What becomes clearer when you connect the dots in your health data

Health data often arrives in pieces. A result here, a marker there, each offering a partial view. The real shift happens when those pieces begin to relate to one another.

In this video, Andrew Steele, CEO and co-founder of Stride, catches up with Tom, who is also a former Olympian, as part of Stride’s annual team conversations. Andrew asks what stood out in Tom’s health results this year, and what he changed as a result?

Rather than centring on performance or optimisation, the discussion focuses on connection. Tom describes exploring areas he hadn’t previously examined in detail during his athletic career, particularly methylation. When a recent blood test showed low vitamin B12, it brought new context to his DNA results, which already pointed towards reduced methylation efficiency. Separately, those insights were interesting. Together, they were meaningful.

Alongside this, Tom reflects on results that felt more familiar. His DNA profile confirmed patterns he’d long recognised from elite sport: an endurance bias, faster recovery, and a higher risk of injury. Gut microbiome testing added a further dimension, offering insight into an area that hadn’t been part of his professional training years, but clearly plays a role in overall health.

Why methylation and vitamin B12 are often discussed together

Methylation underpins a wide range of biological processes, from energy production to nervous system function and DNA maintenance. Genetic differences can influence how efficiently this process runs, which in turn affects nutritional requirements.

Vitamin B12 is central to the methylation cycle. When DNA data suggests reduced efficiency and blood results show low B12 levels, those findings reinforce one another. Instead of raising isolated flags, they point towards a shared explanation and a clearer rationale for targeted nutritional support.

What gut microbiome data adds to the picture

Blood and DNA testing can reveal a great deal, but they don’t capture everything. Gut microbiome data offers insight into digestion, nutrient handling, inflammation, and microbial balance - factors that influence how other systems behave.

For Tom, this layer didn’t contradict existing knowledge; it expanded it. By adding information that hadn’t been visible before, it helped complete the picture rather than replace what was already understood.

Frequently asked questions

What is methylation and why does it matter for health?

Methylation is a biochemical process involved in energy production, nervous system function, hormone regulation, detoxification, and DNA repair. Differences in methylation efficiency can affect how the body processes nutrients such as vitamin B12 and folate, influencing fatigue, cognitive function, and long-term health resilience.

How are vitamin B12 levels linked to methylation?

Vitamin B12 is a key cofactor in the methylation cycle. Low B12 levels in blood tests can indicate impaired methylation, particularly when DNA results also suggest reduced methylation efficiency. Looking at blood and DNA data together helps explain whether low B12 reflects increased demand rather than poor intake alone.

Can DNA testing show methylation issues?

Yes. Certain genetic variants affect enzymes involved in methylation pathways. DNA testing can identify whether someone is likely to have higher-than-average methylation demands, which can then be interpreted alongside blood biomarkers such as vitamin B12 and folate.

What does gut microbiome testing tell you that blood tests don’t?

Gut microbiome testing provides insight into digestion, nutrient absorption, inflammation, and microbial balance. While blood tests show circulating markers at a point in time, microbiome data helps explain how nutrients are processed and how the gut may be influencing wider health systems.

Why combine DNA, blood, and gut testing instead of using one test?

Each test answers a different question. DNA shows long-term genetic tendencies. Blood tests show current biological status. Gut microbiome testing shows digestive and microbial influences.

Combining all three allows results to be interpreted in context, reducing the risk of over- or under-reacting to isolated markers.

Can health data be useful if you feel fit and healthy?

Yes. Health testing isn’t only about identifying problems. For many people, it confirms what’s working, highlights areas that may benefit from proactive support, and provides a clearer baseline for tracking change over time.

How often should blood and gut tests be repeated?

Blood and gut biomarkers can change over weeks to months in response to diet, sleep, stress, and lifestyle. Repeating these tests periodically allows trends to be tracked and helps distinguish short-term fluctuation from meaningful change.

Do methylated supplements matter?

For people with reduced methylation efficiency, using nutrients in methylated forms (such as methylated B vitamins) can support bioavailability and utilisation. This is particularly relevant when DNA and blood results both point to increased methylation demand.

Conclusion

Health insights become easier to work with when they stop arriving in isolation.

By looking across DNA, blood biomarkers, and gut microbiome data, patterns start to emerge that wouldn’t be obvious from a single result. That broader view doesn’t demand constant change but it does make it easier to understand how the body is functioning as a whole, and how to support it more intentionally.