AGTC Genomics Introduces Next-Generation Nutritional Monitoring to Support Healthy Ageing
Combined nutrigenomics and nutriepigenomics testing reads both a person's lifelong genetic nutrient risks and their body's current nutritional state, helping prioritise diets for children, adults and older people
AGTC Genomics is introducing an integrated approach to personalised nutrition, combining nutrigenomics and nutriepigenomics to support more informed dietary decisions and healthy ageing. The approach brings together genetic insights, epigenetic information and professional dietetic assessment to help individuals understand nutritional priorities and review their progress over time.
Nutrigenomics looks at the DNA a person is born with. It identifies genetic predispositions and lifetime risk of deficiency or poor handling of key macronutrients (carbohydrate, fat, protein) and micronutrients such as folate, vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron and omega-3 fatty acids.
Nutriepigenomics looks at what is happening now. It measures chemical marks on DNA that shift with diet, nutrient status and lifestyle, giving a snapshot of the body's current needs and signs of deficiency or excess. Because these marks can be re-measured, the test can track how the body responds as a diet changes.
From genes to plate: the Chief Dietitian's view
"For decades, dietary advice has been written for the average person. But no one is average," said Ms Samantha Wong, Chief Dietitian at AGTC Genomics. "Your genes tell us where your lifelong vulnerabilities lie. Your epigenome tells us how your body is coping today. Putting the two side by side lets us decide which nutrient to fix first, rather than guessing."
Ms Wong explained that the two layers answer different questions. A genetic result does not change over a lifetime, so it flags long-term risks worth watching. An epigenetic result changes with what a person eats, so it can be repeated to see whether a new eating plan is working.
"This matters most at the two ends of life," she added. "Growing children and older adults have the least room for error. A child with a genetic tendency towards poor folate handling, or an elderly person whose markers show a developing B12 shortfall, needs a plan that targets that gap early. That is what healthy ageing looks like in practice."
How it works
Nutrigenomics: the lifelong blueprint. Small, common differences in DNA (single-nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs) change how well a person absorbs, transports and uses nutrients. Variants in genes such as MTHFR (folate), FUT2 (vitamin B12), GC, CYP2R1 and DHCR7 (vitamin D) and FADS1/FADS2 (omega-3 and omega-6 fats) can raise the risk of deficiency even on an adequate diet. A large UK Biobank study of 417,580 people found 143 genetic regions linked to blood vitamin D levels (Revez et al., Nature Communications, 2020). Because DNA sequence does not change, this test is done once.
Nutriepigenomics: the body's current status. Epigenetic marks sit on top of DNA and switch genes up or down without changing the sequence. The best studied is DNA methylation, the addition of small methyl groups to the DNA strand. Those methyl groups come from food: folate, vitamins B2, B6 and B12, choline, betaine and methionine feed the one-carbon pathway that makes S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the body's universal methyl donor. When these nutrients run short or in excess, methylation patterns at specific sites shift. Reading those sites in a blood sample gives a picture of current nutrient handling, and repeating the test months later shows whether a dietary change is working.
Nutrigenomics | Nutriepigenomics | |
What it reads | DNA sequence variants (SNPs) | DNA methylation marks |
Changes over life? | No | Yes, with diet, age and lifestyle |
Question it answers | Where are my lifelong nutrient risks? | What does my body need now? |
How often | Once | Repeatable to monitor progress |
Why combine the two
Each layer alone gives half the answer. Genes show risk but not whether that risk is playing out today; methylation shows current strain but not whether it is a lifelong tendency or a passing gap. Read together, they rank which nutrients need attention first.
No concern in epigenetic or clinical findings | Epigenetic or clinical findings suggest a concern | |
High genetic risk | Keep in view and review at follow-up | Priority for clinical assessment and confirmatory tests |
Low genetic risk | Maintain a balanced diet | Assess likely dietary or lifestyle causes |
"The aim is to help people understand what deserves attention first and how to make sustainable changes. For a child, that starts with adequate nutrition for growth. For an older adult, it may involve maintaining sufficient intake and supporting muscle and overall health. Any suspected nutrient deficiency or excess should be assessed clinically and confirmed with appropriate tests," Ms Wong added.
Children. Growth and brain development depend on steady supplies of folate, B12, iron, iodine, vitamin D and omega-3 fats. Early-life nutrition also helps set methylation patterns that can persist for years, so spotting a gap early has long-lasting value.
Older adults. Absorption of vitamin B12 often falls with age, skin makes less vitamin D, and protein needs rise to protect muscle. Combining both layers helps separate an inherited weakness from an age-related decline, so diet plans target the real cause.
What the science shows
Recent studies in leading journals show that genes shape nutrient needs and that DNA methylation responds measurably to diet, including in older adults.
Study | Journal, year | Key finding | Relevance |
Nature Aging, 2025 | In 777 adults aged 70+ followed for 3 years (DO-HEALTH trial), 1 g/day omega-3 slowed three DNA methylation ageing clocks by about 3 months; omega-3, vitamin D and exercise had additive benefits on one clock | Methylation can track the effect of a nutrition change in older adults | |
Nature Medicine, 2025 | Review concludes that standard "one size fits all" guidelines lack the detail to capture individual differences in nutrient needs and responses | Supports moving from population advice to personalised plans | |
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2024 | Diet quality was linked to blood methylation at 18 DNA sites, some tied to body weight, diabetes and heart disease risk | Methylation reflects how well a person is eating | |
Nature Communications, 2020 | 143 genetic regions influence blood vitamin D levels in 417,580 people | Genes set a baseline risk for deficiency | |
Dominguez-Salas et al. (landmark study) | Nature Communications, 2014 | A mother's methyl-donor nutrient levels at conception predicted her infant's DNA methylation | Early-life nutrition leaves lasting epigenetic marks |
The field is still maturing. Most diet–methylation links come from population studies, and AGTC's reports are designed to support, not replace, advice from a qualified dietitian or doctor.
References
Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Gängler S, Wieczorek M, et al. Individual and additive effects of vitamin D, omega-3 and exercise on DNA methylation clocks of biological aging in older adults from the DO-HEALTH trial. Nature Aging. 2025;5(3):376–385. doi:10.1038/s43587-024-00793-y
Guasch-Ferré M, Wittenbecher C, Palmnäs M, et al. Precision nutrition for cardiometabolic diseases. Nature Medicine. 2025;31(5):1444–1453. doi:10.1038/s41591-025-03669-9
Domínguez-Barragán J, et al. Blood DNA methylation signature of diet quality and association with cardiometabolic traits. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2024;31(2):191–202. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwad317
Revez JA, Lin T, Qiao Z, et al. Genome-wide association study identifies 143 loci associated with 25 hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Nature Communications. 2020;11:1647. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-15421-7
Dominguez-Salas P, Moore SE, Baker MS, et al. Maternal nutrition at conception modulates DNA methylation of human metastable epialleles. Nature Communications. 2014;5:3746. doi:10.1038/ncomms4746
About AGTC Genomics
AGTC Genomics is a Malaysian genomics company focused on oncology, infectious diseases, rare diseases and precision health. It operates an ISO 15189-, ISO 17025- and CAP-accredited advanced genomics laboratory in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
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