Genetic variants that affect phase I detoxification
The CYP450 family of enzymes changes substances to make them easier for the body to eliminate. While CYP enzymes all play a role in breaking down various substances in the body, such as hormones or fatty acids, they are best known for their role in breaking down medications. Variants in different CYP450 genes can cause people to react differently to a prescription.
The topic of how medications interact with your genes, lifestyle factors, and supplements is vast and complex. While you can't know everything from your 23andMe or AncestryDNA data, you can learn about the most common and important variants here. More than one-third of adults take a prescription daily, and understanding your CYP SNPs can help you have more informed conversations with your doctor.
While much of the research on CYP genes focuses on drug interactions, CYP genes also interact with substances produced in the body. I'm updating all of the Phase I detoxification articles to make them more actionable and to reflect the dual purpose of these enzymes.
New on Genetic Lifehacks:
CYP2J2:
This is one of the lesser known CYP450 enzymes, but it plays an important role in how arachidonic acid is used in the body, with both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects.
Updated Articles:
CYP2C19:
The CYP2C19 enzyme is important in the metabolism of certain blood thinners and SSRIs. Approximately 2% to 10% of the population has a nonfunctioning CYP2C19 enzyme.
CYP1A2:
This CYP enzyme is integral to the breakdown of caffeine, and common genetic variants in CYP1A2 determine how long caffeine stays in your system.
CYP2B6:
CYP2B6 is important for the metabolism of a number of prescription medications, with fairly common genetic variants affecting the function of the enzyme. Importantly, several popular supplements also interact with CYP2B6.
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Interesting new studies:
1) Neuronal partial reprogramming to ameliorate age-related cognitive decline
While still a preprint and in mice, this is a fascinating study on essentially turning back adult, old neurons into a younger state. Essentially, longevity researchers are working towards reprogramming cells to act and be younger, and this study showed that it was possible in the brain. The implications here for curing the diseases of aging are very exciting!
Researchers have found that alterations to metabolites of arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, are altered in infants who go on to develop either autism or social impairment.
From the article: "New research published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity and supported by PolyBio Research Foundation shows that “priming” of inflammatory processes in the brain by a SARS-CoV-2 protein can potentiate the effects of a subsequent inflammatory challenge such as a bacterial infection. The findings, published by an internationally recognized University of Colorado neuroimmunology team, suggest that multiple infectious “hits” (viral and bacterial) may amplify long-term neuroinflammatory or neuroimmune symptoms in patients with long COVID."
Graphical overviews for the new article (for all the visual learners):
