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Personalized micronutrients: from genetic analysis to daily sachet
Personalized micronutrients combine several data sources: around 50 genes with three possible genotypes each, body data, a questionnaire on diet and lifestyle and – if available – blood values. Blood values take precedence because they show where someone stands today. Every dose stays within a window between one third and three times the reference intake, capped at the EFSA tolerable upper intake level. The nutrients come in Microtransporters packed into daily sachets; one supply lasts 90 days, after which the formula is recalculated. They are advertised only with authorized health claims in their official wording.
Why blood levels differ: genes set the course
Why do people have different vitamin B12 levels in their blood? Diet is part of the answer; genes are another. A genome-wide study from the Nurses’ Health Study found, in 1,658 women – and confirmed in an independent group of 1,059 women – a strong association between a variant in the FUT2 gene and plasma B12 levels. Women with two copies of the rs492602[G] variant had higher B12 levels. The researchers see a plausible mechanism behind it: the gene can influence how well B12 is absorbed (Hazra et al., Nature Genetics, 2008).
Vitamin D shows the same picture. In a genome-wide study of 33,996 people of European descent, variants in or near the GC, DHCR7 and CYP2R1 genes influenced vitamin D levels. People whose combined gene score was in the top quarter had a markedly higher risk of levels below 75 nmol/L than those in the bottom quarter (odds ratio 2.47; Wang et al., Lancet, 2010).
This is a powerful finding: genes shift nutrient status in measurable ways. The logical conclusion: if you know your genes, you can plan your nutrient supply with more focus. That is exactly what personalized supplements do – and your pharmacy is the place where they get explained.
Four data sources – and which one has the final say
At Novogenia, a personalized formula is never derived from a single gene. It combines four data sources:
| Data source | What it shows | What you should know |
|---|---|---|
| Genes | the predisposition: how the body processes certain nutrients | around 50 genes with three possible genotypes each; they do not change over a lifetime |
| Body data | sex, age, body weight | Age is recalculated for every production run. |
| Questionnaire | diet and lifestyle, such as fruit and vegetables, dairy products, a vegan or vegetarian diet, smoking, alcohol, sun exposure and training | easy to collect and can be updated at any time |
| Blood values | current nutrient status | If available, they take precedence over all other data. |
Genes describe the climate; blood values describe today’s weather. The climate tells you what to expect in the long run; the weather tells you what to wear today. That is why blood values have the final say as soon as they are available.
Every gene we include is backed by at least three independent studies. Usually, several areas of the analysis influence the same nutrient; in that case, the highest calculated requirement counts. A statement like “gene X means dose Y” therefore falls short – every dose is the result of many data points. The gene-based adjustments are logical conclusions, not scientifically proven outcomes.
Guardrails: the dosing window
Personalization does not mean “as much as possible.” Novogenia works with its own published guardrails, built on the EU reference intakes and on the safety assessments of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA):
- Window: at least one third and at most three times the reference intake.
- Documented exceptions: vitamin D3 and vitamin B12 go above that range; magnesium, zinc, calcium and copper stay below it, because their maximum is anchored to the EFSA upper limit.
- Safety ceiling: for every nutrient with an EFSA tolerable upper intake level, the maximum is at or below that value.
- Capping: a calculated requirement below the minimum is set to the minimum, one above the maximum is set to the maximum. No value outside the window is ever produced.
For your consultations, this means: a dose at the maximum indicates that several factors point upward and the guardrail kicks in. A low dose is not underdosing; it is intended when genes or blood values point to a lower requirement. You will find all limits per nutrient under Micronutrient dosing limits.
From formula to daily sachet
Each nutrient is held in its own Microtransporters – small pellets from 1.6 mm. They are combined for each person according to their formula and packed into daily sachets, which can carry the person’s name. The sachets come in a handy dispenser; one supply lasts 90 days.
- More than 20 nutrients: vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, each dosed individually.
