LifeMap Nutrition System Frequen

LifeMap Nutrition System Frequently Asked Questions (Version 10.03.08)

Why does the LifeMap system not contain iodine or ___________? (Fill in the blank any other ingredient not currently in the formula that you believe should be there). Is my formula all I need for my diet? Is it good enough to use as a prenatal supplement? Do I need to take anything else in addition to this supplement? What is the difference between taking a high quality Multi Vitamin and Mineral supplement that includes all the 45 essential nutrients that are required on a daily basis to feed the cells, and our DNA guided product?

The following should answer all of the questions above: The LifeMap Nutrition ™ System’s primary purpose, is to provide a “targeted formulation,” designed to help mitigate or compensate for certain physiologic areas identified by the 12 SNPs that make up the Healthy Aging Assessment™. This is important since most one-size-fits-all products are created as “general formulations” rather than “specific target formulations.” For many individuals, their custom LifeMap Nutrition formulation, when combined with a healthy daily diet, would provide most of the necessary nutritional components necessary for supporting optimal health. However, the LifeMap product is not intended to be an overall multivitamin formula. If the ingredient you are searching for is not in the ingredient list, the research done by the Scientific Advisory Board and other validated third-party research has not determined that the ingredient is necessary for the 12 markers identified as important to healthy aging. While we do include numerous ingredients in our Base formula that are necessary for anyone’s optimal health, we cannot include everything or cover 100% of all RDI’s for vitamins, minerals or trace elements, or meet prenatal requirements or our Base formula would have dosages much too large to take comfortably.

What are the raw ingredients?
-A list of our ingredients can be found here.

How can I be sure of the quality of the formulas and ingredients?
- GeneWize uses only high quality natural ingredients and USP/NF-grade vitamins, minerals and pure nutritional compounds. Quality Control of individual ingredients prior to blending is the most important step in our manufacturing process. All ingredients are purchased from various reputable, well-established and high-quality manufacturers, most are vertically-integrated, meaning they control the farming as well as the manufacturing. We have a strict Quality Control system in place managed by our Quality Control department. We required a Certificate of Analysis (C of A) for every individual ingredient which lists results of our required specifications. Our Quality Control department retests certain specifications (e.g. phytochemical content, ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) value, heavy metals) to confirm quality. Our state-of the-art manufacturing facility meets GMP requirement (Good Manufacturing Practices), and is FDA-, NSF- and ISO- compliant.

Where are your ingredients purchased?
-We purchase our ingredients from various reputable and high-quality manufacturers, growers and distributors, but we do not disclose their identity.

Who developed the formulations?
-The formulations have been custom designed for each individual from the information taken from their GeneLink Healthy Aging Assessment™. The formulations were developed by our Scientific Advisory Board and the ingredients were chosen to mitigate and/or compensate for the biochemical pathways related to each SNP. Our scientific team has over 100 years of combined research experience and hundreds of peer-reviewed articles in the fields of genetics, biochemistry, nutritional sciences, microbiology, and medicine. The science team has worked for over 10 years to create a system that combines assessments and formulations designed to transform the burgeoning science of genomics and nutrition in to practical benefits. We can reference numerous studies that show that the ingredients we use are effective and can address the key biochemical pathways measured by our DNA assessments. However, only you and or your health care advisor can decide if the product is right for you.

Do you have preliminary clinical or in-vitro directly on these products?
-We have a completed clinical on AC-11, one of our patented DNA repair ingredients, which is found in every formula. Another ingredient found in our “Base formula”, OxyPhyte® Ultra Blend, has been the subject of a clinical study confirming its bioavailability and its ability to increase the antioxidant capacity of the blood. All of our other ingredients have been validated by extensive third-party research.

What borrowed and compiled supportive science are you using to indicate success with ingredients/formulas?
-The GeneLink Healthy Aging Assessment ™ identifies key bio-chemical pathways that are very important for overall healthy aging. These pathways have been validated by our Scientific Advisory Board, as well as independent third-party research. The ingredients used on our formula are also known to mitigate and compensate for pathways identified in the Healthy Aging Assessment™, and again, have been validated by our Scientific Advisory Board and third-party research.

