Genes, training, nutrition: the guide for gyms, trainers and sports clubs

Reviewed by Dr. Daniel Wallerstorfer, molecular biologist and founder of Novogenia · Updated: 15 October 2026 · Reading time: 7 min

In short

People respond very differently to the same training – and part of these differences lies in their genes. A performance analysis shows tendencies toward power or endurance, VO2max potential and recovery. As a gym, trainer or club, you turn this into a more personal plan, complemented by nutrition and personalized supplements. The analysis is a lifestyle analysis: no diagnosis, no talent selection, no prediction of injuries. In Switzerland, only certain health professions may order it. This guide takes you from the research to a finished offer in three chapters.

Same plan, completely different results

585 women and men, one training program, twelve weeks: in a large study across eight centers, every participant trained the elbow flexors of their non-dominant arm on exactly the same progressive plan. The results could hardly have been more different. Maximal strength rose by anywhere from 0 to 250%, and muscle cross-sectional area changed by between −2 and +59%. Some participants doubled their strength, others barely improved (Hubal et al., Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2005).

Where do such differences come from? Part of the answer lies in our genes: in twin studies, about half of the differences in muscle strength between people trace back to genetics (Zempo et al., Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 2017). Think of a training plan as a key. For some people, it turns right away; for others, it sticks – not because the key is bad, but because every lock is built a little differently. The logical conclusion: if you know the lock, you can cut the key more precisely.

I am a molecular biologist, and I founded Novogenia in 2009. Since then, our own lab in Eugendorf near Salzburg, Austria, has performed more than 30 million analyses. With this guide, I want to show you what genes reveal in sport, how to use the results in training and nutrition – and how to turn them into a credible offer for your gym, your clients or your club.

What research shows: many genes, one team

There is no single “sports gene.” But the best-known examples show nicely how genes work. ACTN3 holds the blueprint for a strut in fast muscle fibers; its functioning variant is more common in elite sprinters (Yang et al., American Journal of Human Genetics, 2003). For the ACE gene, one particular variant, the II variant, is more common in endurance athletes (Ma et al., PLoS One, 2013).

Each of these genes tips the scales only slightly. Only many of them together make up a profile – and then training comes in. It decides how much of that potential actually shows up on the field. For your work, this means: genes show tendencies, not talents. They help you set priorities, clarify expectations and plan recovery deliberately. The research in detail is explained in Genes and sport: what research shows.

What Novogenia offers for sport

Building block	What it involves	Read more
Performance analysis	lifestyle genetic analysis of power or endurance, VO2max potential and recovery; each gene is backed by at least three independent studies	The performance analysis
Nutrition analysis	for example, how quickly the body breaks down caffeine (CYP1A2)	Sports nutrition by genetic profile
Personalized supplements	calculated from about 50 genes, a questionnaire and, where available, blood values; competitive sport raises the calculated requirement, and every dose stays at or below the EFSA upper limit	Micronutrients for athletes
Partner models	partner shop with a commission on every order, white label under your brand, or your own product concept	Genetic analyses in gyms
NOVO Academy	free of charge, about 5 hours of video per language, a certificate for each completed topic	For personal trainers and coaches

One boundary matters to us: Novogenia makes personalized micronutrients, not sports nutrition such as protein powder, creatine or electrolyte drinks. And we sell exclusively through partners – in other words, through you.

The rules of the game: lifestyle yes, diagnosis no

Lifestyle, not medicine: The performance analysis is a non-medical analysis. It does not make a diagnosis and does not predict injuries. Pain and complaints belong with a physician or a physiotherapist.
Germany and Austria: The German Genetic Diagnostics Act applies to genetic examinations for medical purposes, for clarifying parentage, and in insurance and employment (Section 2(1) GenDG). The Austrian Gene Technology Act covers analyses that allow statements about carrier status, a disease risk, an existing disease or the course of a disease or therapy (Section 4 No. 23 GTG). An analysis of power or endurance tendencies targets none of these points. What always matters is what an analysis is meant to clarify and how the report describes the result.
Switzerland: Analyses of physical activity count as tests of particularly sensitive characteristics (Art. 37(1) GUMV). Only health professionals listed in Art. 40 GUMV may order them, for example physiotherapists (FH) or nutritionists (FH); fitness trainers are not among them. The sample is collected in the presence of the person ordering the test (Art. 34(3) GUMG). Analyses of an increased risk of sports injuries count as medical there (Art. 37(2) GUMV). A Swiss gym therefore works with one of these professionals.
Children and adolescents: Under Novogenia’s terms, only non-medical analyses are carried out for minors, and only with the written consent of the persons having custody. Even so, you do not test children and adolescents to select talent or define their training – sport genetics researchers agree on this (Webborn et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2015).
Data protection: In the EU, genetic data are among the specially protected categories of data (Art. 9(1) GDPR); the basis for a genetic analysis is your client’s explicit consent (Art. 9(2)(a)). In Switzerland, they count as sensitive personal data (Art. 5(c) FADP). More in Genetic data and the GDPR.

