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The rewards of decoding the human genome map are starting
to show up in health care. As with most advances in medicine, the
decoding gives scientists and physicians new information but leaves
many questions unanswered.
By identifying every gene in the human body, scientists
are learning more about how DNA affects your health, and that, in
turn, is leading to breakthroughs in informational and diagnostic
testing on the genetic level.
Unfortunately, the new frontier also provides a happy
hunting ground for entrepreneurs eager to use the new science to
cash in, by catering to health-conscious consumers anxious to know
more about their genetic makeup through online direct-to-consumer
DNA testing.
The federal Government Accountability Office, or GAO,
recently issued a warning against Web sites advertising that by
analyzing your DNA, they can provide you with customized nutrition
and lifestyle recommendations, which in many cases includes the
marketing of expensive nutritional supplements.
Direct-to-consumer DNA testing
In an investigation, the GAO found that tests they purchased in
the names of fictitious consumers and returned with actual DNA samples
not only provided misleading results, but also included attempts
to sell consumers products advertised to help deal with these medical
conditions.
"The results we received from all the tests we
purchased mislead the consumer by making health-related claims that
are medically unproven and so ambiguous that they do not provide
meaningful information to consumers," the report says.
Basically, the four sites that the GAO sent DNA samples to stated they would provide a personalized DNA profile that would address that specific person's risk for a variety of diseases -- including heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes -- based on their genetic susceptibility. Instead, the recommendations they offered were so generic they could apply to virtually anyone.
The GAO consulted with genetics and nutrition experts who reported that "although some types of diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, can be definitively diagnosed by looking at specific genes, the kind of predictions we received cannot be proven given the level of scientific evidence available today."
Consumers who shell out the $89 to $395 that such
"nutrigenetic testing" costs are receiving health recommendations
that aren't tailored to their specific DNA risks and basically resemble
the general advice most doctors give for healthy living, the report
says.
Several of these Web sites recommend that consumers
purchase specific supplements (costs ranging up to $1,200 per year)
to improve their health. A GAO analysis reveals that these supplements
contain vitamins and minerals that can be purchased much more cheaply
at local pharmacies and nutrition stores.
DNA testing
Of the nearly 1,000 DNA tests available, many are still available
only via the traditional route of doctors' offices, hospitals and
labs. The federal Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has approved
only a dozen tests as free-standing kits. Other DNA testing is outside
its regulatory authority.
DNA testing already has a number of health-related uses, including:
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ABCs of DNA testing: |
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Legitimate online testing
A few tests are now available directly to consumers, via the Internet,
that are scientifically reliable. These cover several ailments.
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available for: |
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