Obviously they are using USP (United States Pharmacopoeia,) so what is the delivery system of these otherwise pharmaceutical ingredients?
Also, cell recognition is problematic with USP, which is why Big Pharma is interested in nanotechnology and sophisticated recognition and delivery systems.
-The LifeMap Nutrition™ System is a Dietary Supplement; it is not a pharmaceutical product. While the vitamins, minerals and other nutritional compounds in our formulas meet USP standards, the remaining ingredients are plant-based, meaning they are derived from either from herbs/botanicals or from common fruits and vegetables.

If there are tablets, do you use both heat and pressure or do you use just pressure?
-We do not use tablets. Our supplements are delivered via capsules that have been filled using pressure, but not heat.

If it's a capsule, is it vegan?
-Yes.

Are there any binders or fillers?
-Our formulas contain no binders or fillers. Some formulas may contain small amounts of excipient. An excipient is an inactive substance used as a carrier for the active ingredient to allow for convenient and accurate dosage. Excipients are be used in the manufacturing process to maintain stability, improve solubility and keep ingredients from “caking”. All excipients in our formulas are identified under “other ingredients” and guaranteed to be safe. Excipients are only used when absolutely necessary and in the smallest amounts possible.

Are the minerals used in the LifeMap Nutrition™ formulas chelated?
-As with all ingredients used in the LifeMap personalized nutritional formulas, our science team uses clinical evidence and third-party validation to determine the safest and most bioavailable ingredients. As far as chelated minerals are concerned, we use both chelated and non-chelated minerals. Examples: we use chelated Zinc in our formulas, because there is clinical evidence that shows this form to be more bio-available. On the other hand, we use non-chelated calcium, because there is clinical evidence that shows both forms are equally bio-available.

Does the LifeMap Nutrition™ product contain caffeine? If so, how much?
-Some formulas contain naturally-occurring caffeine from Green tea or White Tea extracts. However, these extracts contain only trace amounts of caffeine so that an entire formula will contain less that 1% of naturally-occurring caffeine. There is no added synthetic caffeine. The average LifeMap™ formula per serving contains about 1 miligram to 2.2 milligrams of naturally occurring caffeine. To put that in perspective, a cup of regular coffee contains about 200 milligrams of caffeine, a can of Cola contains about 50 milligrams of caffeine, and a can of Red Bull contains 80 mg of caffeine.

Are the LifeMap Nutrition™ personalized products gluten-free?
-Yes, all LifeMap personalized nutritional products are gluten-free.

What form is the vitamin E? What is the form of the other vitamins?
-The vitamin E used in our formula (dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate) is the most bio-available form of vitamin E. Vitamins will be listed in their actual form in the future on your ingredient statement, as well as the full ingredient list in the Free Reports section of the website.

Which actual ORAC Test do you use to measure ORAC values?
We use the ORAC test published in the literature that the USDA developed in conjunction with Brunswick Labs. This is the same ORAC method that is currently being validated by the American Organization of Analytical Chemists.

One of our people has allergies to milk, corn and tomatoes, are there any other allergens in these products?
-The FDA requires all food and dietary supplement labels to include an allergen statement for the eight major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. None of the ingredients in the LifeMap™ SNP Boosts or base formula contain any of the eight major food allergens. However, some formulas, including our base formula, contain small amounts of maltodextrin, which are low-molecular-weight carbohydrates produced by the hydrolysis of corn starch, and corn starch. Maltodextrin and corn starch are used as excipients to increase solubility and decrease the hygroscopy (the ability to attract water) of the various plant-based ingredients. Our base formula and our MMP1 Boost both contain tomato powder. When in doubt, anyone with known allergies should consult their physician prior to using their LifeMap Nutrition™ product.

What percent of the formula will be food based?
-Between 80% to 90%, depending on your individual personalized LifeMap Nutrition™ formula is food and/or plant-based. These plant-derived ingredients are either air-dried, spray-dried or in the form of high quality extracts.

