posted on December 27, 2017 by Robert Barrington

Beta-glucan fibre is a soluble fibre found in a number of cereal grains including oats and barley. It has been suggested that β-glucan fibre is responsible for many of the health effects associated with consumption of these cereal grains. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Beta glucans, Cholesterol, Fibre, Genes | Comments Off on Do We All Respond Differently to β-glucan Fibre? Genetic Individuality

Factors Affecting Vitamin D Levels

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Robert Barrington

Vitamin D and its metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D are involved in cell differentiation and cell regulation. This role as a steroid hormone, may explain the association between low levels of vitamin D and a number of Western lifestyle … Continue reading →

Posted in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D / Calcitriol, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, Epigenetics, Genes, Vitamin D | Comments Off on Factors Affecting Vitamin D Levels

More Evidence of Biochemical Individuality: Lycopene

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Robert Barrington

One size fits all nutritional advice is commonplace. Recommendations as to the amount of particular foods we require to obtain certain health outcomes is the norm. Individual biochemistry is nearly never taken into account when making these recommendations. Although government … Continue reading →

Posted in Carotenoids, Genes, Lycopene | Comments Off on More Evidence of Biochemical Individuality: Lycopene

More On Biochemical Individuality and Selenium

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Robert Barrington

A number of studies have looked at the effects of biochemical individuality and selenium metabolism. It has been shown for example that the rate of selenium metabolism to the trimethylselenonium ion (TMSe) varies amongst selenium deficient Bangladeshi women. This suggests … Continue reading →

Posted in Genes, Glutathione peroxidase, Selenium | Comments Off on More On Biochemical Individuality and Selenium

Genetic Variation In Fasting Triglyceride Levels

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Robert Barrington

Genetic differences exist between individuals. We are all roughly the same internally, as we belong to the same species, Homo sapiens. However, within the normal human type small genetic variations alter the way that we respond to our environments. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Apolipoprotein, Apolipoprotein E, Cholesterol, Epigenetics, Genes, Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols | Comments Off on Genetic Variation In Fasting Triglyceride Levels

More on Biochemical Individuality and Weight Gain

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Obesity is a highly complex phenomenon that is not fully understood. The traditional viewpoint, and one that is still enshrined in the mainstream today, is that weight gain is a simple case of eating too much food and performing too … Continue reading →

Posted in Genes, Obesity | Comments Off on More on Biochemical Individuality and Weight Gain

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Epigenetics

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Epigenetics is the study of how environment can influence genetic regulation. The realisation that foods can alter the genetics of an individual is interesting from a nutritional perspective because it explains the associations between certain nutrients and certain diseases. Contributions … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Epigenetics, Eskimo Diet, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish Oils, Genes | Comments Off on Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Epigenetics

Fish Oils: Do They Lower Blood Pressure?

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Fish oils have been shown to offer protection against the development of cardiovascular disease. Fish oils are effective at lowering plasma triglycerides, and this may relate to the ability of the long chain marine oils to stimulate the oxidation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blood Pressure, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Fish, Fish Oils, Genes | Comments Off on Fish Oils: Do They Lower Blood Pressure?

Mice Like Flavonoids Too: An Apple A Day Keeps The Vet Away

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Animal studies are interesting. Many dismiss their relevance to humans because of the differing physiological and biochemical systems of non-human animals. It is true that animals are dissimilar in many ways, and differences between humans and other mammals should not … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthocyanins, Apples, Epicatechin, Flavan-3-ols, Flavones, Flavonoids, Fruit, Genes, Inflammation, Proanthocyanidins, Quercetin | Comments Off on Mice Like Flavonoids Too: An Apple A Day Keeps The Vet Away

Fat Families: Genes or Environment?

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Robert Barrington

The risk of becoming overweight is increased significantly if your family members are also overweight. Studies for example show that the offspring of two lean parents are less likely to be overweight than the offspring of overweight individuals. Of course, … Continue reading →

Posted in Genes, Obesity | Comments Off on Fat Families: Genes or Environment?