Scientist: Epigenetics is often a tool to sell pseudoscientific products

Epigenetic creams, cellular rejuvenation diets, and "biological age" tests are appearing on the market. Companies have begun to use epigenetics as a banner for offers that are still rarely supported by science, warned epigeneticist Professor Tomasz K. Wojdacz in an interview with PAP.

Epigenetics is a rapidly evolving field of science that examines how environmental factors such as diet, stress, and lifestyle influence the activity of our genes without altering the DNA itself. In recent years, it has gained popularity, becoming one of the most frequently cited concepts in the context of health, nutrition, and aging. Unfortunately, it is also increasingly used as a marketing ploy.

"Companies use this term as a banner for offers that are rarely supported by scientific research. The American market, in particular, although this will likely reach us soon, has been flooded with dietary supplements, cosmetics, and pseudo-tests that supposedly protect or measure epigenetic mechanisms. They are advertised as tools that allow you to live longer, healthier, and younger. Simply submit a saliva or blood sample, and the company will send back the results along with an offer of a diet tailored to your 'epigenetic age.' All this for a few hundred dollars," Dr. Tomasz Wojdacz, a specialist in clinical epigenetics and a professor at the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, told PAP.

He added that because the word itself sounds scientific, it inspires trust in many people. However, this trust is increasingly being exploited to make money. "Epigenetics has become a business. The problem, however, is that most of these products and the claims behind them are not supported by scientific research. They are not evidence-based, have not undergone clinical trials, and often it's not even known what they actually contain," he emphasized.

He explained that so-called epigenetic clocks exist and are the subject of intensive research in institutions around the world, but their precision currently prevents reliable conclusions from being drawn at the individual level. Their validity relies on the analysis of large populations, not individuals. Meanwhile, companies advertise them as a way to discover one's "true biological age" and sell products that claim to reverse the clock.

According to the expert, this disturbing trend is growing so rapidly because the message is simple and catchy, and public awareness of epigenetics remains minimal. On the one hand, real breakthroughs are emerging, such as early cancer detection tests and epigenetic testing for breast cancer predisposition. On the other, epigenetics is increasingly being used as a scientific label for worthless products.

In response to the flood of disinformation, three scientific organizations – the European International Society for Molecular and Clinical Epigenetics based in Poland (of which Prof. Wojdacz is the president), the American Epigenetics Society, and the Australian The Australasian Epigenetics Alliance – have initiated a joint campaign to educate the public and combat unfair content about epigenetics.

In a joint statement, they emphasized that although epigenetics is an exciting field revolutionizing modern medicine, its name is often misunderstood and misused in the media and marketing.

“The limited amount of reliable information available to the public has led to the spread of unscientific and potentially dangerous beliefs,” the statement’s signatories warned.

That's one reason they want to attract media attention. "If epigenetics is discussed more and more, but in a scientific manner, with research and evidence, people will be less inclined to believe unethical players," said Professor Wojdacz.

Currently, the lack of scientific communication means corporations are exploiting this gap. "Their idea is to oversimplify everything. Everyone has heard that a healthy lifestyle pays off, that smoking, lack of exercise, and a poor diet can lead to disease. Companies add a few scientific-sounding words to the mix: 'broken epigenetic mechanisms,' and they have their marketing ready," said Professor Wojdacz.

He reminded us that although epigenetic changes in the body are indeed influenced by the environment, and are reversible and therefore modifiable, this entire field of knowledge is currently at the research stage. "So, the market for services promising to reverse epigenetic changes is simply a scam, even though scientific research indicates that this may be possible in the near future," concluded the expert from PUM.

Katarzyna Czechowicz (PAP)

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