What Our Biological Profile Can Reveal About Nutrition, Energy, and Well-Being

Genetics & Longevity: What Role Does Our Personal “Biological Profile” Play?

1. In your work at Permedio, you analyze genetic and metabolic data. What insights best help people understand which individual factors may influence how their bodies respond to diet, exercise, stress, or everyday stimuli—in terms of long-term well-being?

Dr. Stefan Wöhrer: Scientific studies in recent years have confirmed what common sense has always suggested: due to our genetic differences, we respond differently to various environmental stimuli (diet, exercise, medications, toxins, etc.). What is good for one person can trigger life-threatening reactions in another (e.g., in the case of a nut allergy). If we know our genetics, we can respond to them and do things that are beneficial to our health while avoiding things that harm us. We cannot choose our genes, but we should know them in order to live our lives to the fullest.

“Due to our genetic differences, we respond differently to various environmental stimuli (diet, exercise, medications, toxins, etc.). [...] We cannot choose our genes, but we should know them in order to live our lives to the fullest.”

Personalized Medicine in Everyday Life: How can data help support one’s vitality in daily life?

2. You often mention that “data provides guidance.” What kind of genetic or lifestyle-related information can help people make decisions that support their normal bodily functions and energy processes in the long term?

Dr. Stefan Wöhrer: Genetic data can, among other things, indicate how one reacts to macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, protein). In reality, there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation. Macronutrients are metabolized differently from person to person. Some people tolerate carbohydrates well and can eat more of them. Others need to significantly reduce their carbohydrate intake to address the development of obesity or metabolic diseases like diabetes early on. The same applies to protein, by the way. Some people gain fat tissue due to increased protein consumption. This is particularly relevant for people who want to lose weight using meal replacement therapy (which typically has a high protein content). There are always non-responders here—that is, people who do not respond to this therapy or even gain weight. Nutrigenomics makes it possible to predict the optimal macronutrient ratio. You also gain insight into your own metabolism. In fact, there are people who, regardless of muscle mass, have a low or high basal metabolic rate (=resting metabolism). Calorie intake must be adjusted accordingly to avoid being overweight or underweight.

Genetics and Dietary Types: What Does Personalized Nutrition Mean in the Context of Longevity?

3. Your book shows that genetic differences can influence how our bodies process food. What insights emerge when this information is combined with longevity strategies—and how can this help people find a dietary pattern that suits their natural metabolism?

Dr. Stefan Wöhrer: Longevity is a complex process composed of various components: nutrition, exercise, recovery, social environment, susceptibility to disease, challenges, and avoiding toxins are the seven essential components. Nutrition is a very important part of this. If it doesn’t fit, longevity won’t really work either. All of the aforementioned components must be carefully considered and strategically addressed in order to lead a healthy and long life at the end of the day. Genetic testing helps us gain insights into the various aspects and adapt our lifestyle accordingly.

“In reality, there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation. Macronutrients are metabolized differently from person to person. Some people tolerate carbohydrates well and can eat more of them. Others need to significantly reduce their carbohydrate intake [...].“

Energy, Cell Health & Metabolism: What Factors Influence Them from a Genetic Perspective?

4. Many people want to understand why their energy levels or metabolism react differently. Which genetic or molecular mechanisms do you consider particularly relevant in the context of personalized prevention when it comes to supporting normal energy and metabolic processes?

Dr. Stefan Wöhrer: Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every person has different strengths and weaknesses. Genetic testing helps identify these specific traits so we can respond appropriately. However, what most often stands in the way of good health is disease. For me, it’s therefore important to start by identifying certain disease predispositions so we can take targeted, preventive action. For the ten most common lifestyle-related diseases, polygenic tests are available to identify the respective risk. Unfortunately, I see far too many people who try to optimize their health with questionable methods and, in doing so, stumble into relatively easily preventable diseases that rob them of healthy years of life.

Prevention reimagined: What does “personalized longevity” mean from a medical perspective?

5. How does an individualized longevity approach—based on genetic and metabolic profiles—differ from traditional recommendations, and what opportunities do you see in it for helping people develop healthy routines in the long term?

Dr. Stefan Wöhrer: At the moment, preventive medicine is geared toward the average person. In doing so, we accept that some people fall through the cracks because their diseases occur earlier than expected (e.g., breast cancer in women under 40), while on the other hand, we impose unnecessary screening tests on many people with low risk or even treat them preventively (e.g., statin therapy for elevated blood lipids). A personalized preventive care approach, based on individual genetic risk, avoids unnecessary treatments and tests and intensifies screening for high-risk patients.

Micronutrients & Genetics: Where do these two approaches complement each other effectively?

6. Many people wonder why certain nutrients seem to “work better” for some people than for others. What role do genetic differences play in this—and how can micronutrients be classified so that they support normal functions such as energy, nerve function, or cell protection within the scope of their approved effects?

Dr. Stefan Wöhrer: Both macronutrient and micronutrient requirements are individual and depend on our genes. That is why there cannot be uniform recommendations for dietary supplements. In principle, a healthy and balanced diet should make additional dietary supplements unnecessary. However, as practice shows, this is rarely the case. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are, in fact, extremely common. Knowing which micronutrient deficiencies you are genetically predisposed to helps in conducting appropriate laboratory tests or, if necessary, taking supplements.

Motivation & Behavior: Why do many health resolutions fail, and how can one refocus?

7. From the perspective of personalized medicine: What typical patterns do you observe when people strive for long-term behavioral changes—and which strategies prove particularly effective for establishing healthy routines permanently?

Dr. Stefan Wöhrer: There are two problems here. First, people often take on too much at once and want to see rapid improvements. Our body is a true marvel and always tries to maintain balance. Rapid changes automatically trigger a counter-regulatory response, which makes achieving goals difficult. Small, gradual changes that can be sustained over the long term are much more effective here. I’m a big fan of James Clear’s “1% Method.” Second, due to the flood of information from various sources, it’s difficult to figure out what really needs to be changed. It’s actually almost impossible for a layperson to distinguish good information from nonsense. I’m conservative in this regard and stick to the 7 pillars of a healthy life (nutrition, exercise, social environment, recovery, challenge, avoiding toxins, and targeted medical prevention).

“Small, incremental changes that can be sustained over the long term are much more effective here. [...] I’m a big fan of James Clear’s ‘1% Method.’”

Outlook: What developments will shape longevity medicine in the coming years?

8. Research on genetics, metabolic profiles, and personalized prevention is advancing rapidly. Which trends or technologies do you currently consider particularly relevant for people who want to actively support their vitality span?

Dr. Stefan Wöhrer: I do not believe—nor do I consider it desirable—that human lifespan can be significantly extended. However, I am firmly convinced that healthy life expectancy can be extended. If you retire at 65, realistically you still have a good 20 years that you can spend with vitality and good health. Genetic and epigenetic testing can help us avoid diseases, detect them early, and treat them in a targeted manner, thereby enabling us to make the most of our full lifespan.