Can DNA Testing Help Personalise Your PCOS Nutrition Plan?

How DNA Testing Can Support PCOS Nutrition

When you’re dealing with PCOS, you’ve likely already tried various diets, supplements, or exercise plans that promised results, but didn’t deliver. That’s because PCOS isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s a complex, multifactorial condition that affects women in different ways.

DNA testing offers a more personalised approach. Rather than guessing what might work, it helps you understand your genetic blueprint, so your nutrition and lifestyle plan can be built around how your body actually works.

In my clinic, I offer functional DNA testing as an optional tool for clients who want tailored, evidence-informed insight into how to best support hormone balance, metabolic health and long-term results.

Let’s explore how DNA testing can help inform your PCOS care, especially if you’re stuck with stubborn weight gain, poor blood sugar control, low energy, or slow progress.

What is DNA Testing for Nutrition?

Nutrigenomics is the study of how your genes interact with your food, environment and lifestyle. In practical terms, this means analysing small variations in your genes (called SNPs or single nucleotide polymorphisms) that influence how you respond to carbohydrates, fats, exercise, stress, inflammation and more.

DNA diet testing involves a simple cheek swab, no needles, no fasting, and can offer insight into how your unique genetics may affect areas relevant to PCOS, including:

• Blood sugar regulation

• Inflammation pathways

• Detoxification support

• Hormone metabolism

• Nutrient needs

• Food sensitivities

• Response to exercise and stress

While genes are not your destiny, they can offer important clues. Combining this data with clinical history, symptom patterns, and functional testing (like OAT, hormone or gut tests) allows for a truly individualised plan.

How DNA Insights May Be Helpful for PCOS

Here’s how DNA test results can support key areas of PCOS management:

1. Insulin Sensitivity and Carbohydrate Metabolism

Insulin resistance is common in PCOS, even in lean women. Certain gene variants (such as TCF7L2, PPARG, or ADIPOQ) can affect how well you metabolise carbohydrates and regulate blood glucose.

This can help identify whether you may benefit from a lower glycaemic load diet, a specific macronutrient ratio, or targeted nutrients like inositol, magnesium or chromium to support insulin signalling.

2. Inflammation and Detoxification

Low-grade inflammation and impaired detoxification are often overlooked contributors to PCOS symptoms like acne, fatigue and hormone imbalances.

Genes like GST, NQO1, or IL6 may indicate how efficiently your body deals with oxidative stress or environmental toxins, which can impact oestrogen metabolism and androgen levels. Nutritional strategies can then be targeted towards supporting your natural detox pathways - think cruciferous veg, antioxidants, and methylation support.

3. Oestrogen and Hormone Metabolism

If your PCOS symptoms lean more towards PMS, heavy periods or oestrogen dominance, genes related to hormone breakdown (COMT, CYP1A1, SULT1A1) can give insight into how well your body processes oestrogen and other hormones.

This helps guide food and supplement choices to support hormone clearance, such as B vitamins, brassica vegetables, and fibre-rich foods.

4. Weight Management and Appetite Regulation

For many women with PCOS, weight is one of the most emotionally charged symptoms, and one of the most difficult to shift. Genetics can help highlight whether you may have variations in appetite-regulating genes like FTO or MC4R, or differences in how your body responds to dietary fat or exercise.

Rather than using this as a label, we can use the data to adapt your plan so it works with your biology, not against it. This often brings relief, knowing that your body isn’t “broken”, it’s just working differently.

5. Exercise and Stress Response

Some women thrive on high-intensity workouts. Others feel drained, gain weight, or stop ovulating. DNA markers like ACTN3 and NR3C1 can indicate how your body may respond to different types of exercise or stress.

For PCOS, where cortisol dysregulation is common, this insight can be powerful. It helps match your movement and stress management strategies to your needs, supporting both energy and hormonal health.

Is DNA Testing Right for You?

