Transforming healthcare for the better

As we approach Easter break, it's a great time to stop and reflect on the past year and make sure to check in with yourself. Are you really ok? I hope your answer is yes, and if not make sure to tell someone. We are taking a breather from the newsletter ourselves next week, so see you back in a couple!!

In this week's newsletter: Latest research, uBiome founders charged, Diet ID proves usability, Onegevity partners with Unilever, Fruitstreet delivers on DPP, Singapore startup launches 3D printed food, and lots more. 

Happy reading!!

Mariette

Research Update

Association between rs174537 FADS1 polymorphism and immune cell profiles in abdominal and femoral subcutaneous adipose tissue: an exploratory study in adults with obesity

“Fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) polymorphisms alter fatty acid content in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT); however, existing evidence is limited and conflicting regarding the association between FADS1 variants and SAT inflammatory status. To advance this area, we conducted an exploratory study to investigate whether the common rs174537 polymorphism in FADS1 was associated with immune cell profiles in abdominal and femoral SAT in individuals with obesity. FADS1 gene expression and immune cell profiles in SAT depots were assessed by qPCR and flow cytometry, respectively. Although FADS1 gene expression was associated with genotype, no associations were observed with immune cell profiles in either depot. Our study provides additional evidence that rs174537 in FADS1 has minimal impact on inflammatory status in obese SAT.

Guiding Global Best Practice in Personalized Nutrition Based on Genetics: The Development of a Nutrigenomics Care Map

As nutrigenomics is growing into the clinical field, there is a lack of clinical guidance documents and frameworks to develop clinical practice guidelines. Therefore, the article presents a care map as a practical tool to apply nutrigenomics in the clinical field for adult patients. In the care map, the following four steps are (Step 1) health care provider training, (Step 2) patient screening, assessment, and informed consent, (Step 3) providing nutrigenomics in clinical practice, (Step 4) patient follow-up.

Negative impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown upon health-related behaviours and psychological wellbeing in people living with severe and complex obesity in the UK

The article assesses the evidence that people with obesity are at higher risk of severity from COVID-19. In the study, there were 543 participants from 16-80 years old with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) who completed an online survey regarding how the first COVID-19 lockdown affected their mental health, well-being, and behaviors related to weight management and stigma. The results of the surveys show 55% with an unhealthier diet, 61% reduced physical activity, and 80% have a lower quality of sleep. Furthermore, 44% reported reduced access to weight management and 49% reported insufficient information from their clinical service providers. From this study, there is an emphasis that people with obesity, especially those who were attending weight management, need greater mental health support and weight management support during future lockdowns.

Network Medicine Framework Shows That Proximity of Polyphenol Targets and Disease Proteins Predicts Therapeutic Effects of Polyphenols

The study uses a network medicine framework to uncover mechanisms for the effects of polyphenols on health by considering the molecular interactions between polyphenol protein targets and proteins associated with diseases. We find that the protein targets of polyphenols cluster in specific neighbourhoods of the human interactome, whose network proximity to disease proteins is predictive of the molecule’s known therapeutic effects. The methodology recovers known associations, such as the effect of epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate on type 2 diabetes, and predicts that rosmarinic acid has a direct impact on platelet function, representing a novel mechanism through which it could affect cardiovascular health. We experimentally confirm that rosmarinic acid inhibits platelet aggregation and α-granule secretion through inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, offering direct support for the predicted molecular mechanism. Our framework represents a starting point for mechanistic interpretation of the health effects underlying food-related compounds, allowing us to integrate into a predictive framework knowledge on food metabolism, bioavailability, and drug interaction.

Eating before 8:30 a.m. could reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes

The study determines “if eating duration and timing were associated with fasting blood sugar levels and estimated insulin resistance.” There were 10,575 adults who completed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They were divided into groups based on the total duration of food intake: less than 10 hours, 10-13 hours, more than 13 hours per day. The participants were further divided based on the start time of eating (before or after 8:30 a.m.). Results show that “fasting blood sugar levels did not differ significantly among eating interval groups. Insulin resistance was higher with shorter eating interval duration, but lower across all groups with an eating start time before 8:30 a.m. [Therefore], people who start eating before 8:30 a.m. have lower blood sugar levels and less insulin resistance, which could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.”

