What if you could see into the future to find out what problems you will face 20 or 30 years down the road and what you can do to stop it?

Eliska Alderson, 46, has seen the future. The mother of two recently learned that as she gets older, she will be susceptible to heart disease and other health problems.

"Well, they didn't say I had heart disease," she said. "But there is a predisposition. And, then there was some bone issues and being a woman, have to be concerned about osteoporosis."

How did she find all that out? She paid Genelex labs $395 to test her DNA.

Genelex says its test targets your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and bone loss.

"What we're trying to do is help people control their risk factors for these diseases," explained Genelex Founder Howard Coleman. "There are risk factors that over a period of 20, 30, 40 years will lead to major disease."

Here's how the process works: First, you get a kit in the mail. The kit contains a 38-item questionnaire that deals with your diet and activity level. You answer the questions and then take a cotton swab and run it through your mouth. Then you pack up the swab and questionnaire, put the kit in the mail, and the scientists do the rest of the work.

It's that simple.

Once Genelex gets your kit, the workers combine the results of your questionnaire with your DNA and create a report tailored just for you.

The lab workers look for variations in 19 specific genes. For instance, a variation in the gene 'MTR' means you could be at risk for heart disease. A variation in 'IL6' and you could be at risk for inflammation or osteoporosis. A variation in the gene 'VDR' could indicate a risk for osteoporosis or diabetes.

Once they know the markers, Genelex advises clients which vitamins or supplements can help keep the risk factors in check.

Alderson was surprised when she received her report and found out she needed more heart healthy vitamins like vitamin B and folate.

"I work really hard at trying to eat right and trying to exercise," she said. "I mean we all (do). I know I like to think I know it all, and I'm doing everything I need to do. It's kind of unsettling to know you're not."

What's unsettling to critics is that the test is new, and unproven.

Genelex only started offering DNA tests in 2001.

"We just don't know enough to use those types of tests effectively," said Dr. Steven Zeisel with the University of North Carolina.

Others say using only 19 out of thousands of genes to determine risk factors is irresponsible.

Purdue University Professor Jim Fleet said, "It's very naive to focus on a few select genes for any given disease. We know there are many contributors, genetic contributors to every complex disease."

Coleman admits the test is not a guarantee of future health.

"The reason you need a test like this is to personalize your recommendations," he explained. "The FDA recommendations for nutrition are for the average person. There is no such thing as the average person. So, customizing this to the individual makes it a lot easier to stick with what they personally need to do."

For Alderson it's not a major life change, just more vitamins and one other change.

"One thing they did say that I had to cut back my caffeine and I already cut back my caffeine down to about nil," she said. "So, I would say I've probably noticed that more than anything."

Genelex also offers DNA testing to determine genealogy and how your body reacts to prescription drugs.

In the future they hope to expand testing to help the fight against obesity.

For More Information:

To order a test, or for more information, call Genelex at 1-800-523-3080 or visit their website: www.genelex.com