Nutrigenetic Testing: Tests Purchased from Four Web Sites Mislead Consumers
Released: 2006-07-27T00:00:00

Letter

Results Contain Health-related Predictions That Are Both Medically Unproven and Meaningless

Although there are numerous disclaimers indicating that the tests we purchased do not diagnose disease, the 14 results we received predicted that our fictitious consumers were at risk of developing a myriad of medical conditions. These predictions were similar for all of our fictitious consumers, no matter which DNA or lifestyle description we used. Results from the tests we purchased from Web site 4 also stated that our fictitious consumers were at below average risk for developing certain diseases. However, after consulting with outside experts, we determined that these predictions cannot be medically proven at this time. Even if the predictions could be medically proven, the results use ambiguous language to describe the supposed health risks, rendering them meaningless.

Claims That Test Results Will Not Diagnose Disease

As shown in table 1, the results we received from the tests we purchased from all four Web sites contain statements indicating that the information they provide is not intended to diagnose disease or predisposition to disease. The results also contain language stressing that the tests do not screen for genetic disorders and advising consumers to consult with a physician if they feel that they might be ill.

Predictions of Medical Conditions Received

Despite these statements, the results we received from the tests we purchased from all four Web sites do contain medical predictions that a consumer may interpret as diagnoses. The overriding impression from all the results is that the 14 fictitious consumers we created are at risk for developing a variety of medical conditions, as shown in figure 2.

Furthermore, the results from the tests we purchased from Web site 4 even suggested that our fictitious consumers with the female DNA were at below average risk for developing certain conditions. As comparison, the 2 results we received from Web sites 1 and 3 for the fictitious consumers with the male DNA contained similar predictions, despite having different DNA variants from the female sample. Specific predictions from each test are discussed in further detail below.

With regard to the tests we purchased from Web site 1, the 3 results we received stated that the DNA sample from the female displayed an “increased risk of reduced calcium and Vitamin D absorption,” meaning that she “may be at increased risk of developing osteoporosis.” Results from the same tests contained similar predictions with regard to risks for developing high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. The DNA sample from the male that we submitted for this test showed the exact same risks, despite having different DNA variants from the female, as shown in figure 3.

As shown in figure 4, the 3 results from the tests we purchased from Web site 2 stated that the DNA sample from the female showed “gene variations that may alter the body’s ability to metabolize cholesterol” and variations that may affect “mineral absorption and bone metabolism.” These results also suggested that “certain protective systems” in the body “may have altered activity.”

Of the 5 tests we purchased from Web site 3, 3 focused on detoxification, 1 focused on heart health, and 1 focused on bone health. The 5 results thus showed a range of predictions, including that the DNA from the female contained gene variations that “may lead to a reduced ability to clear toxins” and that her “natural antioxidant defenses are less efficient at the removal of free radical damage.” The results also showed increased risk of high blood pressure and osteoporosis. The DNA we submitted from the male showed similar risks with regard to toxins and removal of free radicals, despite having different DNA variants from the female sample. See figure 5.

As shown in figure 6, the 3 results from the tests we purchased from Web site 4 showed that the DNA sample from the female revealed “faulty methylation patterns” which may lead to “an above average risk for developing cardiac aging, brain aging, and cancer” and “sub-optimal glycation,” which can lead to diabetes and increased body fat. These same results also stated that the DNA displayed a “significant risk of developing the age related conditions associated with elevated levels of DNA damage.” Results from the tests we purchased from Web site 4 also contain predictions that the DNA sample from the female shows relatively low risk for developing some diseases. For example, all the results from these tests note that the DNA displayed a “below average risk” of developing “the age related” conditions associated with “oxidation” and “inflammation.” According to the results, oxidation can lead to diabetes, heart disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation can lead to diabetes, heart failure, and fragile bones.

Predictions of Medical Conditions Cannot Be Medically Proven

Despite the implication that these predictions are based on the DNA submitted, none of the results we received contained scientific support to assist the consumer in evaluating their credibility, and there is no evidence to suggest that the tests have been evaluated by independent experts. Furthermore, the genetic experts we spoke with informed us that even though it is possible to make a definitive diagnosis of disease by looking at certain genes, none of the predictions contained in any of the results we received can be medically proven at this time. According to the experts, cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease are examples of illnesses that can be diagnosed based on an analysis of only one gene. In contrast, the diseases and conditions identified in the test results we received involve complex bodily processes. According to the experts we spoke with, although genes are known to be associated with these processes, scientists have very limited understanding about the functional significance of any particular gene, how it interacts with other genes, and the role of environmental factors in causing disease.

With regard to the specific predictions of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, altered ability to metabolize cholesterol, and reduced ability to clear toxins, the experts informed us that research proving a genetic connection to the development of these conditions is at a very early stage and there are many issues yet to be resolved.