What the age limits are concerning taking the product and being an Affiliate? Can someone who is a 17 year old athlete take the product with parental consent?
- The LifeMap Nutrition™ System is formulated for adults. According to the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, an adult is 19 years or older. We do not recommend these products for young children because every life stage has different nutritional requirements for optimal health. If you plan to give this product to someone under 18, we advise you to discuss it with your health care advisor. You must be 18 to become an Affiliate.

Does the LifeMap Nutrition™ powdered nutritional formula have the same absorbency rate as a liquid vitamin formula?
-The LifeMap Nutrition™ System formulas incorporate powdered ingredients which demonstrate at least the same, if not a greater, rate of absorbency over liquid nutritional formulas. Most liquid formulas contain fillers, preservatives, artificial flavors, and/or artificial sweeteners that can, in some instances, inhibit their absorbency rate. The LifeMap Nutrition™ System formulas contain no fillers, artificial flavors, artificial colors or sweeteners, therefore providing a more consistent absorbency rate.

Are any of the ingredients in your formula synthetic?
- All of our ingredients, with the exception of vitamins, minerals, and pure nutritional compounds are derived from fruits, vegetables or botanicals. The majority of the vitamins, minerals and pure nutritional compounds you will find in dietary supplements are made synthetically rather than derived from plants or other materials. From a molecular standpoint, there is often no difference between synthetic and naturally-derived vitamins. In fact, most synthetically-made vitamins and other nutrients are either identical to their natural counterparts (often referred to as “nature-identical) or easily converted to their natural form in the body. Other advantages of synthetically-produced vitamins and minerals include:
• Significantly lower cost.
• Higher purity (fewer contaminants).
• Higher potency (can be delivered in smaller doses).
Synthetically-produced vitamins, minerals and nutritional compounds are “USP/NF-grade,” meaning that they come from licensed production laboratories and meet the stringent standards of the United States Pharmacopeia or the National Formulary. While some professionals have the opinion that synthetic vitamins are less effective than their naturally-derived counterparts, to the best of our knowledge there have not been valid studies on this subject. GeneWize Life Sciences currently uses only USP/NF-grade vitamins, minerals and nutritional compounds (e.g. trimethylglycine, alpha lipoic Acid and choline bitartrate). Depending upon your formula, these ingredients account for between 5 to 10% of our current compensating ingredients. All the minerals, with the exception of Calcium Carbonate, are in either chelated form (joined with an amino acid) or in the form of a citrate salt. The conversion of minerals to chelates or citrate salts improves the mineral’s solubility and bioavailability.

Are there any scientific studies/reports (either internally or third party) relating to the ingredients in the formulations of the LifeMap products and/or the SNPs in the Healthy Aging Assessment?
-We do have scientific studies, in vitro, in vivo, ex vivo, animal studies, human clinical trials, and epidemiological investigations all of which support the use of the ingredients. When you receive your supplement, we include a list of all the ingredients used in your personalized formula, as well as a list of third-party references for each of the SNPs assessed.

What are in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo, human clinical trials, animal studies and epidemiological studies?
In vitro is defined as tests done outside of the body. Ex vivo is defined as tests done on human cells, but outside of the body In vivo is defined as tests done in an organism (animal or human) Human Clinical Trials are studies done on a number of patients/human volunteers. Animal studies are often used in Pharmacognosy (the study of medicines derived from natural provide valuable information on dosage, side effects etc, before human clinical trials are performed. Epidemiological studies are large population-based studies that the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine. It is considered a cornerstone methodology of public health research, and is highly regarded in evidence-based medicine for identifying risk factors for disease and determining optimal treatment approaches to clinical practice.

Is there a nutritional breakdown of amounts in each product, ex: mcg/mg/gm/unit/sugar/etc. that you can send me?
-We are not able to issue a blanket statement concerning the amounts of ingredients in each supplement because each person’s formula is completely different. If a customer or Affiliate has a concern about any specific ingredient, they can email us with a statement allowing GeneWize to review their report and relay more detailed information.

Exactly which functional assessments are used in your test?
-You can review a sample report which will show you what SNPs we test. Go to www.genelinkbio.com.

