Magazine | From bloodwork to DNA to AI and back: my journey to solve a micronutrient mystery

From bloodwork to DNA to AI and back: my journey to solve a micronutrient mystery

Zinc Immune System AI
Written by Heiko Bartlog 5 min read
From bloodwork to DNA to AI and back: my journey to solve a micronutrient mystery

How low zinc levels turned into a detective story about health optimization, genetics — and how to use ChatGPT wisely without falling into traps.

Hi, I’m Heiko – coach, biohacker, and micronutrient enthusiast. For years, I’ve been fine-tuning my approach to health and longevity by regularly testing my blood for micronutrient levels. Why? Because I believe that keeping all essential and semi-essential micronutrients in the optimal range gives my body the best possible foundation to thrive — mentally, physically, and emotionally.

It’s a proactive strategy inspired by experts like Dr. Helena Orfanos-Boeckel, and it’s shaped how I think about performance, stress resilience, and long-term health.

One nutrient I’ve been particularly focused on is zinc. And yet — despite consistent, even high-dose supplementation — my blood levels of zinc just won’t budge into the optimal range. Frustrating? Definitely. But also a great opportunity to dig deeper.

That’s how this article came about. After a nudge from Sandra (thanks again!) in the New Zapiens community, I decided to revisit my DNA test from SelfDecode. Maybe the answer to my stubbornly low zinc levels was hiding in my genes?

Why is zinc so important?

Before we dive into the analysis, let’s take a quick detour: zinc is a true multitasker.

  • It plays a key role in the immune system, supports wound healing, and helps fight infections.
  • It’s essential for protein synthesis, making it crucial for muscle growth and recovery.
  • It influences cognitive function, impacting focus and mood.
  • It acts as a cofactor for many enzymes, involved in metabolism, hormone production, and digestion.
  • And here’s a kicker: If you exercise a lot or sweat frequently (sauna, anyone?), you could be losing significant amounts of zinc.

Sounds like something you’d want enough of, right? That’s exactly what I thought — but my levels refused to rise ...

Checking my DNA test: no red flags?

My first glance at my SelfDecode report:

SelfDecode result

So, no increased requirement according to my genetic data. Hmm.

But maybe ChatGPT knows more?

I asked whether there are SNPs associated with higher zinc needs.
(SNPs = Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, genetic variations that can influence various bodily processes.)

ChatGPT provided a first list of potentially relevant SNPs:

Screenshot 2025-04-10 175904.png 176.05 KB

Never only ask once, especially with ChatGPT ;) 

So I asked again if there might be some more SNPs that could be relevant. And ChatGPT listed some more:

Screenshot 2025-04-10 180441.png 224.03 KB

Based on that, I dug into my SelfDecode data and checked my own genetic variations. 

And I added all the SNP characteristics that SelfDecode had listed as relevant, even if the overall assessment did not reveal an increased need.

Then, I asked ChatGPT to interpret all my individual data.

Screenshot 2025-04-10 181041.png 59.84 KB

Then I asked ChatGPT to critically review its own assessment.

Screenshot 2025-04-10 181228.png 17.69 KB

Surprise, surprise: ChatGPT’s analysis and conclusion was quite different from SelfDecode’s!

While SelfDecode suggested my zinc needs were typical, some SNPs flagged by ChatGPT pointed to a significantly increased requirement!

And then I remembered a phrase from the domain of management theory and practice: Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast.

And I asked myself: What if “Lifestyle Eats Genetics for Breakfast”? So what about exercise and sauna for example?

I added details about my workout and sauna routine and asked for an updated recommendation.

Screenshot 2025-04-10 181433.png 99.79 KB

Done? Hmm… not so fast!

The trap of question framing

Another shoutout to Sandra, who reminded me that answers by AI models like ChatGPT are highly dependent on how you phrase your questions.

So, I reworded the question: Could it be that the original recommendation was way too low in comparison to standard recommendations?

Screenshot 2025-04-10 181633.png 148.02 KB

Then, I went the opposite way: Was the updated recommendation too high? Maybe ChatGPT simply added up all effects, without considering overlapping factors?

Screenshot 2025-04-10 181807.png 157.65 KB

Now I had multiple versions of an answer. Which one should I trust?

Guess what I did … of course: I asked ChatGPT: “So, first too low, then too high, now low again, ... what can I believe you?” ;)

Screenshot 2025-04-10 181946.png 236.65 KB

And: 

Screenshot 2025-04-10 182334.png 62.61 KB

I totally agree: blood work is not the truth, but the best approach we have!

Conclusion: ChatGPT is a great tool — if you know how to ask and how to interpret and challenge its answers 

Please keep in mind: Everybody and every body is different.

My unique lifestyle, diet, and habits can’t (yet) be fully captured by any AI model.

And that’s fine with me. I now have enough information to fine-tune my zinc supplementation approach. Taking also my individual experiences and some hints by Chris Masterjohn into account, I will supplement like this:

👉 2×15 mg zinc citrate in the early morning
👉 25 mg zinc bisglycinate in the later morning

Two highly bioavailable forms, taken as far away as possible from other minerals (esp. copper) that could block absorption or interact directly.

Now, it’s all about testing, measuring, and adjusting again.

Will my zinc levels finally move? Or are there other aspects that I don’t know yet?

To be continued... 😃


Published: April 16th, 2025 · Updated: April 16th, 2025
Heiko Bartlog

Author: Heiko Bartlog

Mentor for Vitality with special expertise in Essential Micronutrients: Measure – Plan – Optimize – repeat! With years of experience as a Project Management Consultant, Coach for Leadership and Agility, Facilitator for Co-Creation and Effectuation Expert. https://vital.bartlog.de/

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