Diets, nutrients, genes and the microbiome: recent advances in personalised nutrition

The purpose of this review is to summarise presentations made during the DSM Science and Technology Award Symposium at the 13th European Nutrition Conference, which focused on personalised nutrition and novel technologies for health in the modern world.

Precision medicine in 2030— seven ways to transform healthcare

Precision medicine promises improved health by accounting for individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle. Precision medicine will continue to transform healthcare in the coming decade as it expands in key areas: huge cohorts, artificial intelligence (AI), routine clinical genomics, phenomics and environment, and returning value across diverse populations.

Technology News

Onegevity Partners with Unilever to Develop Personalized Solutions for Consumers Suffering from Acne

A health intelligence company, Onegevity, and Unilever, a beauty, and personal care product company, are collaborating to “explore how multi-omics can unlock more personalized acne interventions and solutions.” With its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, Onegevity will collect and assess multi-omics data on acne and skin physiology to develop new diagnostic models. Unilever can use this to produce high-quality and effective products that assist in acne management regiments. Due to Onegevity’s well-rounded service, the company combines its AI models from the personal care, pharmaceutical, and nutritional supplement industry with a multi-omic database to create and enhance new personal care products more efficiently.

New Study Illustrates How Diet ID’s Digital Diet Assessment Tool Can Dramatically Improve Usability

The study compares the two dietary assessment tools, Diet ID platform, and 24hr recalls, among middle-aged African-American participants. While both tools calculate the nutrient intake and diet quality, Diet ID is a faster assessment with participants completing less than 4 minutes, yet the 24hr recall takes up to 30 minutes. Furthermore, Diet ID is believed to retrieve more accurate data than the 24-hour recall because Diet ID is able to identify the inaccuracies and correct them. Therefore, Diet ID is a more efficient, user-friendly, and accurate platform to assess dietary intake. 

Digbi Health Raises $5.4 Million in Series A Funding to Reverse Obesity and Associated Inflammatory Digestive and Skin Illnesses

Digbi Health is a “genetics and gut-microbiome based digital care program for managing obesity and associated inflammatory digestive, skin and cardiometabolic illnesses.” Its funding will lead to further research on combining genetics, the gut microbiome, and clinical risk markers to treat chronic inflammatory illnesses. Furthermore, the funding will also go to its research partners (West Virginia University Medicine, UC Irvine Medical School) “while investing in an FDA approval pathway for Software as a Medical Device targeting functional bowel disorder.” From data of over 1,000 participants, there were 70% with reduced symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and chronic pain, 60% with improvement in inflammatory skin conditions, and 70% of overweight and obese members who lost weight.

Founders of poop-testing uBiome, reportedly on the run, charged by SEC with defrauding investors

The SEC charged Jessica Richman and Zachary Apte, the co-founders of the poop-testing startup uBiome, with defrauding investors out of $60 million through misleading statements and false representations of the company’s prospects.” Founded in 2012, uBiome claimed to be the next 23andMe by analyzing stool samples to sequence and map the microbiome and provide health advice. Furthermore, the company expanded its range of products to include vaginal health and STDs. However, the science did not seem correct considering there is a lack of research of the microbiome to even offer health advice based on just a stool sample. Once the investigation of inaccurate data, unnecessary tests, and overbilling customers became public, uBiome filed for liquidation to sell its data and IP.

To Make Truly Personalized Nutrition Products, Naveen Jain Realized He Needed to Build a Robotic Factory

Viome is a company that uses DNA and RNA of the customer’s microbiome to provide personalized nutrition guidance and meal plans. “We will tell you that here are the nutrients that your body needs, and what we found was that there was no way to give people the precision nutrition,” said Naveen Jain, the CEO of Viome. Therefore, the company developed a robotic factory to produce personalized vitamins that contain up to 75 different nutrients in order to target the individual’s health. Sounds too good to be true?, it probably is, as we are yet to prove a precision supplementation approach in terms of long-term health outcomes.

