HbA1c: Genetics and altered test results
Is the A1c test accurate for your blood glucose levels? Genetic variants can cause inaacuracies here.
Hi there,
It's funny how a blood test with a precise number always seems incontrovertible. Right there in black and white, looking official... It must be right.
Take HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c) for example. Testing A1c gives your average blood glucose over the past couple of months. Your doctor may test this to see if you are prediabetic or diabetic. The precise-looking HbA1c reading comes back as 5.7%, which is the high edge of the normal range. No diabetes - whew!
Except... Some people have genetic variants that impact HbA1c by as much as 0.8%. That 5.7% could actually be closer to 6.5%, which would put you in the diabetes range.
My latest article dives into the way that red blood cell genes can cause higher or lower HbA1c readings.
There are other blood test results that can also be altered due to genetic variants. For example, serum vitamin B12 levels may not be an accurate representation for people with FUT2 variants.
My point here is that blood tests are just one tool in understanding your health, and once in a while, you may need to dig a little deeper than a standard test to really understand what is going on with your health.
Gratefully yours,
~ Debbie Moon
HbA1c: Genetic reasons for higher readings
Key takeaways:
~ HbA1c is a test value used to diagnose and manage diabetes.
~ Blood glucose levels affect HbA1c over the course of a few months.
~ HbA1c isn’t always an accurate measure of blood glucose levels, though.
~ Some people have genetic variants in red blood cell related genes that cause higher or lower HbA1c, impacting whether it is a true marker for glucose levels.
Are you a FUT2 secretor or non-secretor? How to check
A genetic variant in the FUT2 gene controls whether or not you secrete your blood type into your saliva and other bodily fluids, such as your intestinal mucosa. This is referred to as your secretor status for being a ‘secretor’ or ‘non secretor’.
Why is this important? Whether or not you secrete your blood type plays a big role in the type of bacteria in your gut microbiome. Being a non-secretor can have both positive and negative impacts. For example, being a non secretor protects you from getting the norovirus, but can also lead to intestinal issues.
This article digs into the background science of secreting your blood type. Then it explains how to check your genetic raw data. Finally, we wrap up with ‘lifehacks’ for dealing with being a non-secretor.
What I've Been Reading....
1. Micronutrient Supplementation to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk
This study looked at 884 different randomized controlled trials on supplements and heart health. It found that "Supplementation with n-3 fatty acid, n-6 fatty acid, l-arginine, l-citrulline, folic acid, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, α-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, melatonin, catechin, curcumin, flavanol, genistein, and quercetin showed moderate- to high-quality evidence for reducing CVD risk factors." It looks like the biggest effect on all-cause mortality was from CoQ 10 supplements. Vitamin C, D, E, and selenium had no effect on cardiovascular disease. Importantly, beta-carotene supplementation increased all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and stroke risk.
2. Influence of circadian clocks on adaptive immunity and vaccination responses
This new study looked at how the timing of vaccination impacted adaptive immune response. The adaptive immune response includes antibodies and T memory cells. The researchers found that circadian clock genes are important in how the vaccine activated cells migrate to the draining lymph nodes.
I found this interesting because there is also a strong circadian aspect to the innate or initial immune response to a virus. https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/circadian-rhythm-and-your-immune-response-to-viruses/