Genetic Testing Offers Proactive Approach to Osteoporosis and Reproductive Health, Says โMedLife’s Dr. Andreea Siriteanu
Dr. Andreea Siriteanu of โคMedLife โemphasizes the growing role of genetic โขtesting in understanding and proactivelyโฃ managing โขosteoporosisโค and conditions like premature โovarian insufficiency (POI). In a recent discussion, Dr. Siriteanu highlightedโ how genetic insights can empower individuals to take preventative measures, even before a diagnosis is made.
Osteoporosis, ofen called a “silent disease,” can be assessed for genetic predispositionโค through increasingly available tests. “The results do not make the โฃdiagnosis,but they show the direction – if a person has an increased genetic risk,they can start monitoring โearlier,adjust their diet,supplementsโ and level of physical โฃactivity,” Dr. Siriteanu explained.
Research published in Frontiers in endocrinology (2024) supports this approach, demonstrating a meaningful correlation betweenโข variants in the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene and bone mineral โฃdensity.
Several types of genetic tests are currently available:
* Dedicated Bone Health Tests: โ Examples like “Osteoporosis DNA โฃTest” andโค “bone Healthโ Genetic Panel” analyze 10-50 genes related to bone density, providing โa combined genetic risk score.
* Nutrigenetic Tests: While not directlyโ assessing osteoporosis risk, these โคtests (offered by companies like MyDNA, 3×4โข Genetics, DNAfit, and Nutrigenomix with their Boneโ Health module) provide facts on vitamin D and calcium absorption, estrogen metabolism, andโค the effectiveness of exercise on bone โขmass.
* Polygenic Risk Scores: These complex tests analyze hundreds of genetic markers to estimate overall osteoporosis likelihood,primarily โฃused โคin research settingsโ and advanced geneticsโ centers.
Dr. Siriteanu stresses that genetic tests โrevealโค predisposition, not aโค definitive diagnosis. โ”Genetic tests do not diagnose osteoporosis, but show the predisposition, and the results must be interpreted together with the clinical โขassessment: โขDEXA test (bone densitometry), serum levels of โคvitamin D, calcium, hormones, lifestyle factors (smoking, diet, activity). A person with a high genetic risk โwon’t necessarilyโ develop osteoporosis – but they know they need to actively prevent it through diet, supplements and exercise.” She recommends these tests for โwomen with a family history of osteoporosisโ orโ fragility fractures, premenopausal or โฃperimenopausal women โคseekingโข preventative measures, individuals with chronic vitamin D deficiencies or calcium absorption issues, and men or women diagnosed with early osteoporosis โ(under โ50).
The article also โhighlighted Dr. Siriteanu’s work with premature ovarian insufficiency โฃ(POI), โคa complex endocrine condition appearing before age 40, distinctโ from early menopause. “It isโค indeed notโค a normal โขpremature menopause, but a โคcomplex endocrine condition that requires correct diagnosis, hormonal โtreatment and emotional support.” Early diagnosis allows for hormone โreplacement therapy, fertility counseling, and bone โmonitoring, withโ the goal of protecting overall health – bone, heart, and metabolism.
Dr. Siriteanu shared a particularly impactful case: a 27-year-old woman diagnosedโข with the FMR1 mutation who, through genetic testing โand early intervention, successfully preserved her โคfertility and became a mother. “Genetic โtesting is not a technical detail – it’s the โฃmoment that can completely โขchange a patient’s course.”
(Article contributed by MedLife)