The Biosetpoint Hypothesis Addressing theoretical origins of development-related (epigenetic) conditions, such as obesity
presented by Edward R. Blonz, PhD, to facilate discussion.
Updated 7/11/08
"Nutrition education during growth and development is not only an essential life skill that teaches us to seek and recognize essential nourishment, it plays an direct, integral
role in helping define and determine our health potential throughout life."
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"At this point the Biosetpoint Hypothesis is a theory that is based on observational and circumstantial evidence, originally formulated during an investigation into the obesity pandemic. The implications go beyond obesity, to other pathologies, to a better understanding of their origin, and possibly to new approaches to treatment. The precepts of the Biosetpoint are testable, an objective, science-based review of research evidence must always be the guide."
E R Blonz, Ph.D.
Basic Definitions:
Biosetpoint:The state of genetic expression resulting from interactions between the genes
and the biochemical environmental in the body.
Genotype: Determined at conception, the genotype is based on the genes we inherit from our parents. Genotype does not change.
Think of genotype as being analogous to a detailed recipe for a complex dish.
Genetic expression: The process by which the information in the inherited genes gets translated into physical components in the body.
Genetic expression can be influenced by factors, such as diet or other physiological events that affect the biochemical environment in the body.
Continuing our recipe analogy, if the genes are the recipe, genetic expression would be the process of preparing the dish.
Phenotype: The physical manifestation of how the genes have expressed themselves. It is what we physically and functionally become;
what you see in the mirror and what we are metabolically inside. Back to the recipe analogy, the phenotype would be the final dish.
Anyone who has cooked knows that the quality of the final dish is affected by both the quality of the ingredients, the conditions in the kitchen and the actual methods used during dish preparation.
Flex Periods: the term used in the Biosetpoint Hypothesis article to denote periods of physiological growth and development, commonly known as "growth spurts."
Flex periods are genetically-determined, and do not occur at defined intervals.
The mission of The Biosetpoint Institute is to coordinate research efforts and investigations, and serve as a clearinghouse
for information concerning the Biosetpoint Hypothesis and its potential impact upon health and longevity.
Biosetpoint Hypothesis: Human genes provide instructions for behavior on the cellular level, and the type and way that genes express their unique directives is limited by their nature. Our genes are fixed at conception, but genetic expression, the way that genes actually carry out their instructions, is open to influence during distinct periods in life. These distinct periods are those that involve rapid physiological growth and development, commonly known as "growth spurts"
(see definitions at left margin). In the human body, periods of rapid physiological growth and development take place in utero and continue at unique intervals until adulthood is reached.
This aspect of our developmental growth stops once adult status has been achieved. The Biosetpoint is a compilation of genetic expression and it is fixed at the end of every growth period. With few exceptions, once adult status has been achieved the existing Biosetpoint remains in effect for the "non-growth" adult period.
The implication of the Biosetpoint Hypothesis is that diet, and other factors contributing to the body's biochemical environment that are present during periods of rapid growth and development will influence the establishment of genetic expression (epigenetic effect) that can persist throughout life.
The first peer-reviewed paper on this topic is: You Are What You Ate: The Biosetpoint Hypothesis.
This manuscript includes the hypothesis statement and defends its application to the current obesity pandemic.
There is a link to the manuscript below.
Genetic expression is determined during periods of rapid growth and development ("Flex Periods"). During these times the biochemical environment inside the body affects how the genes will be programmed to express themselves.
Flex Periods take place in utero, during infancy, childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. They also occur during pregnancy and periods of compensatory growth.
The timing and duration of Flex Periods varies between individuals. As an illustration, viewing of any sequence of school pictures during the developmental years will reveal those who have undergone their growth spurt and those who have yet to experience that particular phase of growth.
The determination of genetic expression stops at the end of each Flex Period; cumulative results to date serve as an interim Biosetpoint. This interim Biosetpoint remains as the template of genetic expression until the start of the next Flex Period.
The process continues until adult status is achieved. At that point the growth-related determination of genetic expression has been completed.
The genetic expression Biosetpoint in existance at this point will remain in effect for the remainder of the non-growth adult period.
While we grow at different rates, one thing we share is that all developmental steps have been completed by the time growth has stopped and adult status has been achieved. The process of maturation can be thought of as a sequence of programmatic steps that begins in the mother's body at conception.
Concerning the current epidemic of obesity:
Genetic changes are not responsible for the obesity epidemic; genes don't change that fast.
What has changed are the foods people have been eating during periods of rapid growth and development. The paper states, and defends this concept, providing examples of the types of foods that may have played a role.
The Biosetpoint Hypothesis, with its mechanism of sequential programmatic steps, suggests a key component inside the black box of development. It helps clarify our understanding of current epidemiology. It also contributes to our understanding of the riddle of treatment resistance, as adult obesity would, in fact, be defended by endogenous programming making it difficult to control using a calorie balance approach.
The application of the Biosetpoint concept to obesity underlines the absolute need for effective nutrition education programs that begin with the prospective mother before pregnancy.
Such programs must then transfer over to the growing child providing age-appropriate guidance and essential skills during infancy, childhood, adolescence on up to the arrival at adulthood.
Contact Elsevier, the journal publisher, for a copy of the published manuscript.
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