- Tested: every blend undergoes more than 100 tests before it is shipped.
- Free from: lactose-free and gluten-free, without artificial coloring, added sugars or fillers.
- No probiotics: the blends contain micronutrients but no probiotics.
- From a single unit: production under your pharmacy brand is possible from a single unit.
How this works under your own brand is covered in Own brand: supplements and cosmetics. The technical details are described in the contract manufacturing guide: Personalized supplement manufacturing.
Recalculated every 90 days
A personalized formula is not a snapshot. It is recalculated for every new production run: age from the date of birth, plus an updated questionnaire or new blood values where available. On top of that, the formula is regularly reviewed and adjusted if needed. That way, it grows with your customer.
For your pharmacy, the 90-day rhythm is a natural occasion for a short conversation: has anything changed in diet, training or weight? Are there new blood values? How reorders and subscriptions work is explained in Reorders and subscriptions: customer loyalty.
Who personalized micronutrients are a good fit for
At the counter, you will quickly see who might be interested in a personalized blend. Typical starting points:
- Several products in the basket: customers who already combine different supplements get one coordinated blend in a daily sachet, within fixed guardrails.
- Specific diets: a vegan or vegetarian diet, few dairy products or little fruit and vegetables feed into the formula through the questionnaire.
- Sport and training: training volume is part of the questionnaire and is taken into account in the calculation.
- Curiosity about their own genes: customers who have already had a genetic analysis, or are planning one, get a practical next step.
Hit the brakes if someone expects a treatment, has acute symptoms or is pregnant: then the first step leads to a physician. Personalized supplements complement a balanced diet – they replace neither therapy nor medical advice.
Explaining it right: authorized claims instead of promises
Personalized supplements are food, not medicine. In the EU, health claims are prohibited unless they are authorized and included in the list of authorized claims (Art. 10(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006); that list is set out in Regulation (EU) No 432/2012. Use the official wording, for example:
| Nutrient | Authorized claim (official wording) |
|---|---|
| Vitamin D | Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. |
| Vitamin D | Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system. |
| Folate | Folate contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. |
| Magnesium | Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue. |
Every claim comes with conditions: for example, it may only be used for food that is at least a source of the nutrient concerned. Statements that the blend prevents, treats or cures a disease are off-limits (Art. 7(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011). And “your gene proves you need more vitamin D” goes too far as well – the gene-based dose is a logical conclusion.
In Switzerland, the EU regulation does not apply; instead, the FDHA Ordinance on Food Information (LIV) governs: health claims are only allowed if they are provided for in Annex 14 (Art. 31(2) LIV); other claims require authorization from the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (Art. 31(3)). The four examples above appear there with the same wording. More on advertising in Advertising health services and in the contract manufacturing guide under Health claims: what you may advertise.
Your role at the counter
This is where your pharmacy plays its greatest strength: pharmaceutical expertise.
- Record everything already being taken: other supplements come on top of the formula – ask about them actively.
- Keep medications in view: ask about medicines. Whether nutrients and medications go together is something a pharmacy is especially well placed to assess; treatment decisions remain with the physician.
- Draw the medical line: for illnesses, pregnancy and breastfeeding, the question belongs in a physician’s hands.
- Include blood values: if current values are available, they take precedence.
- Keep the questionnaire up to date: if diet, training or weight change, the formula should know.
- Explain changes: the formula changes with age and with new data – that is by design.
How the formula is calculated step by step is described in How a personalized nutrient recipe is calculated. For in-depth examples for your consultations, see the nutrigenetics guide: From genetic profile to personalized supplements.
Frequently asked questions
Which data go into the formula?
What happens when blood values are available?
Can a personalized formula be overdosed?
How long does one supply last?
May I say that the blend prevents disease?
Related: How a personalized nutrient recipe is calculated · Micronutrient dosing limits · From genetic profile to personalized supplements
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Request a project →Offer for pharmaciesNote: 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.