Calls for personalized approach to nutrition-microbiome connection

26 Mar 2020 --- A more personalized approach is needed to investigate the link between nutrition and the microbiome. This is according to a study by the George Washington University (GW) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the US, which found that diet has a significant impact on the gut’s microbial composition. Published in Nutrition Reviews, the study also discovered the diet-microbiome link can affect a range of metabolic, hormonal and neurological processes.

Until recently, the human microbiome remained an understudied target for novel strategies to diagnose and treat disease. The prevalence of diseases that may involve disruption of the gut microbiome are increasing and there is currently no consensus in the scientific community on what defines a “healthy” gut microbiome.

In this space, the role of prebiotics and probiotics has long been established by science and consumers are increasingly looking for functional foods and beverages to promote gut health. NutritionInsight has previously reported on gut health and digestive health innovation and trends. Furthermore, Innova Market Insights data shows an 11 percent rise in launches with a gut-health related, digestive health claim (CAGR 2014-2018). Meanwhile, 64 percent of consumers said they consume more fiber to promote a healthy gut, according to a 2018 Innova Market Insights consumer survey.

Interaction of nutrition and microbiome
The review from GW and NIST systematically assessed the current understanding of the interactions between nutrition and the gut microbiome in healthy adults. “As we learn more about the gut microbiome and nutrition, we are learning how influential they are to each other and, perhaps more central to public health, the role they both play in prevention and treatment of disease,” notes Dr. Leigh Frame, Program Director of the Integrative Medicine Programs at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

 The bi-directional relationship between nutrition and the gut microbiome is emerging as more research is conducted on how microbiota utilize and produce both macro and micronutrients. Through the review, the authors found that the bi-directional relationship between nutrition and the gut microbiome is emerging as more research is conducted on how microbiota utilize and produce both macro and micronutrients. The authors found that research has mostly focused on the benefits of dietary fiber, which serves as fuel for gut microbiota, and also found that, in contrast, protein promotes microbial protein metabolism and potentially harmful byproducts that may sit in the gut, increasing the risk of negative health outcomes.

“This review reveals that the measurement tools currently in our arsenal are ineffective for identifying the microbial and molecular signatures that can serve as robust indicators of health and disease,” says Scott Jackson, adjunct assistant professor of clinical research and leadership at SMHS and leader of the Complex Microbial Systems Group at NIST.

The authors also suggest that future research must consider individual responses to diet and how the gut microbiome responds to dietary interventions, as well as emphasized function of the microbiome over merely composition.

Further boosting microbiome innovation
Recognizing the market’s potential many companies have launched research and collaborations within the microbiome genre. Yesterday, Swedish probiotic specialist Probi entered into a strategic joint venture with the US based health and wellness company Viva5 Group. The collaboration named VivaPro will focus on exploring, researching and co-developing products in probiotic-related market segments adjacent to existing core business areas of the two companies. 

Earlier this month, DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences embarked on a four-year project with the APC Microbiome Ireland SFI Research Centre to rebalance the gut bacteria of babies after antibiotics or Caesarean-section births. The €6.3 million (US$7 million) project aims to develop microbiome-based solutions to help establish a healthy microbiome in early life to facilitate the long-term health of individuals. Furthermore, DuPont is also collaborating with biopharmaceutical company MRM Health to tackle a range of metabolic diseases via innovative solutions based on the human microbiome.

Meanwhile, a collaboration between Danone Nutricia Research and the University of California, San Diego’s Microsetta Initiative is recruiting hundreds of US citizens to map their gut microbiomes. The project offers participants an opportunity to get their microbiome sequenced and tested, free of personal charge. In the same gut-health related space, microbiome restoration therapy company MaaT Pharma has announced an €18 million (US$19.7 million) Series B financing round including a microbiome-focused US investor, SymBiosis. 

By Kristiana Lalou