When personalizing nutrition for athletes, I hold biomarker testing as one of the highest priorities to have done prior to working with me. Why? Biomarkers stand as crucial signposts, guiding my nutrition strategies because they allow me to look at an athlete from the inside out and look at the health “story” for each person. This helps elevate my services as I am able to truly customize an athlete’s nutrition and recovery plan based on their individual physiology. So, what exactly is a biomarker and why is it essential to measure them?

Biomarkers, short for biological markers, are measurable substances that provide insight into physiological or pathological processes within the body. These can be molecules, genes, proteins, vitamins, minerals or other measurable features that indicate normal biological processes, pathogenic processes or a response to therapeutic interventions.

The Multifaceted Role of Biomarkers

1. Disease diagnosis and monitoring: Biomarkers play a pivotal role in diagnosing various conditions and diseases. For instance, elevated levels of specific proteins in the blood may indicate cardiovascular issues. Monitoring biomarkers over time aids in tracking the progression or regression of these conditions and diseases.
    
2. Treatment efficacy: In the realm of personalized nutrition, biomarkers help customize nutrition strategies to individual needs. By assessing how biomarkers respond to specific nutritional changes, Registered Dietitians can optimize and adjust interventions for maximum efficacy. Side note - this is why you want to have at least 2 comprehensive biomarker measurements done per year when you are making changes to your nutrition plan.
    
3. Risk assessment: Biomarkers are instrumental in assessing an athlete's susceptibility to certain diseases or conditions. Genetic markers, for example, can provide insights into inherited predispositions, allowing for preventive nutrition measures. I always recommend genetic/genomic testing and Omega-3 Index testing in the early stages when working with an athlete. It’s a “one and done” test that provides so much important information relative to how I create a custom nutrition strategy for athletes.
    
4.  Personalized nutrition: The era of a one-size-fits-all nutrition plan has evolved into a more personalized approach. Biomarkers enable Registered Dietitians to tailor nutrition strategies based on an athlete's unique biological makeup, improving the precision and efficacy of nutrition planning.

Why Measure Biomarkers?

1. Early detection: Biomarkers serve as early warning signals, allowing for the detection of certain conditions and diseases in their early stages. Early intervention can significantly improve treatment outcomes and even prevent the progression of certain conditions.
    
2. Customized nutrition planning: Measuring biomarkers aids in tailoring treatment plans to athlete needs. This not only enhances daily nutrition strategies and nutrient timing plans but also minimizes adverse effects by avoiding nutrition strategies that may be less effective for a particular athlete.
    
3. Proactive health management: Health before performance is important to understand. If you are not healthy, you can’t perform at your highest level. Regular monitoring of biomarkers empowers athletes to take charge of their health and performance. It provides actionable insights that can guide nutrition adjustments, preventive measures and early interventions, fostering a proactive approach to overall health and performance.
    
   Biomarkers are the compass guiding the journey toward personalized nutrition. By measuring these molecular clues, nutrition professionals gain a deeper understanding of athlete health, enabling early detection, personalized nutrition strategies and a proactive approach to overall health. The era of biomarker-driven nutrition planning heralds a new frontier where nutrition will be highly individualized.
    
    
   Learn more about biomarker testing HERE on the eNRG Performance website.