“Vitamins: Small but Mighty for a Healthy Life!”

 

Vitamins are tiny nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy and work properly. Even though you only need small amounts, they are very important.

Why does the body need vitamins?

• To grow and develop (like helping kids grow taller and stronger)

• To keep your immune system strong (so you don’t get sick easily)

• To help your body heal (like fixing cuts or bruises)

• To keep your eyes, skin, bones, and organs healthy

• To turn food into energy

Each vitamin does a different job. For example:

• Vitamin C helps your body heal and fight off colds.

• Vitamin D helps your bones stay strong.

• Vitamin A is good for your eyes.

• Vitamin B helps your body use energy from food.

We get vitamins from the foods we eat, especially fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and some animal products.

If we don’t get enough vitamins, our bodies can’t work properly, and we may feel tired, get sick more often, or have other health problems.

	Gene Name	Genetic Variation	Your Result	Gene Impact
Vitamin A	BCO1	G>T	GG	heavily impacted
		Ala379Val C>T	CC	normal
Vitamin D	CYP2R1	A>G	GG	heavily impacted
	GC	T>G	GT	moderately impacted
		1296 G>T	TG	moderately impacted
Vitamin B12	FUT2	Gly258Ser G>A	GA	moderately impacted
Vitamin C	GSTT1	Insertion/Deletion	Insertion	normal

Vitamin A

🧬 What is the BCO1 gene?

The BCO1 gene gives instructions to make an enzyme (a special protein) called β-carotene 15,15′-oxygenase.
This enzyme helps turn plant-based vitamin A (like beta-carotene) into the active form of vitamin A your body can use (called retinal).

🌱 Where is this enzyme found?

This enzyme is made in several parts of your body, including:

• Eyes (especially the part that helps you see)
  
• Liver
  
• Kidneys
  
• Brain
  
• Small intestine and colon
  
• Testes
  

It needs iron to work properly.

🥕 What does it do with food?

When you eat foods rich in provitamin A carotenoids (like beta-carotene, found in carrots), this enzyme helps turn them into vitamin A.

But not all carotenoids are equal:

• The enzyme prefers beta-carotene over other types like alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin.
  
• So your body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A more efficiently than the others.
  

🧬 What happens if you have the GG genotype?

If someone has a specific genetic version (called the GG genotype), their enzyme activity is about 48% lower.
That means their body isn’t as good at turning beta-carotene into active vitamin A.

💡 What does that mean for your health?

People with this GG genotype may:

• Not getting enough active vitamin A from plant foods alone
  
• Need personalised advice on how much beta-carotene or active vitamin A to eat
  

🍠 How much beta-carotene is recommended?

• Suggested intake: 2 to 4.8 mg of beta-carotene per day
  
• It’s better to get this from food rather than supplements
  

🥦 Good food sources of beta-carotene:

• Carrots
  
• Sweet potatoes
  
• Spinach and other dark leafy greens
  

🧩 In summary:

The BCO1 gene helps your body convert beta-carotene (from colourful vegetables) into vitamin A, which is vital for vision, immunity, and health.
If you have a version of the gene that works less efficiently, you may need more beta-carotene-rich foods or active vitamin A in your diet.

Vitamin B12

🧬 What is the FUT2 gene?

The FUT2 gene gives instructions to make an enzyme called fucosyltransferase 2.

This enzyme plays an important role in how your body:

• Absorbs vitamin B12
  
• Moves B12 between cells so it can be used properly
  

⚠️ What happens with the AG genotype?

If you have the AG version of this gene, your body might:

• Not absorb or use vitamin B12 as well
  
• Be more likely to have low levels of B12
  

🩸 Why is B12 important?

Vitamin B12 is essential for:

• Making red blood cells (to prevent anaemia)
  
• Supporting brain and nerve function
  
• Keeping homocysteine levels in check (important for heart and blood vessel health)
  

🍳 What should you do if you have the AG version?

You may need more vitamin B12 than average.
You can get it from:

• Animal foods like meat, fish, poultry, and eggs
  
• Supplements, if needed (especially for vegetarians or older adults)
  

🧩 In summary:

The FUT2 gene helps your body absorb and use vitamin B12. If you have the AG version, you might be at higher risk of having low B12, which can affect your blood, nerves, and energy. Eating more B12-rich foods—or taking supplements—can help prevent problems.

Vitamin C

🧬 What is the GSTT1 gene?

The GSTT1 gene makes an enzyme that’s part of the Glutathione S-transferase (GST) family.

These enzymes help your body:

• Detoxify harmful substances
  
• Fight off damage from free radicals (unstable molecules that can harm your cells)
  

🍊 What does this have to do with Vitamin C?

• The GST enzymes work closely with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in your body’s antioxidant defence system.
  
• Vitamin C helps reduce free radical damage, which protects your cells and supports immune health.
  

🔐 What happens if you have the GSTT1 gene?

• If you have the GSTT1 gene (some people don’t), your body makes a working enzyme.
  
• This active enzyme helps protect you from vitamin C deficiency, especially if your diet is low in vitamin C.
  

🧩 In summary:

The GSTT1 gene helps make a detox enzyme that works with vitamin C to protect your cells from damage.
If you have this gene, your body is better at holding onto vitamin C and may be more protected from deficiency, even if your diet is a bit low in it.

How do vitamins work? – Ginnie Trinh Nguyen – www.youtube.com/@TEDEd

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.