53 | id == 53
53 | category_id == 10
53 | category_order == 7
53 | category_name == Detox
53 | category_color == #C47AC0
53 | slug == detox-NQO1
53 | title == Have Problems Detoxing? This Gene Can Help (NQO1)
53 | meta_description == Your NQO1 gene helps you detox from the toxic compounds found in air pollution. Find out if your genes are protecting you.
53 | summary == <p><strong>Air pollution from cars and industrial manufacturing is a growing health concern in many parts of the world. The NQO1 gene helps you detox from dangerous chemical compounds in the air. But certain variations in this gene can leave some people unprotected. Find out if your genes are reducing your ability to detox and what you can do about it.</strong></p>
53 | overall_score_text == Detox Score (Based on NQO1 Gene)
53 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/Have-Problems-Detoxing-The-Role-of-NQO1.jpg
53 | author_id == 8
53 | author_name == Mathew Eng
53 | author_title == PharmD
53 | author_order == 40
53 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Mathew.jpg
53 | author_intro == <p><strong>Mathew received his PharmD from the University of Hawaii and an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Washington.</strong></p>    <p>Mathew is a licensed pharmacist with clinical experience in oncology, infectious disease, and diabetes management. He has a passion for personalized patient care and believes that education is essential to living a healthy life. His goal is to motivate individuals to find ways to manage their chronic conditions.</p>
53 | reviewer_id == 1
53 | reviewer_name == Jasmine Foster
53 | reviewer_title == BSc, BEd
53 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
53 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
53 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
53 | publish_date == 2019
53 | publish_date == 9
53 | publish_date == 26
53 | avg_rating == 3.6666666666666665
53 | tags_id == 170
53 | tags_name == Air Pollution
53 | tags_id == 168
53 | tags_name == Benzene
53 | tags_id == 119
53 | tags_name == Detox
53 | tags_id == 169
53 | tags_name == Hydrocarbons
53 | tags_id == 166
53 | tags_name == NQO1 Gene
53 | tags_id == 171
53 | tags_name == NRF2
53 | tags_id == 39
53 | tags_name == Oxidative Stress
53 | tags_id == 167
53 | tags_name == Quinone
53 | tags_id == 122
53 | tags_name == Toxins
53 | permissions_favorite == False
53 | permissions_rate == False
53 | content_article == <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Is The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Gene?</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene encodes an enzyme also named </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/about-nqo1-a-critical-protein-in-detoxing-drugs-and-toxins/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which is short for </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide-phosphate-nadph/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NADPH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> dehydrogenase quinone 1. The main responsibility of this enzyme is to detox quinones, a family of chemical compounds that can cause </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/oxidative-stress-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">oxidative stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573868/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911202/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Certain genetic variations in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can reduce the body&rsquo;s </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/the-science-of-detoxification/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ability to detox</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, potentially increasing the risk of toxicity and cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573868/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911202/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes the NQO1 enzyme, which is responsible for detoxing compounds called quinones.</span></span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Are Quinones?</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Quinones are a family of naturally occurring compounds that perform a variety of chemical reactions. They can be dangerous in humans because quinones are easily converted into </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/oxidative-stress-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">reactive oxygen species</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which cause oxidative stress, cellular injury, and DNA damage. These negative effects can lead to the development of cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10725110"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12093358"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Quinones are naturally found in plants, fungi, and bacteria, making diet a major source for humans. Other compounds can also be converted into toxic quinones in the body; these include, importantly, hydrocarbons (also called benzenes), which are found in fuels, cigarettes, cleaning products, and air pollution [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12093358"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470289/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24911841"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Quinones are chemical compounds that can be converted into reactive oxygen species, which cause cellular and DNA damage. Sources of quinones include diet, smoking, and air pollution.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Does NQO1</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Detox Your Body?</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As mentioned earlier, quinones can harm your body when they are converted into reactive oxygen species. NQO1 prevents this by converting quinones into hydroquinone, much safer compounds that generally does not cause oxidative stress [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911202/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other functions of NQO1 include converting </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/coenzyme-q10-ubiquinol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ubiquinone</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/coenzyme-q10-ubiquinol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CoQ10</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-e-can-help-fertility-pregnancy/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin E</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> into their antioxidant forms, in which they can help protect against oxidative damage. Also, NQO1 stabilizes </span><a href="../../gene/tp53/?utm_source=seo&amp;#38;utm_medium=selfhacked&amp;#38;utm_campaign=id00002"><span style="font-weight: 400;">p53</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a protein that suppresses tumor formation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911202/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">NQO1 detoxes the body by neutralizing quinones. It also helps form antioxidants in the body and protects proteins that suppress tumors.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Gene and Detox Problems</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Problems can arise when variations in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene reduce the activity and concentration of the NQO1 enzyme. Without sufficient NQO1, more quinone can become reactive oxygen species, which leads to increased cellular and DNA damage [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573868/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the main culprits is a variation called </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1*2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which affects the SNP rs1800566. This SNP normally has a &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele, but in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1*2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> the allele is an &lsquo;A&rsquo; instead. Individuals who are homozygous for the &lsquo;A&rsquo; risk allele have little to no NQO1 activity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3482497/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10208650/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another major variation is </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1*3</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which is produced by a variation at rs1131341. At this SNP, the normal allele is once again &lsquo;G&rsquo; while the risk allele is an &lsquo;A&rsquo;. This genetic variant leads to a slower conversion of quinone into its safer metabolites [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3482497/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Genetic variations in</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can lead to lower NQO1 activity, which impairs the body&rsquo;s ability to detox from quinones and leads to increased oxidative damage.