Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects about one in ten people and is a real gut-brain axis disorder, not “all in your head.” With 90 percent of serotonin made in the gut, variants in SLC6A4, TNFSF15, and SCN5A are linked to IBS. Learn the genetics and how it differs from IBD.

Genes like SLC22A5, BBOX1, and CPT2 shape how your body transports, produces, and uses carnitine, the molecule that ferries fat into mitochondria for energy. This article explains the carnitine pathways, the role of diet and methylation, and what your DNA can and cannot tell you about your energy metabolism.

Autoimmune Addison's disease carries a strong genetic component, driven by immune-regulation variants in HLA genes, CTLA4, and PTPN22, plus rare single-gene syndromes like AIRE. This article explains the genetic risk factors for primary adrenal insufficiency and how personalized health reports add educational context.

FGF21 gene variants like rs838133 help shape your preference for sugar, carbohydrates, and how your metabolism responds to what you eat. This article explains what FGF21 does, how it interacts with FTO and MC4R, and what the Precision Peptide Genetic Test reveals about your appetite and metabolic pathways.

Barrett's esophagus risk is shaped by developmental genes including FOXF1 on chromosome 16 and BARX1 near chromosome 9, plus reflux and weight. Learn how these variants influence esophageal tissue biology, why genetics is context not diagnosis, and how the Precision Peptide Genetic Test frames your pathway-level predispositions.

Mucositis is a painful inflammation of the mucous membranes during cancer treatment, and genetics may help explain why susceptibility varies. This educational article covers inflammatory genes TNF, IL1B, and IL6, the methylation gene MTHFR, and what the PlexusDx Precision Peptide Genetic Test reveals about your inflammatory and methylation pathways.

Nausea susceptibility is partly inherited. The GDF15 gene, tied in 2023 research to pregnancy-sickness severity, and serotonin-receptor genes HTR3A and HTR3B shape how easily nausea is triggered. Learn what genetics reveals about motion sickness, pregnancy nausea, and everyday queasiness.

Sugar cravings are partly written in your DNA. Variants in FTO (rs9939609) shape appetite, the sweet-taste genes TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 shape perception, and FGF21 influences sugar intake. Learn how these genes affect diet and health, and how pathway-level genetic insight helps.

The GCKR gene controls glucokinase in the liver, and variants such as rs1260326, rs780093, and rs780094 shift fasting glucose, insulin, and triglycerides together. This article explains the metabolic trade-off behind these variants, the gene-diet interaction, and why genetic testing offers context rather than a nutrition prescription.

The AHCY gene encodes S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, a central enzyme in the methylation cycle. Rare AHCY variants are linked to elevated methionine, myopathy, and developmental issues, and AHCY works alongside MTHFR. Learn the biology, what research shows, and how pathway-level genetic insight adds context.

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fat converted into anti-inflammatory DGLA — but the FADS1 and FADS2 genes control how efficiently you make it. The variant rs174537 predicts fast versus slow conversion, a key gene–diet interaction shaping inflammation and skin-barrier health.

Amylase breaks starch into sugars, and the AMY1 gene shows striking copy number variation — from two to fifteen-plus copies — shaping how fast you digest carbohydrates. This article explains what high amylase levels can mean, the roles of AMY1, AMY2A, and AMY2B, and how genetics influences carbohydrate tolerance.

MTR rs1805087 (A2756G) is a variant in the methionine synthase gene, central to methylation and B12-dependent homocysteine recycling. Learn what MTR does, how the A2756G change may affect enzyme activity, what research links to it, and how the Precision Peptide Genetic Test maps it alongside MTHFR.

PEMT gene variants such as rs7946 lower your body's ability to make choline internally, raising the risk of deficiency when dietary intake is low — especially in postmenopausal women. This post explains how PEMT works, its link to methylation and liver health, and why choline-rich foods matter for carriers.

The FABP2 gene's Ala54Thr variant (rs1799883) roughly doubles long-chain fatty acid binding, influencing how efficiently your gut absorbs dietary fat. This post explains what health risks research links to the FABP2 trait — triglycerides, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic tendencies — and how diet interacts with your genetics.

Chili pepper tolerance is partly genetic. Capsaicin activates the TRPV1 receptor, and variants in the TRPV1 gene — including rs8065080 — calibrate how intensely you feel the burn. Learn how genotype and habit shape spice sensitivity and what pathway-level genetics can reveal.

High lipase is a key clue for pancreatic inflammation, and inherited variants in PRSS1, SPINK1, CFTR, and CTRC shape how the pancreas protects itself from its own enzymes. This article explains lipase, hereditary pancreatitis genetics, and what pathway-level genetic insight can and cannot tell you.

Only some H. pylori carriers develop peptic ulcers, and inflammatory genes like IL1B, IL1RN, and TNF help explain why. This article covers how inherited immune-signaling variants shape ulcer risk and how pathway-level genetic insight supports smarter digestive-health decisions.

Bifidobacterium bifidum is a cornerstone gut microbe for digestion and immunity, and its levels shift with diet, fiber, age, antibiotics, birth mode, and host genes like FUT2 and LCT. This guide explains the main factors affecting Bifidobacterium and practical ways to support healthy levels.

Lycopene, the antioxidant pigment in tomatoes and watermelon, supports cardiovascular, skin, and cellular health. How much reaches your blood depends on cooking, dietary fat, and genes like SCARB1, CD36, and SOD2. This guide covers lycopene's benefits, the best food sources, and the genetics of absorption.

FOXO1 is a master transcription factor that controls glucose production, insulin signaling, and beta-cell health. Variants influencing FOXO1, TCF7L2, and FTO shape type 2 diabetes risk and insulin sensitivity. Learn how pathway-level genetic insight fits alongside lifestyle and provider care.

The genetic trait behind histamine intolerance is reduced activity in the DAO enzyme (AOC1 gene) and HNMT enzyme that break down histamine. Variants like AOC1 rs10156191 and HNMT rs1050891 slow clearance, producing migraines and allergy-like symptoms. This article explains the genetics and what genetic insight adds.

Leucine is the branched-chain amino acid that triggers muscle protein synthesis through the mTOR pathway and also influences blood sugar control. This post explains leucine's functions, the leucine threshold for muscle growth, and how genes like PPM1K and BCAT2 shape the way your body handles branched-chain amino acids.

Diabetic foot ulcers affect about 15% of people with diabetes, and genetics helps explain who is most at risk. A variant in the MAPK14 gene — the T allele at rs80028505 — was tied to a 71% higher likelihood of ulcer development. Learn the risk factors, prevention habits, and what genetic insight offers.

Diarrhea has both environmental and genetic drivers. Infections and foods trigger many episodes, while genes such as LCT, SI, and NOD2 shape how the gut digests sugars and regulates its lining. Learn the causes, the genetics of food tolerance, and when to seek care.