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vancanwin

39 karma · joined June 1, 2017

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vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Hi Kayhi, quickly, what do you define people with normal diet? There is an array of different diet and different health spectrum that doesn't constitute a visit to the doctor or even have the thought of getting a blood panel. As mentioned above, the scientific rigor for each supplement efficacy on some human clinical trials are sometimes over-simplification of findings from very short trials that don't look into more longitudinal studies. And this is just the non-healthy populations. Most clinical trials that do work on healthy populations tend to focus on athletes. We are still looking more studies that focus on "average" populations that aren't necessarily unhealthy and pro athlete population.

In the end, what we are doing is using data to see if controlling for purity in supplementation improves people's definition of health. If we can control parameters (purity, vitamin active form, etc.), can we see those changes quantitatively rather than qualitatively.

Thanks for your inquiry.

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Appreciate the advice on how to message this. This is exactly what we are trying to convey, and we are working on conveying that.

Currently, I've only posted one medium article, but working on to expand into different topics.

I would like to connect to you, if possible. I'll reach out to you via twitter. Let me know if there is a better way.

https://medium.com/@mynutrigene/vitamins-help-fight-diseases...

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
To your first question, that was done on PhD work in human cell lines and plants. What you observe is the production of the active metabolite (E.g. thiamine converted into thiamine pyrophosphate) or breakdown of the metabolite.

We are looking into that research right now with our advisors. This is definitely an ongoing research topic especially related to inflammatory diseases and cancer. We aren't making any of those claims yet since it's still hard to interpret these studies in human cell lines and small population in some of the clinical trials (E.g. the study that saw increased efficacy of a cancer drug with vitmin c). We are conducting further investigation and research with PIs that are doing this type of work. But for now, we do not have a consumer product that can measure epigenetic changes dynamically.

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
We definitely notice this feature is lacking in the customer flow. We have a dosage generator in our backend that our customer received but we will push that feature to be more transparent in our metabolic assessment.
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
We are looking to improve our assessments by getting a sense what other lifestyle factors to include. A lot of customers and people going through the site has been helping us add other factors such as smoking, for example.
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Not sure where you got that feature since that feature is not yet available online. We can generate a list of dosages that customized base on your body composition.
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
First, we include the vitamins base on a per package basis and that feature pops up after you've taken the metabolic assessment.

Second, yes that's the first genetic differences we are accounting for. My cofounder and I are both female founders with a set of MTHFR SNPs and have had issues with proper methylation of folic acid and even cobalamin. We currently include methylated cobalamin, but have had issues finding manufacturers that provide methylfolate (and not other derivatives such as methyltetrahydrofolic acid).

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Our vitamins cannot be injected at the moment since most isoforms of vitamins are usually in an inactive form that requires absorption through the gut.
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Yes! Absolutely and other factors from oxygen radicals to light exposure.

To address the difference between our formulation with liposomal vitamins, the difference is in the formulation of the vitamins working with each other not in the encapsulation. For example, most of packages includes Vitamin D3, calcium, and Vitamin K because calcium and vitamin K helps increase the uptake of Vitamin D3 through interactions with vitamin d receptor.

Ideally, we want to find manufacturers that produces liposomal vitamins, but haven't found any that doesn't use other fillers such as starch and sugar as well. Also not all supplements require an encapsulation process. The rate of vitamin C degradation is the fastest, hence why most vitamin c on the market is sold with liposomal encapsulation.

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Yup totally working on it now. We are working through Cloudflare to setup the certificates. Thanks!
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Which part? So I can help be more clear.
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Thanks for your feedback.

(1) Our 10x claim is on efficacy of absorption as for liquids typically easier to absorb than tablets or soft gels. I will submit that article soon. Apologize for not being clear.

(2) As for measurable health improvements we are collecting those data through our customers and research done with our advisors at the moment. We have some preliminary results but are currently under review. Happy to share that once it is published.

We would love to get into vitamin manufacturing as we do see this epidemic of not validating purity of vitamins happening further down the line. We are partnering with third parties to help us provide certificate of analysis for the supplements we purchase from our manufacturers.

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Yes thank you. Will edit it now.
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
I just realize that after responding again (see above).
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
We are definitely checking you guys out. We've spoken to Neil to set something up soon. :)
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
That is the vision - using data to track changes in health rather human psychology.
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
There are lots of regulatory limitations in making sure each supplement is allowed for consumption in each country (let alone each state). So we are making sure we have all the precautions met before doing something worldwide.
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Our vision is to keep your data as your personal insights. My data is on there as well, so I hope this doesn't end up in the wrong hands.

What we are doing now is further developing our encryption and HIPAA compliance service to make sure your data at least stays secure.