Who this guide is for

Gyms: genetic analysis, report session and training plan as a package – start with Offering genetic analyses in gyms.
Personal trainers and coaches: building results into your coaching and knowing what you may say (For personal trainers and coaches).
Clubs and teams: voluntary participation, data protection and no selection by genes (Clubs and teams).
Sports physiotherapy: performance genetics as a complement to your functional tests; in Switzerland, physiotherapists (FH) are among the professions allowed to order such analyses. More in Longevity in physiotherapy.
Performance-minded athletes: tailored micronutrients and the safe use of supplements (Anti-doping).

All chapters at a glance

Chapter 1 · Basics

Genes and sport: what research showsTwins, ACTN3, ACE – and why performance is teamwork among many genes. The performance analysis: what it measuresTopics, saliva sample, 4 days in the lab and the report. Personalizing training with genetic dataFocus, dose and recovery – with measurement having the final say.

Chapter 2 · Nutrition & recovery

Sports nutrition by genetic profileMacronutrients, caffeine and more: what genes add to nutrition. Micronutrients for athletes: personalized and safeTailored daily sachets, within fixed limits. Recovery: what genes revealRecovery, sleep and what research knows about individual differences. Anti-doping: using supplements safelyContamination, personal responsibility and the right questions for manufacturers.

Chapter 3 · Your offer

Offering genetic analyses in gymsPackages, partner shop and a trained team. For personal trainers and coachesBuilding results into coaching – without medical claims. Clubs and teams: genetic data in team sportVoluntary participation, data protection, minors – and no selection by genes.

You will also find all 10 articles, sorted by chapter, at the end of this page.

How we do it at Novogenia

How we support gyms, trainers and clubs at Novogenia:

Our own lab: analysis in our lab in Eugendorf near Salzburg, Austria, in 4 days; CLIA-certified, working according to ISO 15189; more than 30 million analyses performed since 2009.
Saliva sample: with a saliva collection kit, a non-medical-device kit for lifestyle analyses, branded with your logo on request (in Switzerland only on site, in the presence of the ordering professional).
Report: digital via a secure portal, printed on request, in up to 18 languages. You decide whether you see your clients’ reports.
Supplements: personalized in daily sachets, one delivery lasts 90 days; every raw material is screened for doping substances, among other tests.
Partner models: your own partner shop with no setup fees, white label under your brand, or your own product concept.
Training: NOVO Academy, free of charge and optional, with a dedicated course on athletic performance.

Frequently asked questions

What does a performance analysis show?

It shows genetic tendencies: whether muscles lean toward power or endurance, what VO2max potential looks like and what genes reveal about recovery. From this, you can derive priorities for training, recovery and nutrition. It is not a diagnosis, a talent selection tool or a prediction of injuries.

Are gyms allowed to offer genetic analyses?

Partners can offer lifestyle analyses without a medical purpose, including gyms and trainers. Switzerland has stricter rules: analyses of physical activity may only be ordered there by certain health professionals, such as physiotherapists (FH), and the saliva sample is taken in their presence. Fitness trainers are not among them.

How long does it take to get results?

At Novogenia, the lab analysis takes 4 days. Add the time it takes to ship the saliva sample. The report is then available digitally in a secure portal.

Does Novogenia offer sports nutrition such as protein or creatine?

No. Novogenia makes personalized micronutrients, not sports nutrition such as protein powder, creatine, or carbohydrate or electrolyte drinks. New nutrients are a development project for us.

Can a genetic analysis identify athletic talent?

No. Genes show tendencies, not talents. Sport genetics experts clearly advise against testing children and young athletes to select talent or define their training. The strength of an analysis lies in helping adults understand their own profile and plan training, recovery and nutrition more personally.

Genetic analyses for your gym or team?

Tell us about your gym, team or clients – we will show you which model fits.

Request a project →Performance analysis

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.