Deborah G.
Vitagene's Wellness Report
I used Vitagene for the "Wellness Report" based on my DNA test info from FamilyTreeDNA, and a detailed questionnaire that I filled in on the Vitagene website. The Vitagene report is far from personalised; the recommendations about diet and exercise are very general, and assume that I want/need to lose weight (I don't) and that I need to lower my blood pressure (my blood pressure is low-normal). Some of the information, e.g. that I'm genetically more suited to sprinting than marathons, is the same as in the DNA.Land report, and in the SNPs shown when I ran the FTDNA raw data through Promethease, but some is different, and I'm more inclined to trust Promethease and DNA.Land, which are run by researchers, than Vitagene, which sells supplements. One major difference was that the Vitagene report showed no problem with folate or with the MTHFR gene, but that showed as an issue in the Promethease report. That is baffling. Some of the supplements recommended by Vitagene seem okay, but their report suggests I take turmeric, despite my noting in the questionnaire that I am very sensitive to salicylates and can't tolerate any spices. I know from years of experience with reactions to foods, and from testing with capsules provided and monitored by RPA Allergy Clinic, that any health benefits of herbs or spices are outweighed by the severe IBS they cause, due to the high level of salicylate. Also, the report frequently refers to statistics and dietary habits of people in the USA, which aren't relevant to me, as a vegetarian Australian who very rarely eats fast food, never drinks soda, and mostly eats whole foods (although with a very restricted range of fruit and vegetables, due to the salicylate issue).