Why do you not test urine or blood? Does the buccal cheek swab DNA analysis provide the same information as with blood sample or other body parts? A cheek swab collection is easy but is it the best DNA to sample?
Most DNA testing today is done using samples collected through buccal swabbing, or cheek swabbing. Scientists agree that buccal swab samples are just as reliable as blood samples for DNA testing. DNA is the same in every cell of the body. A cheek cell collected through buccal swabbing contains the same DNA as a blood cell collected through a blood draw. Urine does not have DNA. Buccal swab samples have these primary benefits:
1. Buccal swabbing is easy to do. Buccal swabbing is painless and noninvasive. It can even be safely performed on a newborn infant.
2. Buccal swabs are more reliable than blood samples for individuals who have recently had blood transfusions or bone marrow transplants. Their blood may show the presence of the donors’ DNA.

Can you adjust my formula or remove one ingredient?
-While we are looking at the possibility of offering this feature at some point in the future, we can’t adjust individual formulas by a single ingredient at this time. We have developed a complex manufacturing process that uses the results from each person’s Healthy Aging DNA Assessment to drive a matrix for the creation of over 500,000 possible formula combinations. Again, we’re reviewing future possibilities but at this price point, and at this time, it’s not available.

If my mom and I have exactly same DNA assessment results, can we exchange our vitamins? (Can I take my mom's and can she take mine?)
-If you have exactly the same results on all twelve tests at the same exact support levels, the products are interchangeable.

Why isn’t there a Supplement Facts Box or Recommended Daily Intakes (RDIs)?
- According to Dietary Supplement Labeling laws, Supplement Facts Boxes are not required on products with a production of less than 100,000 units per year. Since every formula is customized, we actually produce way under 100,000 units of the identical formula. This is also why our formulas do not list RDI’s for the vitamin and minerals. Each formula is different, and it would be difficult to calculate this per formula. However, in a future booklet, we will give the average RDI ranges for the vitamins and minerals.

Why are the ingredients not listed on my individual list in order of greatest amount to least amount?
We are in the process of changing this. In the near future, your individual ingredient statement will list the ingredients in order of predominance.

How should the capsules be stored and what kind of stability do they have?
Our packaging protects the product in shipping and transportation, but once it is opened we recommend that the product be stored out of direct heat and light for extended periods of time. While this is not going to totally ruin the product, many phytochemicals and natural antioxidants degrade when exposed to strong UV light and high heat. You can store your product in the refrigerator, in fact that would be the optimal temperature. All ingredients in the formula have guaranteed stability for a minimum of one year, some up to 18 months. But, this shouldn’t be an issue as you receive newly produced material on a monthly basis.

What if I have specific nutritional needs due to my lifestyle? For example, what if I am an athlete, have joint problems, or what if I work long hours and have low energy?
To help address your specific lifestyle needs, in the near future GeneWize is planning to offer a variety of affordable "Lifestyle Boosts™", which can be formulated into your DNA-specific product. The LifeMap Lifestyle Boost™ program will be explained in full detail soon.

Is it possible to get too much of one ingredient due to having SNPs with common ingredients?
-No

Are any ingredients from China?
We source Ingredients from all over the world and our ingredients come from their native area. For instance, Acai is from Brazil, Green tea is from China. We use manufacturers that are integrated with the growers to ensure high quality. Some of the ingredients do come from China, like Green Tea. China is the largest producer of green tea products in the world and it is the largest grower. While some of our ingredients do come from China, they only come from reputable and high quality companies and are thoroughly evaluated for meeting certain high quality specifications. All raw materials are evaluated by our quality control department to ensure that they meet our high quality standards, no matter where they come from. This includes testing certain ingredients for heavy metal content.

Is the product Kosher and Halal?
-While the vast majority of the ingredients are KOSHER, there are a few that are not. Due to the huge number of possible formulas (remember, all these formulas are custom designed and there are literally over a hundred thousand potential combinations), we cannot provide Kosher certification on all formulas.

Does the product contain any prebiotics?
-There are no prebiotic cultures in the formula, but the Base Formula contains fructooligosaccharides (FOS) from chicory, a natural prebiotic fiber that promotes enhanced intestinal health for optimal nutrient absorption.

