GlyHealth-Index measures biomolecular signals relating to the glycosylation patterns of blood IgG glycoproteins. IgG molecules play critical roles in your immune system. This includes modulation of inflammatory processes which occur during the progression of many chronic diseases including inflammatory conditions, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and brain degeneration diseases.
IgG molecules are large glycoproteins composed of two main parts – protein and glycans. The protein is the component that performs the main functions while the glycans are complex sugar-like molecules that modify the IgG function. The glycosylation patterns (i.e. the patterns of glycan parts) of IgGs change in specific ways during inflammatory processes. The GlyHealth-Index is a measure of your systemic inflammatory state as determined from your blood IgG glycosylation patterns.
The GHI can vary from +100 (corresponding to optimal health on the molecular level), to -100, (corresponding to the advanced progression of inflammation and deterioration of health). By monitoring your GHI periodically you can get an early warning of the progression of inflammatory processes and take preventative measures so you have a healthier environment and lifestyle.
Glycan profiling of blood plasma proteins can provide valuable information about the inflammatory status of the body of the individual. This inflammatory status is strongly associated with chronological ageing as well as physiological changes getting older, but also it is known to correlate with increased risk for disease, poor physical functioning and mortality. The ageing process affects both the structure and function of the immune system. Our aim at Avenna is to track those natural degradation processes for the individual then design a personalised health transformation regime to slow, and if possible, reverse the rates of decline.
Studies using simple biomarkers of acute inflammation suggest that age-related increases in inflammatory processes can be modulated by physical activity and ‘anti-inflammatory’ diets. At Avenna we are building on that work using GlyHealth assays for longitudinal tracking of chronic inflammatory processes in individuals to help optimise personalised anti-inflammatory regimes. We are applying this approach to regenerative medicine using stem cell treatments as well as wellness using non-medical anti-inflammatory protocols that employ changes in lifestyle (including modifications to food, movement, sleep and circadian rhythms) as well as the use of nutraceuticals.