At BiometrIQ, we bring together multiple biomarker analyses within one platform, with one clear goal: to support dietitians in guiding their clients in an even more targeted, personal, and effective way.
We relie on a multidisciplinary team of experts with backgrounds in biochemistry and biotechnology, nutrition and dietetics, movement sciences, data science and artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This unique combination of expertise ensures that we can interpret biomarker data correctly, translate it into practical insights, and process it securely. Step by step, we are building a data-driven platform firmly anchored in scientific evidence.
The use of DNA sequencing and SNP/mutation detection to map predispositions is relatively new. Within the Human Genome Project (1990–2003), a legion of scientific teams from different domains (genetics, microbiology, informatics, medicine, etc.) collaborated closely to map the full human genome for the first time (at a cost of 2.7 billion dollars).
Thanks to several technological developments over the past 20 years, the cost of DNA sequencing and genotyping has decreased exponentially. In particular, the development of Next-Generation Sequencing techniques, by companies such as Illumina, has further accelerated this trend. BiometrIQ samples are genotyped in the Genetic Laboratory of Erasmus University Hospital in Rotterdam.
The rapid development of these technologies opened a broad spectrum of new research possibilities, ranging from heredity research and genealogy to pharmacogenetics, nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, and more.
Illumina sequencing also recently contributed to the rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine. Thanks to this technology, the genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was fully mapped already in January 2020, enabling researchers worldwide to immediately start developing vaccines, antivirals, and diagnostic tests.
Unlike classical heredity research, where disease risk is calculated based on association studies and where, besides genetic predisposition, behaviour and environmental factors play a decisive role, BiometrIQ’s analysis model focuses primarily on functional gene variants.
These are variants that impact how proteins are produced in the body (e.g., reduced enzyme activity or altered transport capacity), and therefore have a direct link to nutrient processing and overall body composition. Concretely, this concerns insights on nutrition, sport, and lifestyle (non-exhaustive), such as:
Efficiency of metabolism, e.g., carbohydrate, fat, caffeine metabolism, etc.
Absorption, processing, and transport of vitamins and minerals, e.g., vitamins B6, B9, B12, C, D, zinc, iron, etc.
Development of possible sensitivities or intolerances, e.g., lactose sensitivity
Body composition, e.g., muscle fibre types, muscle gain, injury sensitivity, bone mineral density, etc.
A practical example of one of the studies used to support the analysis model (Timpson J.T. et al., 2010) is described below for illustration. A more extensive list of studies used to support the BiometrIQ analysis model can be found here.
L-ascorbic acid is obtained through diet and is transported across the cell membrane via active and passive transport. Active transport is facilitated by Sodium L-ascorbic Acid Co-Transporters (SVCTs), encoded by the SLC23A2 and SLC23A1 genes.
This study examined several genetic mutations within the SLC23A1 gene, responsible for producing the SVCT1 transporter. Mutations at different locations in this gene (rs6596471, rs6596473, rs10063949, rs33972313), potentially affecting L-ascorbic acid transport, were identified and investigated.
For one of the mutations studied, at rs33972313, a negative association was found between carrying risk alleles and circulating L-ascorbic acid values. Based on a meta-analysis across the different studies (15,087 participants), it was shown that each additional risk allele was associated with a reduced circulating L-ascorbic acid concentration of −5.98 μmol/L (95% CI: −8.23, −3.73 μmol/L; P = 2.0 × 10−7 per risk allele).
Timpson J.T. et al. (2010) – Genetic variation at the SLC23A1 locus is associated with circulating concentrations of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C): evidence from 5 independent studies with >15,000 participants.
Given the highly sensitive nature of the personal data processed within BiometrIQ’s biomarker analyses, privacy and data protection are two essential pillars.
Both technically and organisationally, the necessary precautions have been taken to safeguard personal data.
The report, as well as raw DNA data and all other personal data, remain the property of the client at all times, in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Personal data at an individual level will never be sold, leased, or rented to third parties for research or commercial purposes without the explicit consent of the client.
DNA is only one piece of a complex puzzle. The final phenotype that manifests is partly genetically determined, but is also strongly influenced by factors such as dietary and lifestyle habits, physical activity, sleep, stress, microbiome, social context, etc.
