A naukri.com initiative
Bioengineer
1d
249
Image Credit: Bioengineer
Blood and Urine Molecules Reveal Your Ultra-Processed Food Intake, Study Finds
- Researchers have identified specific molecular signatures in blood and urine that correlate strongly with the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), offering a new way to objectively measure UPF intake.
- Traditional dietary recall tools' limitations in assessing UPF consumption have been overcome by the discovery of biomarkers that provide a more accurate assessment of dietary intake.
- A study using metabolomic profiling techniques identified metabolites associated with the proportion of dietary energy from UPFs, leading to the creation of poly-metabolite scores for objective dietary assessment.
- Poly-metabolite scores were found to be statistically predictive of self-reported UPF intake and could serve as effective proxies for dietary assessment in large epidemiological studies.
- A controlled feeding trial confirmed the validity of poly-metabolite scores in discriminating between diets high in UPFs and those without, highlighting their potential for clinical and population research.
- The biomarkers offer an opportunity for personalized nutrition, refined across diverse populations to enhance their utility in global nutritional surveillance and public health efforts.
- The study's design combining metabolomics with a controlled feeding trial enhances confidence in the biomarkers, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of dietary exposures and metabolic responses.
- The biomarkers could revolutionize dietary assessment, providing insights into the complex relationship between UPFs and chronic diseases, thereby informing targeted dietary guidelines and public health strategies.
- Objective biomarker data from the study have implications for regulatory policies, monitoring dietary shifts, and fostering accountability among food producers to address health challenges related to ultra-processed foods.
- The research received support from the NIH and Brazil's research foundation, reflecting an international effort to tackle public health issues associated with ultra-processed foods.
- The identification and validation of poly-metabolite scores offer a significant advancement in understanding UPF consumption and its health impacts, aiding in the development of population-wide strategies against diet-related diseases.
Read Full Article
14 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app