Personalised or plant based protein as the latest craze?
What a mindboggling week this has been! From overturning Roe & Wade to the Ukraine war and starvation in Africa and extensive flooding in Bangladesh, it has become hard to keep up and stay sane.
In this week's newsletter: Latest research, Viome launches new test, DietID partners with Blue Zones, podcast with Foodmatterslive, Nourished launched 3D printed protein bars
Yours in health,
Mariette & the Qina team
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Research update
Artificial intelligence for the public sector: results of landscaping the use of AI in government across the European Union
This paper is based on a review of a sample of 250 cases across the European Union, as part of the AI Watch research, on the use and impact of AI in public services. The findings show that "AI is used mainly to support improving public service delivery, followed by enhancing internal management and only in a limited number assist directly or indirectly policy decision-making".
Metabolically obese phenotype and its dynamic change are associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness: results from a cohort study
This prospective cohort included 13,681 Chinese adults who were examined with carotid ultrasound and were divided according to metabolic and weight status. The aim of the study was to "examine associations between metabolically obese phenotypes or their changes and increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT)", during a mean follow-up of 33 months. Of the 13,681 participants, 1927 developed increased CIMT, that were significantly associated with the MAO (metabolically abnormal and obese) group. Transitional MAO from MONW (metabolically obese but normal weight), and transitional MHO (metabolically healthy but obese) from MHNW (metabolically obese but normal weight), also promoted CIMT progression.
Associations between heart rate variability and maximal fat oxidation in two different cohorts of healthy sedentary adults
Resting heart rate variability (HRV) and maximal fat oxidation (MFO) during exercise are both considered non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection of cardiovascular risk factors. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between resting HRV parameters and MFO during exercise and the intensity of exercise that elicit MFO in healthy sedentary adults. The results of this study suggest that resting HRV parameters are not associated with MFO and Fatmax during exercise in two independent cohorts (healthy sedentary young and middle-aged adults).
Effects of a low FODMAP diet on the colonic microbiome in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review with meta-analysis
This review analyzed nine trials involving 403 patients and aims to examine the impact of a low FODMAP diet on the composition and function of the microbiome in patients with IBS. The results had shown that: “There were no clear effects of the low FODMAP diet on the diversity of the microbiome. For Bifidobacteria, a low FODMAP diet consistently led to a lower abundance of Bifidobacteria, but there were no clear effects on the diversity of the microbiome or abundances of other specific taxa".
Microbial-derived metabolites as a risk factor of age-related cognitive decline and dementia
This review explores critical connections between microbial-derived metabolites (secondary bile acids, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), tryptophan derivatives, and others) and their influence on cognitive function and neurodegenerative disorders, with a particular interest in their less-explored role as risk factors of cognitive decline.
Gene-lifestyle interactions in the genomics of human complex traits
The CHARGE Gene-Lifestyle Interactions Working Group conducted a series of genome-wide interaction studies (GWIS) involving up to 610,475 individuals across four ancestries for three lipids and four blood pressure traits while accounting for interactions with drinking and smoking exposures. The results have shown "a greater increase in detection for lipid-associated variants when accounting for interaction with drinking, and a greater increase in detection for blood pressure-associated variants when accounting for interaction with smoking".
The quest to advance assessment of dietary intake: metabolomic meat markers
The CHARGE Gene-Lifestyle Interactions Working Group conducted a series of genome-wide interaction studies (GWIS) involving up to 610,475 individuals across four ancestries for three lipids and four blood pressure traits while accounting for interactions with drinking and smoking exposures. The results have shown "a greater increase in detection for lipid-associated variants when accounting for interaction with drinking, and a greater increase in detection for blood pressure-associated variants when accounting for interaction with smoking".
The Aim2Be mHealth Intervention for Children With Overweight or Obesity and Their Parents: Person-Centered Analyses to Uncover Digital Phenotypes
This study aims to identify digital phenotypes among 214 parent-child dyads who used the Aim2Be mHealth app, between 2019 and 2020, and explores whether participants’ characteristics and health outcomes differed across phenotypes". Full parent-child engagement is critical for the success of mHealth interventions, as the results have shown: "Compared with unengaged children, fully and partially engaged children had decreased total sugar and energy intake after 3 months of app use. Partially engaged children also had decreased sugary beverage intake compared with unengaged children. Similarly, children with fully engaged parents had decreased BMI z scores (zBMI), whereas children with unengaged parents had increased zBMI over time. Finally, children with independently engaged parents had decreased caloric intake, whereas children with unengaged parents had increased caloric intake over time". reater increase in detection for lipid-associated variants when accounting for interaction with drinking, and a greater increase in detection for blood pressure-associated variants when accounting for interaction with smoking".
