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The consultation: explaining genetic results clearly in your practice

Reviewed by Dr. Daniel Wallerstorfer, molecular biologist and founder of Novogenia · Updated: 15 October 2026 · Reading time: 9 min

You translate between the lab and daily life

What happens when people receive nutrition advice based on their genes instead of general recommendations? A team at the University of Toronto studied exactly that in a randomized trial with 149 young adults. Among those who received gene-based advice, 93% said they understood it – compared with 78% in the group given general advice. 88% found the gene-based recommendations useful for their diet (72% in the comparison group), and only 9% felt uneasy about learning their genetic information (Nielsen & El-Sohemy, Genes & Nutrition, 2012).

And whom do people trust with this? In a follow-up study by the same research group, 56% named registered dietitians as the best source of personalized nutrition advice, ahead of physicians at 27%. As the best source of accurate genetic information, 47% named a university research lab and 41% health care professionals – only 12% chose a direct-to-consumer testing company (Nielsen, Shih & El-Sohemy, Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics, 2014).

The logical conclusion: a genetic report shows its full strength when a professional translates it. Think of genes as a recipe book that everyone inherits from their parents. The lab reads out a few pages. What ends up on the plate depends on shopping, cooking and daily life – and that is exactly where your conversation comes in.

Three sentences that belong in every consultation

Whether you are a naturopath, physiotherapist, nutrition consultant or coach, these three sentences protect your clients from false expectations – and you from false promises.

• “Genes are one factor among many.” They show tendencies, not destiny. Diet, exercise, sleep, stress, age and environment all play a part – and your client can change much of that.
• “The recommendations are logical conclusions.” The genetic traits themselves are well documented: every gene in a Novogenia analysis is backed by at least three independent studies. What follows from them for daily life is a logical conclusion – not scientifically proven.
• “This analysis is not a diagnosis.” A lifestyle analysis says nothing about diseases. Novogenia reports deliberately use the simplified terms “functioning” and “impaired” genes. Impaired means that one of the body’s tools works less effectively for a particular trait. It does not mean ill.

How to translate individual results and color codes into everyday language and respond to worries is covered in Explaining a genetic report clearly. This article covers what health professions need on top of that.

Your profession sets the frame

The same report can lead to four different conversations in four practices. What matters is what you use the results for – and where your role ends:

One rule of thumb works in every one of these professions: as soon as a result is supposed to explain a symptom, it has changed its purpose. Then the question belongs with a physician. Exactly where the line between lifestyle and medicine runs is explained in What you may offer: lifestyle or medicine.

One result, four sentences

A report has many pages, but every single result can be explained with the same simple formula. It takes your client from the gene to daily life – without a detour through jargon:

1. What the gene does: one image, one sentence. “Your body has its own tool for dealing with caffeine. The blueprint for it is in the CYP1A2 gene.”
2. What the result shows: a tendency, not a verdict. “In your case, this gene is impaired. You probably break down caffeine more slowly.”
3. What that can mean in daily life: the logical conclusion. “It follows that your afternoon coffee may still be working in the evening.”
4. What you try out: a small, checkable step. “Until our next appointment, have your coffee in the morning only and note how you sleep.”

The fourth sentence matters most. It turns knowledge into action – and gives you something to talk about at the follow-up. Not every notable result needs a step: someone who hardly drinks coffee does not need to change anything about caffeine.

When food supplements come up

Many practices offer personalized supplements after the analysis. Explain honestly how they are put together. At Novogenia, around 50 genes with three possible genotypes each are taken into account, plus a questionnaire and – where available – blood values, which take precedence. Every dose lies between one third and three times the reference intake and never above the upper limit set by EFSA. One delivery of daily sachets lasts 90 days.

Three points belong in the conversation:

• Not a medicine: Food supplements replace neither a balanced diet nor medical advice.
• Check what is already there: Ask which products are already in the kitchen cupboard so nothing is doubled up.
• Medical clarification where needed: With diseases, medication, pregnancy or breastfeeding, the physician clarifies whether the supplement is suitable.

Talk about effects only with authorized health claims, and never present supplements as part of a therapy. Which wording is allowed is shown in Professional law and advertising: titles, claims.

Where you hand over: a good referral to a physician

A referral is not a failure; it is part of good counseling. Refer to a physician whenever symptoms, a disease, medication, a pregnancy or questions about disease risks come up – you will find the full list in Explaining a genetic report clearly. To make the referral land, give your client a short note:

• which analysis was done: a lifestyle analysis, not medical diagnostics;
• which question came up in the conversation, in your client’s own words;
• what you observed, without interpreting it;
• that you are putting your recommendations on this point on hold until it is clarified.

For medication, one clear rule applies: stopping, switching or changing the dose is decided by the treating physician. This also holds in Austria, where partners may offer pharmacogenetic analyses – prescribing remedies is still part of medical practice there (Section 2(2) No. 7 Austrian Physicians Act 1998). More in Austria and Switzerland: different rules and in the Pharmacogenetics guide.

Documentation: your memory for the follow-up

What you write down protects you and helps at the next appointment. Record at least:

• the written consent, including who sees the report;
• which analysis was done for which goal;
• which results you discussed and which steps you agreed on;
• any mention of symptoms or medication, and your referral to a physician;
• the date of the follow-up appointment.

Under the GDPR, genetic data are a specially protected category of data (Art. 9). Store your records securely and clarify the roles with your lab in writing – more in Genetic data and the GDPR.

Switzerland adds more: The information must be given in writing and name, among other things, the lab performing the analysis as well as the contact details of a professional who can answer questions and of the person responsible for data processing (Art. 32 GUMG). Only results that match the purpose of the examination may be communicated (Art. 33 GUMG). For minors, Novogenia performs only non-medical analyses, and only with the written consent of the legal guardians.

Checklist for your results consultation

• Your client’s goal is in front of you, and the matching results are marked.
• The three sentences have been said: one factor among many, logical conclusions, not a diagnosis.
• Every result you discussed ends with a small, checkable step.
• You stayed within your profession and used nothing to explain symptoms.
• Supplements are checked against existing products; with diseases or medication, a physician has clarified whether they are suitable.
• Medical questions were handed over to a physician with a short note.
• Consent, discussion, agreements and referrals are documented.
• The follow-up appointment is in the calendar.

How the consultation fits into the whole process, from saliva sample to follow-up, is described in Adding nutrigenetics to your practice.

Frequently asked questions

Related: Explaining a genetic report clearly · What you may offer: lifestyle or medicine · Genetic data and the GDPR

Note: This guide is general information for businesses and professionals and does not replace medical or legal advice. The genetic traits determined in a genetic analysis are well documented (each gene included is backed by at least three independent studies); recommendations derived from them are logical conclusions, not scientifically proven. Regulations can change; errors and changes excepted.