My Colour is Blue

Caffeine sensitivity

Caffeine sensitivity

CYP1A2

A>C

AA

normal

 

Coffee is a major source of caffeine, which is metabolised by the polymorphic cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2)  enzyme. 

Caffeine sensitivity means how strongly your body reacts to caffeine, like the kind in coffee, tea, energy drinks, or chocolate.

In simple terms:

Some people feel wide awake or jittery after just a little caffeine, while others can drink several cups of coffee and feel fine. That difference is caffeine sensitivity.

Why does it happen?

It depends on things like:

• Your genes – Some people break down caffeine slowly, so it stays in their body longer.
  
• Age, weight, and health – These can also affect how your body handles caffeine.
  
• Medications – Some drugs can make you more sensitive to caffeine.
  

Signs you might be sensitive to caffeine:

• Feeling anxious or jittery
  
• Trouble sleeping
  
• Fast heartbeat
  
• Upset stomach, even with small amounts
  

If you’re sensitive, even a small dose can feel like too much.

Alex’s results: Individuals with the AA genotype are fast metabolisers of caffeine. 

Being a fast metaboliser of caffeine means your body breaks down and clears caffeine quickly, usually thanks to your genes, specifically a gene called CYP1A2.

In simple terms:

If you’re a fast metaboliser, caffeine doesn’t stay in your system very long. So you’re less likely to feel jittery or lose sleep after drinking coffee, even if you drink it later in the day.

What it usually means for you:

• You can often drink coffee without feeling weird or anxious.

• Caffeine gives you a quick energy boost, but it wears off faster.

• You may need more caffeine to feel its effects.

• Some studies suggest fast metabolisers may have a lower risk of heart problems from coffee than slow metabolisers.

Opposite: Slow metaboliser

A slow metaboliser breaks down caffeine slowly, so caffeine stays in the body longer and can cause stronger effects (like anxiety or trouble sleeping), even from small amounts.

 

Bitter Taste

Bitter taste

TAS2R38

Pro49Ala  Ala262Val  Val296Iso

Medium Taster

moderately impacted

 

Taste plays a big role in whether we like or avoid certain foods. One key factor is how sensitive someone is to bitter tastes, and this can be very different from person to person.

Some people are more sensitive to bitter flavours (like in broccoli, kale, or coffee), and this can affect what foods they like, how well they eat, and even their overall health.

A gene called TAS2R38 controls how strongly you taste certain bitter chemicals. This gene affects your bitter taste receptors, kind of like sensors on your tongue that detect bitterness.

In short:

• Your genes affect how bitter food tastes to you.

• This can change what foods you enjoy or avoid.

• That, in turn, can impact your nutrition and health.

If you’re a “medium taster,” it means your genes (specifically the TAS2R38 gene) make you somewhat sensitive to bitter tastes — not super sensitive, but not totally unaffected either.

What this means for you:

• You can taste bitterness in foods like broccoli, kale, or Brussels sprouts, but it’s not extremely strong.

• Because of this, you might eat fewer vegetables, especially the dark green leafy ones.

• You may prefer sweeter foods instead.

• Studies have found that medium tasters may have a higher risk of gaining weight (higher BMI) and possibly a higher risk of colon cancer.
  

What you can do:

• Be aware that your taste preferences might make healthy eating harder.

• Try to find ways to make vegetables more enjoyable, like adding herbs, spices, lemon juice, or roasting them to improve flavour.

• Making vegetables taste better can help you eat more of them and support better health.

Alcohol Metabolism

Alcohol metabolism

ALDH2

rs671 G>A

GG

normal

 

Alcohol metabolism is the process your body uses to break down and get rid of alcohol after you drink it.

Here’s how it works in simple terms:

• You drink alcohol → It goes into your stomach and small intestine and quickly enters your bloodstream.

• Your liver does most of the work → It uses special enzymes (like ADH and ALDH) to break alcohol down into harmless substances.

• It breaks down in steps:

• Alcohol → Acetaldehyde (toxic!)

• Acetaldehyde → Acetate (less harmful)

• Acetate → Water + carbon dioxide → Your body gets rid of it through urine, sweat, and breath.

Important facts:

• Some people break down alcohol faster or slower depending on their genes.

• If you break it down slowly, alcohol stays in your system longer, which can mean you feel drunk longer or get more side effects (like flushing or nausea).

• Your tolerance to alcohol and how you feel after drinking depend on how well your body handles this process.

ALDH2 is a special enzyme in your liver that helps your body break down toxic substances, especially after you drink alcohol.

What it does:

• When you drink alcohol, your body turns it into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde.

• ALDH2 breaks down acetaldehyde into something safer (called acetate), which your body can get rid of.

• It also helps remove other harmful chemicals that are made when fats in your body are damaged (this damage is called oxidative stress).

Why it matters:

• Some people have a genetic difference (SNP) that makes their ALDH2 enzyme work poorly or not at all.

• If your ALDH2 doesn’t work well, you build up more acetaldehyde when you drink, which can make you feel sick (flushing, nausea) and raise your risk for diseases, including some cancers.

In short:

ALDH2 helps protect your body from alcohol damage.
Your genes decide how well it works, and that can affect your health when you drink.

Alex’s result: ALDH2  rs671 G>A / GG – function is normal

“Normal function” of ALDH2 (with GG genotype) means:

• Your ALDH2 enzyme works properly.
• After you drink alcohol, your body:
  1. Turns alcohol into acetaldehyde (a toxic chemical).
  2. Quickly breaks down acetaldehyde into acetate (a harmless substance).
• You don’t get a buildup of acetaldehyde, so you’re less likely to feel alcohol flush, nausea, or headaches after drinking.

Benefits of normal ALDH2 function (GG genotype):

✅ Your body clears alcohol more efficiently.
✅ Lower risk of damage from alcohol-related toxins.
✅ Better protection against diseases linked to oxidative stress (like certain cancers and heart disease).

In short:
“Normal function” means your body can safely and effectively process alcohol and other toxic aldehydes.

PLEASE NOTE: ANY VIEWS REGARDING THE RESULTS ARE MY UNDERSTANDING AND DO NOT SERVE AS PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. THE TREATMENT RECOMMENDATION IS STRICTLY RELATED TO ALEX’S RESULTS AND NOT MEANT FOR SELF-TREATMENT. ALWAYS SPEAK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BEFORE STARTING ANY TREATMENTS.