Some ethnicities are seemingly more predisposed to certain health conditions—proof positive that they would benefit from specially-formulated dietary supplements that take into account their unique genetic differences, according to Dr. Roger Roff, CEO of Washington, D.C.-based VibraGene, a genetic brokerage firm and maker of the MiGenetics range of supplements for people of African, Asian, European and Hispanic genetic origins.
 
“People of the world are not the same,” said Dr. Roff. “Consequently, each ethnic group needs the nutritional reinforcements that match their specific genetic requirements.”
 
The first product of its kind genetically designed to address the unique needs of individual ethnic groups, MiGenetics supplements are available in four formulations: African Descent, Asian Descent, European Descent and Hispanic Descent. Each formulation features more than 100 all-natural whole foods, herbs, vitamins, and minerals compatible for each origin of people.
 
The company took a cue from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2003 Technical Report Series 916 on Diet, Nutrition and The Prevention of Chronic Diseases, which suggested, “Understanding the evolutionary aspects of diet and its composition might suggest a diet that would be consistent with the diet to which our genes were programmed to respond.”
 
“This made complete sense to us,” commented Dr. Roff. “We began to look at the foods people of certain ethnic groups could and could not eat. We quickly discovered that people in Northern Europe could digest milk with ease, but 60% of the population in Southern Europe was lactose intolerant and as we checked further south into the heart of Africa we found that 95% of those people were lactose intolerant. Then we checked the populations of the Native Americas and found that almost 100% of the indigenous population is lactose intolerant.”
 
He went on to explain that MiGenetics products were formulated to help give the body what it requires nutritionally and to help counteract the harmful effects of the acidic, processed, unhealthy food consumers are exposed to on a daily basis. “In other words, MiGenetics makes the healthy foods you eat even better and it protects your body from unhealthy foods.”
 
Specialized Formulations
 
The benefit of the MiGenetics dietary program, according to Dr. Roff, is that it contains nutrients each genetic descent is presumably predisposed to absorb. In fact, the companyspent seven years researching each ingredient to be sure it mimicked the phytonutrients, simple sugars, protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, enzymes and probiotics that may have been in each descent’s original diets. 
 
Company literature states that each formula features more than 1 million natural phytonutrients that minimize aging; amaranth (which contains all 18 amino acids including those that are only found in meat); three probiotics to help the digestive system extract and utilize vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients; eight essential simple sugars to boost the immune function and improve cellular energy production; and 13 enzymes that assist in food breakdown and “protect the system from processed foods before those foods become toxic to the system.”
 
In comparison to other ethnic groups, African-Americans are traditionally diagnosed at higher rates of high blood pressures, obesity, diabetes, cancer and kidney disease. The African Descent supplement contains fiber-rich amaranth, which MiGenetics says makes it “an effective natural agent against cancer and heart disease.” The formula also features many rare, all-natural native whole foods, ancient grains and antioxidant rich berries of African origin.
 
The Asian community struggles with higher than average cases of stomach and liver cancers. The Asian Descent formula features brown sea weed, which is rich in fucoidan, modifilan and laminarin. “Fucoidan demonstrates strong anti-tumor growth properties, modifilan is used in the prevention of coronary heart disease while strengthening the immune system, and laminarin assists in preventing tumors from receiving a blood supply,” the company said. “Brown sea weed…has also been used by Asian healers down through the centuries as a treatment method for cough, obesity, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, exhaustion, asthma, hemorrhoids, boils, thyroid disorders, stomach ailments and urinary diseases.”
 
The European Descent formula spotlights the general lifestyle diseases of obesity and diabetes with a formula containing white bean extract “due to its powerful effect on: carbohydrate metabolism, weight reduction and diabetes.” High fiber white bean extract is said to impart a cholesterol-lowering effect, while preventing blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal.
 
The Hispanic Descent formula includes graviola, a plant Dr. Roff said has been recognized by the National Cancer Institute since 1976 for its ability to fight cancer cells, kill viruses, bacteria and parasites, as well as to lower blood pressure, calm nerves and prevent depression. “People of Hispanic descent have overall better health than those people of Asian, European or African descent,” he said. “This statistic apparently is related to the people of Hispanic descent that do not typically stray from their culture’s native foods. However, they suffer from the usual health threats: heart disease, diabetes, obesity, but the disease process that appears to be most devastating and affecting more Hispanics is cancer.”
 
A 30-day supply of MiGenetics supplements retails for $53.25 and the supplements are sold both on the Internet and through medical professionals. For more information about the research that went into the creation of MiGenetics supplements, log onto the company’s website.