Scientists at the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) have developed a groundbreaking method to estimate dietary intake using stool metagenomic data. The new approach, called MEDI (Metagenomic Estimation of Dietary Intake), detects food-derived DNA in stool samples, providing a non-invasive and objective alternative to traditional food diaries and questionnaires. By analyzing all the DNA present in fecal samples, including microbial, human, and food-derived DNA, MEDI eliminates the human error and compliance issues associated with self-reported dietary tracking, offering a more reliable and effortless method.
MEDI was tested using a database of over 400 food items and 300 billion base pairs of genomic data, successfully detecting dietary patterns in infants, adults, and controlled feeding studies. It also converts food DNA signatures into nutrient profiles, showing a strong correlation with controlled dietary data. Furthermore, the method identified dietary features linked to metabolic syndrome in a large clinical study, demonstrating its potential for recognizing diet-related health risks without the need for food logs.
According to Dr. Sean Gibbons, senior author of the study, this represents a major leap forward in tracking diet and its effects on health. By analyzing food DNA in stool samples, researchers can simultaneously study diet and microbiome composition, gaining deeper insights into personalized nutrition and disease risk. With further development, MEDI could revolutionize nutrition science, epidemiological studies, and clinical trials, offering a powerful tool for researchers, doctors, and individuals to monitor diet-related health risks with unprecedented ease.
Article written by Technology network team
19/02/2025
Source:
Technology Network