Evidence base
What is established — and what is not
This field is heavily over-promised. Anyone presenting these analyses should know the limits — with professionals, candour is an advantage, not a risk.
Well established
Lifestyle changes epigenetic markers
Randomised pilot trial over 8 weeks: epigenetic age on average 3.2 years lower than in the control group (Fitzgerald et al., Aging 2021) — DNA methylation, not microRNA.
Inflammation as an ageing axis
"Inflammaging" is an established concept; miR-21 is described as a circulating inflammation marker (Olivieri et al. 2012).
microRNAs are stable in dried blood
microRNAs are considered more robust than mRNA and remain comparatively stable in dried samples — the sampling route itself is sound.
The established standard for biological age
That is methylation clocks: Horvath, PhenoAge, GrimAge and DunedinPACE. DunedinPACE shows high test-retest reliability and associations with morbidity and mortality.
Preliminary
microRNA age clock
The published model (n = 539) explains about 5 % of the variance in age, mean absolute error 10.4 years; two of the three markers did not correlate significantly with chronological age.
Telomere length by qPCR
The method varies between runs and laboratories; DNA extraction, storage and cell composition all contribute. From dried blood more than from venous blood.
Gene-based dietary advice
The Food4Me study found no difference in weight loss between levels of personalisation including genetics. The benefit lies in structure, conversation and adherence.
microRNA as stress markers
There is work on individual microRNAs and acute as well as chronic stress, but no established cut-offs and no diagnostic validation.
Two panels where the methodology belongs in the conversation
Biological Age Clock
The underlying model is published as a pilot study (n = 539), with a mean absolute error of around 10 years. A single reading is not a determination of age; what holds up is the trend.
Telomere Analysis
qPCR measurement varies considerably between runs and laboratories, more so from dried blood than from venous blood. Here too it is the trend that carries the interpretation.
Two panels include genetic analyses: Metabolic Health and the Plus variant of Healthy Sport. For these, the person concerned must be informed and give written consent before the sample is taken (German Genetic Diagnostics Act, GenDG). Predictive genetic testing may only be conducted under the responsibility of appropriately qualified physicians; genetic counselling must be offered before and after the test (Sections 7 and 10 GenDG).
The analyses are laboratory services provided by our cooperation partner and are not CE-marked in vitro diagnostic devices. They serve consultation and monitoring and do not replace clinical diagnostics. Genetic analyses are subject to national genetic testing legislation. In Germany, predictive genetic testing may only be conducted under the responsibility of appropriately qualified physicians; genetic counselling must be offered before and after the test.
Laboratory analysis by our cooperation partner · ISO 9001:2015