Nutrigenomics - Case study

I often talk about the importance of a personalised approach to nutrition, and sometimes that means looking beyond what appears to be a "perfect" diet on paper.

Recently, I worked with a client who was doing all the right things. Her diet was well balanced, her lifestyle was supportive, and I had already addressed key areas through testing and targeted nutrition. Yet, she was still experiencing worsening eyesight, particularly night blindness, and found herself picking up colds more frequently than expected.

At first glance, there were no obvious gaps. But digging a little deeper, she remembered having a nutrigenetic report done several years ago. At the time, she had been advised to focus on orange vegetables due to a suspected tendency towards low vitamin A status. Like many people, she had taken this on board and regularly included foods rich in beta-carotene.

However, with advances in testing, I suggested running a more comprehensive and up-to-date panel. This revealed something important. Variants in her BCO1 gene were associated with a reduced ability to convert beta-carotene into active vitamin A (retinol). Research suggests that certain BCO1 variants can reduce conversion efficiency by roughly 32–69% depending on the specific combination present, and her results indicated she fell towards the higher end of this range. In simple terms, although she was eating the "right" foods, her body may not have been efficiently converting them into the form it actually needed.

This gave me a much clearer direction. Rather than relying primarily on beta-carotene-rich foods, I supported dietary intake of preformed, biologically active vitamin A, while continuing to work on overall nutrient and lifestyle foundations. Given her relatively low intake of dairy and limited habitual consumption of other concentrated retinol sources, I specifically incorporated foods such as liver, eggs, and fish oils to better align with her individual needs.

Over time, she began to notice improvements. It is worth noting that improvements in vitamin A status typically take time, and other lifestyle factors may also have contributed, but her vision, particularly in low light, became more stable, and her resilience to common infections improved.

This is a great example of how bio-individuality really matters. What works well for one person may not work in the same way for another, even when both are following a healthy, balanced diet. Sometimes, it is not about doing more, but about doing what is right for your body.

It is also worth noting that nutrigenetic testing varies in quality and clinical validation, so results are best interpreted alongside a qualified practitioner rather than in isolation.

As always, the goal is not perfection, but understanding and supporting your unique needs in a sustainable way.

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About Claire

Claire holds a Master's degree in Nutritional Therapy. She is also a NLP practitioner and a certified LifeCode GX Practitioner in Nutrigenomics. She has extended training in SIBO protocols, IBD, Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), and specialised training in liver and gallbladder health.

Having navigated Hashimoto's thyroiditis herself, Claire combines rigorous evidence-based practice with first-hand insight into the nuances clients face with chronic conditions.

Work with Claire