This week, we’re pleased to share an important piece of news about the work we do in our home state. After working closely with California regulators to satisfy all of their questions about our genetic health service, Navigenics has received a state license signifying our full compliance with the state’s laboratory requirements.

When news first appeared of the state’s inquiries earlier this summer, some observers wondered if our discussions with the state might prove challenging, requiring changes in the ways we offer our service or think about the health potential of DNA analyses. We didn’t focus on those concerns.

Meeting regulatory requirements has been a central part of Navigenics from the very beginning, and we have been intent on working closely with both state and federal regulators to address any issues. When questions arose in California, we were more than prepared to meet them. Along the way, state officials were incredibly responsive. They worked quickly to help us resolve the licensing issue.

This outcome in California is great news. But we also know that it is only the first step. Many important questions about the new field of personal genetics still need to be addressed at a national level.

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An apple a day isn’t enough anymore. Now you also need to think fish or flaxseed in your diet to help keep the doctor away. That is why Navigenics has new recommendations to encourage our members to be sure they get enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diet.

Omega-3 fatty acids aren’t snake oil, promising to cure all ills; rather, they are oils from fish or certain nuts and plants, and researchers have found strong evidence that they have many potential health benefits.

These polyunsaturated fatty acids are found primarily in fish and fish oils, but also in some plant-based oils, such as canola oil or flaxseed oil, and certain leafy green vegetables, including spinach, kale, broccoli and seaweed.  They are essential to human health, but cannot be made by the body. That is why it is so important for people to make sure they get sufficient amounts of them through diet or supplements—and to know how much they need.

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Sometimes, knowing what your DNA says about your health isn’t enough – you’d like your doctor to be in the loop as well. But in the busy world of modern medicine, that kind of information sharing may not be as easy as it sounds.

Some physicians, for example, have so many medical advances to keep track of that they may not be accustomed to interpreting new types of genetic results. You and your doctor also usually don’t have as much time to talk as either of you would like. Did you know that the average medical appointment is only about seven minutes these days? That leaves little time to fit in a conversation about personal genetics results. And many people have concerns about whether they want their genetic information entered into their formal medical records.

f you’d like to talk with your physician about your genetic information, here are a few suggestions to help make that conversation more productive:

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For anyone needing to lose weight (and who doesn’t these days?) comes welcome new research showing there is life – and weight loss—beyond the low-fat diet.

The popular Mediterranean diet is a safe and effective alternative to the low-fat plan often recommended by physicians, Israeli researchers determined in a two-year-long study published in July in the New England Journal of Medicine.

While people who stick with almost any diet lose weight, those on the Mediterranean diet lost a significant amount – almost 10 pounds, compared to about six pounds for those on a low-fat diet. And the Mediterranean diet, in particular, was praised by the scientists because it is high in fruits, vegetables and fiber, all of which are beneficial for health.  Previous research has shown it is good for the heart, and may even reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

What is a Mediterranean diet?

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Last month, I blogged about a concept getting more attention in weight and health – the size of your waist may be even more important than the number on the scale.  Now, two recent developments further highlight that point. 

In that last post, I talked about a powerful study from the Mayo Clinic on a phenomenon called “normal-weight obesity.” That research indicated that more than half of American adults not considered overweight by regular standards such as Body Mass Index actually had high body-fat percentages, especially in their midsection. Those with wider waists also had higher rates of heart and metabolic risk factors.

Recent news illustrates that more findings support that idea. After looking at the health records of more than 20,000 people, researchers at Ohio State University spotted similar problems.

People included in the study who were not considered formally overweight but had a “marginally increased” waist circumference were much more likely to have high blood pressure than those with slim midsections. The scientists determined that adults with “normal” weights but a wide waist have an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. 

In other words, Americans need to get a handle on their love handles.

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Common genetic variants and the role they play in breast cancer have been popular topics in scientific journals lately.  I recently mentioned a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine that found women with 14 of the genetic markers associated with breast cancer had 6.3 times the risk of breast cancer as women with none of the markers.  “A few susceptibility alleles may distinguish women who are at high risk for breast cancer from those who are at low risk,” the study determined.

Now comes more research that supports the notion that analyzing a woman’s genes can be a useful weapon to add to the arsenal physicians and patients have in the battle against breast cancer.

Scientists had already established that there are several environmental links to breast cancer, including a woman’s age at first period, her family history and current age. Recently, researchers have had the tools to start identifying the other pieces of the puzzle – genetic risk factors. 

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