In addition, the experts we spoke with also stated that the types of tests we purchased cannot be used to confirm that an individual has a reduced risk of developing these types of diseases. Therefore, the claims that a person may be at “below average risk” of developing certain “age related conditions” based on the analysis of a few genetic variants is misleading. There could be other genetic variants not tested for that confer risk or other environmental factors not assessed.

Medical Predictions Are Also Meaningless

Even if the predictions could be medically proven, the way the results are presented—using ambiguous language—renders them meaningless. For example, it is unclear what is meant by a “damaged” gene. According to the experts we spoke with, although a specific gene can be “damaged” in that it contains a variation that causes a loss of function or impaired function, the results do not clearly explain what this means. The experts also told us that informing someone that they may be at increased risk for heart disease or that they have “high levels of DNA damage,” “faulty methylation patterns,” or “altered activity” in certain genes are all statements that are so ambiguous as to be meaningless. In fact, these types of predictions could apply to any human that submitted DNA. For example, according to the experts, many people “may” be “at increased risk” for developing heart disease because of known and unknown genetic risk factors; environmental and behavioral risk factors such as obesity, smoking, and high cholesterol; and the interaction between these genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors.

Results Encourage the Purchase of Supplements That Are Overpriced, Make Unproven Medical Claims, and May Even Be Harmful

Results from the tests that we purchased from Web sites 1 and 4 further mislead the consumer by recommending expensive supplements. The 3 results we received from the tests we purchased from Web site 1 recommend a supplement that is supposedly based on an individual’s unique DNA; in reality, the supplements are not unique and are simply a grossly overpriced version of a typical multivitamin. The 3 results we received from the tests we purchased from Web site 4 similarly recommend expensive supplements that are supposedly unique to the consumer; these results also contain medical claims about the supplements that cannot be proven at this time. Finally, the experts we consulted informed us that, in some instances, taking certain supplements may be harmful.

Supplements Recommended by the Tests Purchased from Web Site 1

The results from the tests we purchased from Web site 1 recommended a 90-day supply of a “personalized, custom” nutritional formula for $295, or approximately $1,200 per year. According to the product information, this formula is based on “what your genetic profile reveals as areas in your body that may need special support.” Despite this claim, when we examined the listed ingredients, we found that we were recommended the same product for all 3 of the fictitious consumers we created for this test—2 of these consumers actually had the DNA from the female, 1 had the DNA from the male, and all 3 had different lifestyle descriptions, as previously shown in figure 1. However, when we compared the contents of the supplements recommended for the 2 fictitious consumers with DNA from the female with the supplement recommended for the fictitious consumer with DNA from the male, we found that the ingredients were the same.

Moreover, the experts we spoke with confirmed that the supplements themselves are not unique; they contain vitamins that can be found in any pharmacy or grocery store. To find a comparable product, we went to a local drug store and found a generic multivitamin with the same ingredients, though with different amounts, as those in the recommended supplement. In contrast to the exorbitant price requested for the supplement, we paid just under $10 for a 100-day supply of this multivitamin—or about $35 per year, as shown below.

Although these products are not identical, the experts we spoke with said that both the supplement and the generic vitamin would probably provide the same nutritional benefits for most people. However, they also cautioned that the elevated amounts of certain vitamins in the supplement may be harmful, as discussed later in this testimony.

Supplements Recommended by the Tests Purchased from Web Site 4

The results from the tests we purchased from Web site 4 recommended a “personalized” supplement “regimen” costing over $1,880 per year. According to the results, these supplements are personalized based on the DNA submitted and lifestyle descriptions provided on the questionnaires, and they are supposed to help “compensate” for “genetic deficiencies.” Specifically, the product information accompanying the test results claims that the regimen will repair damaged DNA through the consumption of 7 pills per day, including 4 tablets per day of a supplement containing over “70 vitamins, minerals, and enzymes combined with “CAEs”, a proprietary extract from the Tropical Rainforest botanical Uncaria tomentosa, known as Cat’s Claw, which has been clinically shown to promote DNA repair in the body.” A 60-day supply costs $160. 1 tablet per day of a supplement designed to “enhance the body’s ability to repair damaged DNA.” A 60-day supply costs $50. 1 tablet per day of a supplement to control blood sugar and body fat. A 60-day supply costs $50. 1 tablet per day of a supplement designed to manage the process “whereby certain genes are activated and deactivated.” A 60-day supply costs $50.

As with the other products we were recommended, these supplements are not unique to the consumer. Although the 3 fictitious consumers we created for this site in reality all had the female DNA, they all had varying lifestyle descriptions, as previously shown in figure 1. However, we received the same product recommendation for all 3 consumers. For example, our fictitious 72-year-old female nonsmoker with a diet high in protein was recommended the same supplement regimen as our fictitious 45-year-old male smoker with a diet high in fats, which seems illogical given that the supplements are supposedly developed based in part on the submitted lifestyle information.