DNA testing isn’t essential for everyone. You can make excellent progress with a food-first, symptom-led approach. But for women who:

• Have hit a plateau in their PCOS journey

• Want more clarity around which diet or lifestyle plan suits them

• Feel confused by conflicting nutrition advice

• Are motivated to invest in long-term personalised health

…DNA insights can be a helpful tool.

In my practice, we use DNA testing as part of a whole-person approach. Your genes are just one piece of the puzzle, alongside your history, symptoms, lab work, goals and lifestyle. It’s about creating a strategy that fits you.

What the Test Involves

The test itself is straightforward and non-invasive. After ordering, you’ll receive a swab kit by post. Simply follow the instructions, return the sample, and results are usually ready in 3–4 weeks. Once your report is in, we’ll review it together in a consultation, and I’ll translate the science into practical, simple steps to support your hormone and metabolic health.

A Note on Accuracy and Ethics

While the science of nutrigenomics is growing, it’s still an emerging field. DNA results are best interpreted by trained professionals who understand both the science and your clinical picture. We always keep the evidence front and centre and use this information to support, not override, what your body is telling us.

I only work with UK-registered labs that follow high ethical standards and never sell your data.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been spinning your wheels with PCOS and feel like nothing works, DNA testing may offer helpful insight. It won’t give all the answers, but it can provide a clearer roadmap for your next steps.

In a condition as varied as PCOS, personalised nutrition can make a real difference.

A DNA Diet Test Client Success Story

"A DNA Test for Nutrients Made My Diet So Much Healthier."

Let’s take a look at a real-life example of how DNA testing can transform health and nutrition. One of my clients, Sarah, a vegetarian, was struggling with PCOS symptoms like persistent fatigue, hormonal, skin and digestive issues.

Despite following what she believed was a healthy diet, she wasn’t feeling her best.

Upon taking a DNA diet test, we discovered several key SNPs that shed light on her situation:

1. Choline SNP: Sarah had a genetic variation that affected her ability to synthesise choline, an essential nutrient found primarily in animal products. Choline is crucial for liver function, brain development, and muscle movement.

2. Vitamin B12 Absorption SNP: Another SNP revealed that Sarah had a reduced ability to absorb vitamin B12, a vitamin essential for nerve function and the production of DNA and red blood cells. Since B12 is predominantly found in animal products, her vegetarian diet was insufficient in meeting her needs.

3. Fat Metabolism SNP: We also found variations related to how her body metabolises fats, indicating a need for specific types of fats to optimise her energy levels and overall health.

With these DNA diet test results, we adjusted Sarah’s diet to include choline-rich foods like eggs and added a B12 supplement to ensure she met her nutritional needs.

Additionally, we tailored her fat intake to include more omega-3 fatty acids from plant sources like flaxseeds and chia seeds. Within a few months, Sarah’s energy levels improved, and her digestive issues subsided.

Key Genetic SNPs and Their Nutritional Implications For Your Health

1. MTHFR (Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase): Variations in this gene can impact the body’s ability to process folate and homocysteine, influencing heart health and mental wellbeing. Nutritional support includes increasing folate intake through leafy greens and considering methylated folate supplements.

2. APOE (Apolipoprotein E): This gene influences cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health. Individuals with certain variants might benefit from a diet low in saturated fats and rich in omega-3 fatty acids from healthy fats.

3. FTO (Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene): Variations in this gene are associated with obesity and how the body stores fat. Understanding this can help tailor diet and exercise plans to manage weight more effectively.

Ready to explore DNA testing as part of your PCOS support plan?

How to Take the First Step

I offer optional functional DNA testing alongside my 12-week Hormone Shift Method for women with PCOS. You’ll receive tailored recommendations and ongoing coaching to put the insights into action, step-by-step, without overwhelm.

Download my free Hormone Snapshot Self-Check Book a Free 30-Minute Call – we’ll look at your symptoms and create a clear next step Join my 12-Week Programme – a step-by-step approach to feeling better in your body with optional testing and tailored support

Updated in June 2025 to reflect new PCOS research and nutrition strategies. 

DISCLAIMER: The content on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.