Michael Oredsson becomes CEO of A-Mansia Biotech, the company exploiting the discovery of Akkermansia muciniphila

Mont-Saint-Guibert, 18th March 2021 - Michael Oredsson has been appointed CEO of the Belgian biotech company A-Mansia, to lead the company in its upcoming commercial phase. He succeeds Jean-Christophe Malrieu, who has been at the head of the company since its foundation. A-Mansia is developing a new generation of microbiome health products based on the commensal bacterial species Akkermansia muciniphila, targeting type II diabetes and obesity.

Fruit Street Announces More Than 20,000 Participants Enrolled Into its CDC-Recognized Diabetes Prevention Program Delivered via Telehealth

Today, Fruit Street announced that since inception it has enrolled more than 20,000 participants into its CDC-Recognized diabetes prevention program that is delivered via telehealth and live group video conferencing with registered dietitians via Zoom. Fruit Street is projecting to enroll an additional 25,000-50,000 participants into its diabetes prevention program in 2021, making it one of the largest digital providers of the diabetes prevention program in the world.

 ‘Mathematically optimised meals’: Singapore 3D food printing firm ready for commercialisation with personalised nutrition technology

Singapore-based 3D food printing firm Anrich3D has revealed its plans to go commercial and bring 3D printed foods with personalised nutritional profiles to the market for both consumers and businesses later this year.

Food & Consumer Trends

Food in a Pandemic report published

The Food in a Pandemic report assesses how the new food environment developed during the pandemic has impacted the public’s nutrition behaviours and preferences. The data is retrieved from surveys of 10,069 UK adults, an online deliberative method called Polis with 1,006 UK respondents, four deliberative workshops, and an open-access survey of 911 adults. The report shows people taking action in food insecurity by offering to grocery shop for other people and ensuring well-paid jobs are available to everyone. In the Polis, about 63% agreed that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure no one goes hungry. Through the pandemic, the majority have sourced food more locally which is expected to continue after the pandemic. 78% aim for higher food quality despite it costing more and 82% support maintaining the UK’s current animal welfare standards. While the pandemic has increased home cooking, there are mixed results on eating patterns with 32% are eating more healthy main meals while 33% ate more unhealthy snacks. 

Once Upon a Farm debuts brand refresh as it expands into children's snacks

The infant nutrition market is growing, in 2019, the market was worth $67.3 billion and is expected to increase just under $100 billion by 2027. More parents are preferably offering organic and low sugar options to their children as “about 40% of parents avoid offering sugary drinks to their children.” Furthermore, the parents’ choices are educating their children with “69% of kids understand that some snacks are healthier than others, and 55% are more likely to choose a healthy snack when given the option.” Once Upon a Farm is created to widen the access to organic food for the younger population, especially to low-income children. The company first only had a product line for babies and toddlers but is now expanding to older children. Its product line has fruit and vegetable blends, smoothies, and overnight oats in squeezable packaging and now includes coconut whips and yogurts. Once Upon a Farm has also repackaged its products to include farm illustrations, fresh fruits, vegetables, animals, and a Farmer Jen character.

Resources

Genomics and Health Disparities Lecture Series

This looks great! On March 26th from 3-4 pm, there will be a lecture, from the Genomics and Health Disparities Lecture Series.

“Why Include People in Research If They Lack Access to Decent HealthCare?” i the key topic, the lecturer is Pilar N. Ossorio, Ph.D., J.D. who is a professor of Law and Bioethics, University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) Program Lead and Ethics Program at Morgridge Institute for Research.

Upcoming Events

Future of the Microbiome Summit, 23rd - 25th March - join my session at 11.15am EDT

Vitafoods Insight Virtual Expo 10th May

Personalised nutrition & Health (Wageningen) - 7th October

Personalised nutrition innovation summit Newtrition X (Cologne) - 12th October