Furthermore, although the regimen touts “Cat’s Claw” as being the ingredient primarily responsible for DNA repair, the experts we spoke with told us that these claims are not medically proven at this time. According to the experts, Cat’s Claw is a plant whose pharmacological properties are being studied for a wide variety of biological effects, but the experts were aware of no reports in peer-reviewed scientific literature that have demonstrated the ability of Cat’s Claw to repair DNA. Furthermore, although there is some research indicating that taking antioxidants may help with DNA repair, no pill has yet been proven to repair damaged DNA. In fact, manufacturers of supplements are prohibited from claiming that their products can treat, cure, or prevent disease; products that make these claims are considered drugs and must be approved by the FDA before they can be sold. The FDA has already sent Warning Letters to several dietary supplement manufacturers who explicitly claimed that Cat’s Claw could help treat cancer and arthritis. However, we do not know whether the FDA would consider a claim of “DNA repair” to render Cat’s Claw an unapproved drug.

Nutritional Supplements May Also Be Harmful

Regarding safety, the nutritionists we spoke with said that it is possible that improper use of dietary supplements can be harmful. For example, the nutritionists said that taking levels of some vitamins and nutrients that far exceed the recommended daily allowance may promote cancers and chronic diseases. A recent statement issued by the National Institutes of Health also notes that taking more than the recommended daily intake of certain vitamins and minerals may cause adverse health effects. For example, smokers who consume excessive amounts of beta-carotene may be at increased risk for developing lung cancer, while consumption of excessive amounts of vitamin D and calcium may increase the risk of kidney stones. Furthermore, we were told that all nutrients or “food components” can be toxic if provided in sufficient quantities, but the susceptibility to toxicity varies among the population. For example, there is evidence that some people may be at risk because of excessive intakes of vitamin E, folic acid, calcium, or selenium.

When we asked the nutritionists about the safety of specific ingredients in the supplements recommended for our fictitious consumers, they generally believed that the supplements were comparable to typical multivitamins, as previously stated. However, they also expressed a variety of concerns. For example, one of the nutritionists we consulted characterized the levels of vitamin B-6 in both products as “disturbing.” Another felt that the levels of Vitamin A in both were “high,” and that the supplements from Web site 1 contained excessive amounts of iron, because iron stays in the blood and could become toxic. Other experts told us that the supplements could be harmful if taken in combination with certain medications. For example, Cat’s Claw may have an adverse interaction with a medication prescribed for people who are at increased risk for forming blood clots, and individuals taking this medication are advised to avoid all supplements unless a physician approves.

Results Do Not Provide Recommendations Based on a Unique Genetic Profile

Results from the tests that we purchased from Web sites 1, 2, and 3 promise recommendations based on the consumer’s unique genetic profile. However, the 11 results we received from these three sites suggest that the DNA submitted was not a factor in determining the recommendations. Rather, the results simply provide a number of common sense health recommendations based on information we submitted on the lifestyle questionnaires.

Tests Promise Unique Recommendations

Although Web sites 1, 2, and 3 acknowledge that information submitted on the questionnaires is taken into consideration when determining diet and lifestyle recommendations, the overall implication to the consumer is that the information derived from the DNA analysis is the most important factor, as shown in table 2.

Results Instead Provide Recommendations Based on Information Submitted on Questionnaires

Despite these claims, the recommendations we received are simply common sense regimens directly linked to the information we submitted on the questionnaires included with each test. For example, 9 of the 11 consumers we created for Web sites 1, 2, and 3 had the female DNA. If the recommendations were truly based on the consumer’s unique genetic profile, then these 9 consumers should have received the same recommendations because their DNA came from the same source. Instead, they received a variety of different recommendations, depending on the fictitious lifestyles we provided for them. For example, when we said that a fictitious consumer with the female DNA smoked and ate a lot of fatty foods, we received recommendations to stop smoking and eat fewer fatty foods. In contrast, when we said that another fictitious consumer with the female DNA never smoked and did not eat a lot of fatty foods, we received recommendations to continue to avoid both smoking and eating foods high in fat. Similarly, when we said that fictitious consumers with the female DNA did not eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, we received recommendations to eat more of these foods. However, if we said that the consumer had a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, we were told to continue this high level of consumption.

We received similar recommendations with regard to the 2 remaining consumers we created using the male DNA. For example, for one of the fictitious consumers with this DNA, we provided a lifestyle description stating that the consumer ate only moderate levels of leafy green vegetables, cantaloupe, and eggs—foods that are rich in antioxidants. In this case, the consumer was told to eat more foods rich in antioxidants. In contrast, we said that the other consumer with the male DNA ate a lot of antioxidant-rich foods. This time, we received recommendations to continue high consumption of these foods. Figure 8 provides further examples of the relationship between the lifestyle information we submitted on the questionnaires and the recommendations we received.