</span></span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Increased Cancer Risk</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Genetic variations of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can cause increased rates of DNA damage, ultimately developing into cancer if left unchecked. Research has found that </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants are associated with many types of cancer, including [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3778271/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Breast cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24884893"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prostate cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24838947"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bladder cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23749485"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stomach cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22272361?dopt=Abstract"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Leukemia [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24488035"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variations in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene are associated with increased rates of many types of cancer, like breast, stomach, and prostate cancer.</span></span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Benzene Toxicity</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Benzene (hydrocarbons) are chemical compounds found in many fuels, cigarettes, and cleaning products. Exposure is common in urban areas, where vehicles and industrial manufacturing release significant amounts of hydrocarbon air pollution [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470289/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24911841"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research shows that people with a </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1*2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> genotype (rs1800566-A) are up to 7.6 times more likely to experience benzene toxicity, even from low-level exposure. The long-term health effects of benzene exposure include anemia, DNA damage, and increased risk of cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9230185"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29116991"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17984138"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants can significantly increase the risk of benzene toxicity, which can cause anemia, DNA damage, and cancer.</span></span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Increased Alzheimer&rsquo;s Risk</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is significant evidence that links oxidative stress to the development of Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease. As a result, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> genetic variants have been implicated in the development of this disorder [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28164770"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research has been somewhat mixed, but the majority of studies show that </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1*2 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">(rs1800566-A) is much more common in people with Alzheimer&rsquo;s compared to the healthier ancestral genotype [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28164770"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1*2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> genotype may be associated with Alzheimer&rsquo;s, but further research is needed.&nbsp;</span></span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Results for Toxicity</span></h2> <p>*8262649321934814*</p> <p><strong>Primary SNPs</strong></p> <p><strong>NQO1 rs1800566</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Normal detox function</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Increased risk of toxicity</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 49% of people have relatively increased risk from a suboptimal genotype (GA or AA)</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>NQO1 rs1131341</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Normal detox function</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Increased risk of toxicity</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 4% of people have relatively increased risk from a suboptimal genotype (GA or AA)</span></li> </ul> <p>*1209895310083397*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations to Improve Detox With NQO1</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before starting any new exercise regimen, diet, or supplement, remember to talk with your doctor. Together, you can discuss which strategies are right for you.</span></p> <p>*7741544318078897*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diet and Supplements</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Expression of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene is regulated by a pathway involving the NRF2 protein, and increased NRF2 can increase </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression. Some foods and supplements may increase </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NQO1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> activity in this way, including [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2930038/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/panacea-benefits-broccoli-sprouts-sulforaphane/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sulforaphane</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (found in broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27625902"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-15-scientific-health-benefits-of-resveratrol-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Resveratrol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12679191"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/melatonin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Melatonin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25598500"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/thyroid-hormones-t4t3/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thyroid hormone</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/thyroid-hormones-t4t3/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">T3</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23554160"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/pau-darco-tree/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pau d&rsquo;arco extract</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24646717"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oleanolic acid [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC555528/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/chlorogenic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chlorogenic acid</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15944151"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carnosic acid (from </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/benefits-rosemary/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rosemary</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3047086/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the effects of these foods and supplements on NRF2 have only been studied in animal or cell models, and their effect on humans is not entirely clear.</span></p>
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53 | content_learn_more_8262649321934814_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your NQO1 gene somewhat reduces your ability to detox. Certain foods and supplements may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs1800566,rs1131341
rsStatus = rs1800566,NQO1,chr16,69711242,G,A,,,41,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1131341,NQO1,chr16,69714966,G,A,C,,36,0,Normal