Our CEO was recently interviewed on the Foodmatterslive podcast with Personalised nutrition scientist Suzan Wopereis (TNO) on our favourite topic.
Dial in to listen to our discussion on where Personalised nutrition is and where it is heading!
Technology News
Raising the Bar with 3D-printed Nourished Protein
UK startup Nourished has entered the protein bar market, with the launch of their new product: the Nourished Protein bars, which are 100% vegan, low in sugar, and rich (18g) in plant-based protein. The bars can be personalized with a choice from over 400 different flavour combinations. To create your own personalized Nourished Protein bar you have to simply select 1 of 15 different flavours (including strawberry coulis, chocolate sauce, or banoffee caramel) and pick 1 of 14 different toppings (including chocolate biscuit, passionfruit, or peanuts). Finally, to add that extra personalized touch, add your name, and Nourished will 3-D print your bar and ship it directly to your door.
Related Articles:
PNU 10.2022: Colgate x Nourished NUTRISTACKS
Full Body Intelligence™ Test by Viome
Full Body Intelligence™ newly launched test by Viome is a combination of Gut Intelligence™ & Health Intelligence™ tests. The test analyzes the gut microbiome, oral microbiome, and cells to provide actionable recommendations to optimize digestion, immunity, oral health, cardiovascular health, mental health, ageing, and more, through food and supplement recommendations for a 4-6 month period.
Related Articles:
PNU 25.2021: Viome Launches At-Home Test Kits in Nordstrom
Blue Zones and Diet ID Partner to Empower Well-Being Improvement at Scale
"Blue Zones" employs evidence-based ways to help people live longer and better, researching blue zone regions around the world, where people live extraordinarily long and/or happy lives. Now, Diet ID has partnered with Blue Zones, to bring powerful innovations to the fields of health promotion, disease prevention, and well-being improvement. The plan will include integrating Diet ID’s unique assessment and intervention platform into all future Blue Zones transformation initiatives to inform strategies and tactics that will improve the health and well-being of entire cities, campuses, and organizations.
Related Articles:
SoulFire Health announces new partnership with Thorne HealthTech, Inc.
SoulFIRE Health, a company that offers evidence-based digital content for communities, health providers, educators, and coaches has formed a strategic partnership with Thorne HealthTech. As a premier at-home testing and nutritional supplement provider, and source of nutrition education and support, Thorne will work with SoulFIRE Health targeting providers and health coaches who work in chronic care, pre-condition management, and self-management programs throughout the United States.
Related Articles:
PNU 13.2022: Thorne recruits for new Metabolic Health Research Study
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Food & Consumer Trends
Workforce nutrition: DSM, Griffith, and Unilever gear up for healthy employees
Employee Health and nutrition programs are becoming a priority for companies as workers spend one-third of their lives at work, and a healthier workforce results in better productivity, lower absenteeism, and higher employee retention. With this in mind, Workforce Nutrition Alliance (WNA) in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), has launched a booklet, that explores the types of nutrition programs that Ajinomoto, Eat Well Global, Google, Griffith Foods, Indofood, Kao, Ofi, Olam, Quorn Foods, Royal DSM and Unilever have implemented along with their impacts and challenges. The included case studies illustrate the progress the participant companies have made within the nutrition field and can encourage other companies to follow the example.
Resources
Technical report: an online international weight control registry to inform precision approaches to healthy weight management
"The International Weight Control Registry (IWCR) has been launched to facilitate a deeper and broader understanding of the spectrum of factors contributing to success and challenges in weight loss and weight loss maintenance in individuals and across population groups. The IWCR registry aims to recruit, enrol and follow a diverse cohort of adults with varying rates of success in weight management. (...) The IWCR will be a resource for researchers to inform improvements in interventions for weight loss and weight loss maintenance in different countries and to examine environmental and policy-level factors that affect weight management in different population groups. This large scale, multi-level approach aims to inform efforts to reduce the prevalence of obesity worldwide and its associated comorbidities and economic impacts".
Upcoming Events
2022 KoSFoST International Symposium and Annual Meeting, Carving a New Era in Food Science and Biotechnology - Bexco, Busan, Korea July 6-8, 2022
NutraEvent, Nantes, France, October 4th & 5th 2022
Personalized nutrition summit - ANA, San Diego 26-29 October
NewtritionX - September 2022 Berlin