These results lead us to conclude that we could have invented any type of lifestyle description for the DNA we submitted and the recommendations would simply echo this information. Although these recommendations may be beneficial to consumers in that they constitute common sense health and dietary guidance, DNA analysis is not needed to generate this advice.

Other Investigative Findings Raise Concerns

During the course of our investigation, we found other information that raises concerns for consumers purchasing these tests. For example, we discovered that Web sites 1, 2, and 3 were in fact selling the same genetic test developed by the same company and that this company was pressured by consumer groups in the United Kingdom to stop selling the test in that country. The company now sells the same type of test in the United States. In addition, we found evidence suggesting a lack of quality control by the laboratory actually conducting the DNA analysis for Web sites 1, 2, and 3. For example, even though all of the genetic information contained in the test results based on a single source should be identical, we received disparate results from the tests we purchased from Web site 1. We also found that the laboratory used by Web site 4 is not approved under CLIA.

Nutrigentic Testing in the United Kingdom: The company that manufactures the tests used by Web sites 1, 2, and 3 used to sell the same type of test in the United Kingdom—consumers provided DNA samples and filled out a lifestyle questionnaire, and the company provided advice on what consumers should do to improve their health with diet and lifestyle changes. The Human Genetics Commission, the U.K.’s strategic advisory body on developments in human genetics, and GeneWatch UK, a consumer protection group, alleged that the company’s tests were misleading because no scientific evidence validated their clinical claims. Other scientists and consumer protection groups also cited numerous problems with the tests, including that the claims were exaggerated, the service should not be offered without adequate counseling, and that they provided advice which differed little from standard guidance on diet and exercise.

Eventually, the tests were subjected to assessment by a team of three experts—a clinical geneticist, a scientist leading a program of research in nutritional genomics, and the chief dietitian of a leading teaching hospital. They published the findings in a detailed report that concluded that there was no value in the genetic tests being offered. Subsequently, GeneWatch U.K. raised these concerns with major retail chains and pharmacies carrying the tests and urged them to stop selling the tests. By July 2002, the company was no longer attempting to sell their test directly to the consumer in the United Kingdom, either over the Internet or through retailers. In 2003, the company moved its operations from the United Kingdom to the United States. Despite the findings of the British experts, the company now sells the same type of test to American consumers.

Contradictory DNA Analysis: The results we received from the tests we purchased from Web site 1 appear to be contradictory and reflect inaccurate lab results. Specifically, the results we received from these tests contained a listing of the genes being analyzed and any “variations” found in those genes. When we compared the two results we received based on the DNA from the female, we found that the gene variations listed were not exactly the same: one result said that the DNA showed a variation in the “eNOS” gene, but the other result said that there was no variation in this gene. According to the experts we spoke with, because the DNA sample was taken from the same individual, any gene variations should be identical. The experts also stated that a competent laboratory should reliably be able to detect the presence or absence of a particular gene variant. Consequently, concerns exist about whether this laboratory has basic quality control procedures in place to identify and prevent mistakes.

Lack of CLIA Approval: As noted in the introduction to our testimony, laboratories performing genetic tests for medical purposes must be approved under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). In general, CLIA regulations address personnel qualifications, quality control and assurance, recordkeeping requirements, and also require laboratories to conduct proficiency testing. All laboratory tests performed to provide information about an individual’s health must be conducted by law in approved laboratories. During the course of our work, when we interviewed a representative from a laboratory conducting tests for Web site 4, we were told that this lab is not approved under CLIA.

Conclusion

The current regulatory environment provides only limited oversight to those developing and marketing new types of genetic tests. Consequently, companies that sell nutrigenetic tests like the ones we purchased may mislead consumers by promising results they cannot deliver. Further, the unproven medical predictions these companies can include in their test results may needlessly alarm consumers into thinking that they have an illness or that they need to buy a costly supplement in order to prevent an illness. Perhaps even more troubling, the test results may falsely assure consumers that they are healthy when this may not be the case.

With further advances in science, nutrigenetic tests like those we purchased may in the future be valid, allowing consumers to use DNA- based analysis to make diet and lifestyle changes that will actually prevent the development of disease. However, as demand for these new tests continues to rise, it will become increasingly important for consumers to have reliable information in order to determine which tests are accurate and useful.

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, this concludes my statement. I would be pleased to answer any questions that you or other members of the committee may have at this time.

Contact

For further information about this testimony, please contact Gregory D. Kutz at (202) 512-7455 or kutzg@gao.gov. Contact points for our Offices of Congressional Relations and Public Affairs may be found on the last page of this testimony.

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