By:

Steve Hines, DipION, Nutritional therapist and sports nutrition specialist

Issue:
Autumn
Year of publication:
2010
Biotyping is gaining popularity amongst healthcare professionals, personal trainers
and Nutritional Therapists. Not surprisingly, as its a principle whereby nutrition
recommendations are individualised to suit metabolism and biochemical
individuality to help boost weight loss and improve health.
Charles Poliquin developed his form of biotyping whilst working with athletes, gaining data
from blood, urine and saliva tests. His BioSignature Modulation system focuses on
achieving specific body fat reduction through hormone balance. Poliquin believes that fat
accumulates in specific body areas because certain hormones are too high, too low or just
out of balance and this belief is based on 20 years of his own data. There is research to
suggest that higher body fat levels disrupt hormones causing diseases such as diabetes,
heart disease and cancer and there is also evidence to support some of Poliquins
assertions of hormones causing regional fat distribution. The BioSignature system relates
six different hormone types to the accumulation of fat in different body areas.
Androgen type accumulation of fat on upper arms and chest
Insulin type accumulation of fat on shoulders and hips
Thyroid type accumulation of fat on ribs
Cortisol type accumulation of fat on abdomen
Oestrogen type accumulation of fat on bottom and thighs
Growth hormone type accumulation of fat on knees and calf
Androgen type
The BioSignature system suggests that fat on the triceps (back of the upper arm) indicates
low androgen levels (male sex hormones) including testosterone. This does correspond
with studies which report that obese men tend towards a decline in testosterone levels.
Researchers from California found that lowering circulating testosterone of healthy young
men led to increased fat storage on the appendices and abdomen, whereas elevating
testosterone concentrations above normal levels caused fat loss in these areas. Similarly,
male adolescents with low DHEA, a precursor to androgens, were found to have
significantly lower levels of mid-arm muscle mass compared to boys with normal levels of
DHEA. According to this system, excess fat on the chest indicates the conversion of male
sex hormones to female sex hormones. Theres research from Canada that demonstrated
this conversion of hormones related to between 6 and 30 times greater fat deposition on
the torso than on the abdomen. The Department of Paediatric Endocrinology at Sleyman

Demirel University in Turkey has found that leptin, a hormone released from fat cells,
stimulates the conversion of male sex hormones to female sex hormones causing breast
tissue to grow in boys. So the more body fat you have, the more leptin you release which
changes your hormones and tells your body to grow man boobs.
Fat reduction for androgen type
To prevent further fat deposits on the arms and chest boost your testosterone naturally by
consuming more protein and increasing magnesium, zinc and B vitamins. Flavonoids help
reduce the conversion of male hormones to female hormones. These include quercetin,
naringenin, chrysin, daidzein and genistein found in flax seeds, apples, berries, onions,
soya products and green tea. Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine, has also been
found to help.
Insulin type
This hormone type has a regional fat distribution on the shoulder blades and top of the
hips, commonly referred to as the muffin top which reflects insulin resistance. Research
from The Medical College of Wisconsin suggests that the shoulder blade skinfold may help
identify risk of type 2 diabetes in pre-menopausal women. Additionally, research from Spain
reported that obese pre-pubescent boys and girls had significantly elevated insulin and
glucose levels which correlated with shoulder blade skin fold thickness. Researchers from
the Department of Human Biology at Maastricht University reported that shoulder blade
skinfold thickness is significantly associated with persistent impaired glucose tolerance.
There seems to be good evidence to support Poliquins association of these fat sites with
poor insulin function.
Fat reduction for insulin type
To prevent the muffin top from progressing its advisable to consume more oily fish and eat
a higher protein, lower carbohydrate diet as well as eating regular meals with additional
fibre to stabilise blood sugar. The prestigious Journal of the American Medical
Association reported that a low GL diet helps to reduce insulin and triglycerides and aids
weight loss in overweight and obese people. Various herbs such as fenugreek, bitter gourd
and Gymnema sylvestre help to lower blood sugar, inhibit glucose uptake in the small
intestine and have adaptogenic properties on insulin production. A scientific review from
Thames Valley University indicates that cinnamon has been shown to improve insulin
function and possesses blood sugar-lowering properties. Researchers from Cambridge
University demonstrated that chromium deficiency is associated with insulin resistance and
type 2 diabetes. Chromium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity, reduces blood
pressure and reduces free radical damage to DNA.
Thyroid type
The BioSignature system suggests that there is a relationship between fat stored on the rib
cage, (midway between the armpit and the top of the hips) with thyroid activity. This system
suggests that the less fat you have in this area the healthier your thyroid gland and activity.
However, at present there is little scientific research to support the theory that rib cage fat

