Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Genes, and Gut Microbes

Key takeaways:
~ Genetics plays a role in susceptibility to IBD
~Knowing which genetic variants you have may help you figure out which lifestyle changes would be most helpful.

Table of Contents

Why a targeted, personal approach matters!

“Fix your gut!” seems to be the standard advice from most healthy living blogs, but concrete advice on how to actually accomplish this seems to be lacking. While general suggestions abound, specific actions that actually work for an individual are hard to find.

All of the general advice — fix your gut, eat more fiber, eat fermented foods, avoid sugar, grains, dairy, etc. — may work for some but not for everyone. We need to get personal here and take a good look at some of the genes that affect our microbiome.

I find the microbiome intriguing: the complexity of the interaction between our human genome, the gut microbiome, and environmental factors is mind-boggling.

While what we eat is important to our microbiome, our genes also play a role in which gut bugs will flourish and which ones will never take up permanent residence.

IBD Genotype Report:

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NOD2 gene:

NOD2, also referred to as CARD15, is a gene that encodes a protein (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2) that recognizes bacteria in order to initiate an immune response. Specifically, the immune response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) involves NOD2. The LPS is an endotoxin and can be found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.[ref] The background section of this study will give you more specific information on NOD 1 and 2 if you want to dive deeper.

Check your genetic data for rs2066844 R702W(23andMe v4, v5):

T/T: 17-35x increased risk for Crohn’s disease[ref][ref][ref][ref]
C/T: 2-3x increased risk for Crohn’s disease
C/C: typical

Members: Your genotype for rs2066844 is —.

Check your genetic data for rs2066845 G908R(23andMe v4):

C/C: 17-35x increased risk for Crohn’s disease[ref][ref]
C/G: 2-3x increased risk for Crohn’s disease
G/G: typical

Members: Your genotype for rs2066845 is —.

Check your genetic data for rs2066842 (23andMe v4, v5):

T/T: Increased risk of IBD (especially ulcerative colitis)[ref][ref]; decrease the risk of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis by about 20%[ref]
C/T: Increased risk of IBD
C/C: typical

Members: Your genotype for rs2066842 is —.

Check your genetic data for rs2066843 (23andMe v4):

T/T: Increased risk of Crohn’s disease[ref][ref]
C/T: Increased risk of Crohn’s disease
C/C: typical

Members: Your genotype for rs2066843 is —.

TLR4 gene:

The TLR4 gene encodes the toll-like receptor 4, which is an important player in the immune response. Toll-like receptors recognize and initiate an immune response against bacteria and viruses.

Check your genetic data for rs4986790 (23andMe v4, v5; AncestryDNA):

G/G: Increased risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis[ref]
A/G: Increased risk of Crohn’s disease
A/A: typical

Members: Your genotype for rs4986790 is —.

IBD5 gene:

Check your genetic data for rs6596075 (23andMe v4; AncestryDNA):

C/C: increased risk of Crohn’s disease
C/G: lower risk of Crohn’s disease
G/G: lower risk of Crohn’s disease[ref][ref]

Members: Your genotype for rs6596075 is —.

Lifehacks:

Diet and Lifestyle Actions:

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