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
We are launching that feature through our genetics option in our metabolic assessment as of recent. What we are having more people do is get a blood panel done before and after our product. Please contact us at support@mynutrigene.com to discuss more about it as a service.

We don't provide the test directly, but we recommend blood panels taken through life extensions.

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
All vitamins degrade within weeeks / months and that's why we are delivering just in time.

We make the supplements the week we plan to ship it. And you should consume our monthly vitamins with the month.

Most of the vitamins right after production (including capping) would degrade on average 50% 6 months after. That's why we are taking the subscription model approach.

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
A month subscription of liquid supplements that is adjusted base on your body composition. Our supplements are adjusted base on your weight, height, age, and gender. And so far, no two orders are the same. It will eventually once we get more orders.
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Greatly appreciate the caution. Yes, we are working doctors who are making these claims with supplements and their device. However, I will tread carefully on my anecdotal statements as well.
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
I appreciate your skepticism as there should be more of it when addressing these type of health topics. I wish there was more of this type of healthy discussions in the place of healthcare.

But back to the topic, my mistake for generalizing the statements above. For some who need to reduce or should I say "monitor" their carb intake, such as myself, I had to drastically reduce my carb intake due to diabetes. And sugars are particularly a huge culprit for this problem, but I have to significantly reduce consuming potatoes, rice, pasta, even healthy fruits. So for many in these categories reducing their carbs is necessary.

The space of nutritional science does contain lots of research but some are very limiting and over simplified. An example, I've seen studies of arginine consumption and how that effects the aortic heart stiffness. Some of the studies only lasted for 120 minutes and concluded that there weren't any effects. But many many longitudinal clinical trials have shown improvement in heart health through decrease in heart stiffness. For us, we still have to comb through all the papers of published studies and make sure the conclusions made are just an oversimplification of lack of rigor in those studies.

But yes, we want to make the data and information more transparent as well. Thank you for recommending that site. We've definitely checked it out but will check it out again.

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
I, too, have similar concerns. For people who are taking supplements now have mostly qualitative data to show efficacy of supplements in general. Some people go beyond taking the steps of blood panels, for example.

What we are doing is finding ways to quantify how supplements are working for people. And we strive for is finding those metrics to better understand how people can improve in their health.

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Thanks for you candidness. We definitely do realize that we need more content on our website about our process and we are looking for more feedback.

It sounds like what you're looking for is more scientific research to back our claims.

As a PhD myself, it's been hard to not get tangled in the technical details and learn how to convey a simply but very informative information the public.

As for thiamine available in food, my PhD was studying thiamine production in plants and it's heavily regulated depending on what's available in the environment. Even then I've seen people thiamine deficiency in developed countries, which is sad really because people just don't eat properly.

And this is becoming more common with Americans not meeting their RDA (see references below)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2937576/

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
You shouldn't need to if you already have. BUT if you find any changes in your weight and diet, for example, we do recommend filling out the assessment again for now. Near the end of the year, we are creating more a user dashboard, so that users can just update this type of information rather than completely filling out the same form again.
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
We are looking to expand into other countries this coming year in particular possibly Canada and Australia. Where are you hoping for us to ship?
vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Thank you for your feedback and we are always trying to iterate on our ability to be more transparent with our customers.

What we are attempting to do in the next few weeks is:

1) Adding a feature that includes comparisons in dosages with our service versus standard multi-vitamin pills.

2) And yes to the US only customers. Do you suggest we put it on the home page? That would be easy to do.

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
I truly understand the skepticism especially when starting this company. That's why we are putting standards and QA processes to make sure our vitamins are pure and not filled with 99% fillers as most vitamins do.

We are targeting people who have taken a step towards reducing their refine sugar, carbs, and proper exercise. Our customers typically work out and eat healthy, but are finding that supplementation is working for them to reach their health goals. So they aren't replacing a meal, but adding on top of their current habits and diets to boost their energy, for example. But if you look are high-quality liquid vitamins on the market now, it's about on average $20 per bottle per vitamin that would last you about month. And you'll probably have to buy a micro-scale to properly weight out the right amount.

The body is super complex, and at the moment, the field of nutritional science is still making strides in becoming a more validated science. What we are doing is bridging this gap between research and consumers who are currently hacking and see if we as a community can provide more insights into nutritional science.

vancanwin··on Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
Our work is based on government funded research as well, but it's more up-to-date. We work with world leading experts such Dr. Bruce Hollis who has spent more than 40 years researching the appropriate Vitamin D consumption. He's started the Vitamin D council (see link below) to inform people how we as a population should be taking more Vitamin D and in particular Vitamin D3.

https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/