deposits reflect thyroid function. There is research to suggest that as waist circumference
and BMI increase so T3 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels increase whilst T4
levels decrease, suggesting a change in thyroid function.
Fat reduction for thyroid type
Nutrition recommendations for this site include eating fish, onions, asparagus and
seaweeds for iodine and poultry, fish, almonds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds for
tyrosine. These nutrients are required for the body to make thyroid hormones. Foods
containing selenium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin B6 help the
conversion of the inactive form of thyroid hormone (T4) to the active form (T3). Cortisol type
This type shows an accumulation of fat on the tummy region which, according to Poliquin,
reflects excess levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Research from the University of
California demonstrated that women with a higher waist to hip ratio and central obesity
reported more chronic stress and secreted significantly more cortisol during a stress test
than women with a low waist to hip ratio. Similarly, research from Spain demonstrated that
disrupted cortisol levels leads to a distribution of fat on the abdominals.
Fat reduction for cortisol type
Removing and reducing your exposure to stressors thus reducing cortisol is called for to
reduce abdominal fat accumulation. Poliquin suggests one of the most common stressors
is the consumption of foods to which we are intolerant. Suspect foods include wheat, dairy,
soy, eggs, nuts, yeast and corn. According to Poliquin, by reducing exposure to these
foods, you reduce the stress on the gastrointestinal and immune system, lowering cortisol.
Another important stress reducer is controlling blood sugar by eating regular meals that
have a well balanced protein, fat and carbohydrate ratio. There are various herbs that are
known to help reduce stress, one of the better known being rhodiola. Vitamin C, B5 and
magnesium are also traditionally used to help with stress as they are used by the adrenal
glands to make stress hormones. Supplementing with these nutrients may be of benefit.
Oestrogen type
Fat accumulation on the buttocks and thighs reflects raised levels of oestrogen (both selfmade and environmental) along with possible poor oestrogen metabolism according to the
BioSignature system. Research from Denmark has shown that fat cells of both men and
women contain oestrogen receptors, with men having more receptors on fat underneath the
skin and women having more receptors on fat around the organs as well as fat beneath the
skin. Women have also been shown to have a higher number of fat cells on the buttocks
and thighs and have higher enzyme activity causing the absorption of fat from the general
circulation in this area. Research studies have also shown that leg fat, such as that on the
buttocks and thighs, increased in response to oestrogen hormone treatment. Other
research conducted on drugs that suppressed the bodys oestrogen production showed
significant increases of trunk but not leg fat. Oestrogen administered by a drip also
demonstrated that the breakdown of fat decreased in fat underneath the skin, particularly
on the thighs. These studies support the suggested role played by oestrogen in fat
accumulation on the buttocks and thighs.

Fat reduction for oestrogen type

Supporting oestrogen metabolism and elimination helps reduce fat accumulation. Studies
have shown that sulphurophane and indoles found in cruciferous vegetables such as
broccoli and cabbage help to regulate liver enzymes that metabolise oestrogen. Other
nutrients that are beneficial to oestrogen metabolism are phytoestrogens found in soy
products and flax seeds. Oestrogens are also metabolised by the process of methylation in
the liver so consuming foods rich in methyl donors such as B12, B6 and folic acid may also
be useful.
Growth hormone type
Poliquin suggests that excess fat on the knee and calf reflects low levels of growth
hormone. Research has found that growth hormone-deficient adults had more body fat,
which normalised after growth hormone replacement therapy. However, theres insufficient
research linking these sites of fat accumulation to growth hormone levels. We rely on
Poliquins own data for this association.
Fat reduction for growth hormone type
Growth hormone can be boosted by the use of both glutamine and arginine supplements.
Keywords:
DIET, biotyping, metabolism

http://www.ion.ac.uk/information/onarchives/autumnbiosignaturemodulation-weight-loss-through-hormone-balance

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