How much of the nutritional supplements are comprised of base ingredients common to all individuals?
- Since each formula is individualized, it is difficult to answer how much base formula is in each formula. However, on average, the typical base formula comprises between 30% and 50% of the total formula depending upon an individual’s unique formula. Click here for a list of possible ingredients.

Are any of the ingredients irradiated or fumigated?
-No

Are there are animal products?
-No

How are the formulas customized? How can GeneWize make thousands of custom nutrition for every individual every month?
Based on your individual results of the Healthy Aging Assessment™, your individual formula will contain SNP Boosts™ to meet your deficiency plus Base formula. We use a proprietary titration system which takes the results of the test and blends the various SNP Boosts™ and base formula according to whether you require Maximum Support (+,+) for your SNP, Added Support (-,+) or no support (-,-). You can imagine the number of combinations when there are over 10 SNP boosts, with individuals testing at three support levels; however, our proprietary blending system can do just that.

What is a titration method?
- The term “titration” is a chemical term that means adding precise amounts of known chemicals and observing the chemical reaction. We use this term loosely to describe out proprietary blending system, which basically takes precise amounts of the various SNP Boosts™ your formula needs (based on your Health Aging Assessment™) and blending it with Base formula. Your entire formula has precise amounts of each ingredient based on the results, and a computerized system will calculate the amounts, plus the amount of base, and custom-blend it prior to filling your capsules.

What is AC-11®?
AC-11® is a patented, advanced, clinically-tested bioactive extract derived from the South American herb Uncaria tomentosa (Cat’s Claw) standardized to Carboxy Alkyl Esters. More than a dozen published studies (animal and human clinical trials) which clinically prove health benefits. Each LifeMap Nutrition™ System Formula contains 350 mg AC-11®, the dosage used in human trials.

What is OxyPhyte® Ultra Blend?
-OxyPhyte® Ultra Blend is a High ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), proprietary antioxidant blend with confirmed bioavailability. It contains White Tea Extract, Apple Polyphenol Extract and Rosemary Extract.

What if I have side effects from taking the supplement?
Some people are sensitive to a number of ingredients in any supplement. We do care about your health, and if you continue to have ill effects, we recommend that you discontinue taking the supplement.

Are your ingredients organic?
-Some ingredients are organic, while others are not. While we would like to have all organic ingredients, but many are not available in organic form.

Can I mix the contents of the capsules in hot liquid?
-As you know, cooking many fruits and vegetables destroys many nutrients. If you choose to open your capsule in mix in a drink, we recommend that you do not use hot water so that there is no degradation of phytochemicals.

Are there limitations to certain people taking the GeneWize supplements, i.e. various ailments, pregnant women, or people on medication?
Yes. Some people are sensitive to some of the ingredients in any supplements or certain ingredients may have drug interactions. We provide you with a complete list of ingredients in your formula. If you have ANY concerns, check with you doctor. These formulas were designed for healthy adults. Pregnancy or other medical conditions were not considered in developing these formulas. Pregnant or lactating women, diabetics, hypoglycemics, and people with known medical conditions and/or taking drugs, should consult with a licensed physician and/or pharmacist prior to taking all dietary supplements.

Will the LifeMap Nutritional System™ supplements correct my SNP deficiencies after time? Will I have to re-test?
Genes themselves never change, but the expression of genes can be assisted with the proper nutrition. No, you will never need to be retested for the 12 genes currently in our Healthy Aging Assessment™.

Are these formulas FDA-approved? Are they pharmaceuticals?
-The LifeMap Nutrition™ System is a dietary supplement, not a pharmaceutical product, and therefore falls under DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994) regulations. Dietary supplements are not FDA-approved. A “Dietary Supplement” is defined as a product taken by mouth that contains a "dietary ingredient" intended to supplement the diet.

DISCLAIMER: What if I have a medical condition? How will the product affect my medical condition? How will the product affect or react with the drugs I currently take? Can you give medical advice?
We are a nutritional company. We do not diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any illness or disease. We do not dispense medical or pharmacy advice. Please seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist to determine if any ingredients will interfere with drugs or have a negative effect on your medical condition.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.