For correct interpretation of genetic analyses and proper positioning of these insights within the broader context, we rely on our network of professional partners. Partner selection first considers relevant education (e.g., nutrition and dietetics, orthomolecular nutrition). BiometrIQ then provides training on the underlying biochemistry of the analyses, interpretation of insights, and translation into actionable advice.
Various studies have shown that properly applying genetic analyses to support nutritional and exercise advice can positively impact the effectiveness of the prescribed intervention.
For illustration, the following study is included: Arkadianos I. et al. (2007), Improved weight management using genetic information to personalize a calorie controlled diet, Nutr J., 6(29), 1–8. This study mapped the impact of a genetically personalized nutritional plan on long-term weight loss.
Also included is: Jones N. et al. (2016), A genetic-based algorithm for personalised resistance training, Biol. Sport. 2016 Jun, 33(2):117-26. This study investigated the impact of a genetically personalized training plan on strength gains and overall fitness.
In the future, these findings must be further explored and expanded to better map the effectiveness of DNA analyses in practice. It remains crucial to invest in close collaboration and knowledge sharing between academia, DNA companies, and frontline healthcare providers to guarantee correct interpretation and contextualisation of genetic insights.
DNA as piece of the puzzle
Going forward, it will be crucial to continue building a user-friendly platform that maps the complex interplay between genetics and epigenetics even better. BiometrIQ’s research and development team closely monitors new developments in biomarker analyses, aiming for continuous improvement and further expansion of the analysis model. With respect for scientific evidence, always.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is receiving increasing attention—not only among people with diabetes, but also among individuals who want to actively improve their health.
Within BiometrIQ, we do not use CGM as a medical diagnostic instrument, but as an additional biomarker to help dietitians make patterns visible and design targeted, feasible, tailored interventions. The added value lies in combining data with professional interpretation: only when insights are properly contextualised can they lead to sustainable behavioural change.
Scientific research shows that glucose monitoring can also have positive health effects in people without diabetes. A 2022 study demonstrated that real-time CGM led to significant improvements in weight, BMI, fat mass, and cholesterol levels in young adults with overweight and obesity (Chekima et al., 2022).
Expert Dr. Peter Attia also highlights the importance of CGM for people without diabetes. He argues that monitoring glucose is not only analytically valuable, but also functions as a behavioural tool: it gives immediate feedback on nutrition and lifestyle choices, which can be highly motivating and support positive behavioural change. We also observe this in our analyses, where CGM-based trajectories lead to sustainable lifestyle improvements.
More recent research from 2023 further supports CGM’s value for healthy individuals by emphasising how glucose monitoring helps to better understand and manage postprandial hyperglycaemia (PPHG)—in other words, blood sugar spikes after meals. The study found that even in healthy people, post-meal glucose spikes vary greatly and are influenced by factors such as meal timing, food choices, and even sleep quality. It also showed that individuals with high glucose variability—strong fluctuations in glucose levels—have a higher risk of health issues such as reduced insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular disease (Jarvis et al., 2023).
A 2025 systematic review published in Sensors (an international peer-reviewed journal), conducted by Filip Wilczek and colleagues from various Swiss medical institutions, concludes that CGM may offer significant benefits for cardiovascular prevention in healthy individuals without diabetes. The study emphasises that CGM, by providing continuous glucose data, enables early identification of metabolic deviations such as glucose variability and postprandial hyperglycaemia—both independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These detailed insights support more targeted and effective lifestyle interventions, particularly regarding nutrition and physical activity (Wilczek et al., 2025).
At BiometrIQ, we are on a mission to make data-driven nutritional guidance accessible to everyone. Our platform allows certified dietitians to clearly interpret CGM data and translate it into feasible, meaningful advice. Their focus is often on building healthy habits rather than restrictive dieting or an excessive fixation on individual measurements.
In collaboration with GRAY (Ghent University Research for Aging Young), data are analysed by an interdisciplinary team of nutrition and movement scientists. The research focuses on the relationship between lifestyle factors and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). It also examines to what extent gaining insight into one’s own glucose values influences eating behaviour under the guidance of a dietitian. This collaboration provides valuable knowledge on the interplay between lifestyle and metabolic health.
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