Periodic Reporting for period 1 - miGut-Health (Personalised blueprint intestinal health)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) will continue to be a major public health burden due to its increasing prevalence and incidence worldwide, expected to affect more than 10 million people by 2030. Despite advances in medical research, IBD is often diagnosed only after significant progression when it becomes symptomatic. This delay limits the effectiveness of prevention and early intervention efforts, thereby creating an ever-increasing burden, not only on healthcare systems but also on the economy as a whole. Active patient engagement and empowerment are crucial yet underestimated targets in early diagnostics, prevention, and chronic care. In response to these challenges, miGut-Health (in further text: miGut) aims to enhance understanding of health-to-IBD transition by identifying key molecular and non-molecular signatures associated with the progression of gut inflammation, thus also guiding the development of health status monitoring technologies, psychosocial factors-based citizen health engagement strategies, as well as proposing novel gut health and disease preventions actions.
The expected impacts of miGut are substantial, as the delivered cross-sectoral solutions (molecular, nutritional, eHealth, patient engagement) for health promotion and IBD prevention would enable engaging citizens in proactive health strategies and self-care management and in a long-term might lead to reductions as high as 10% of the assigned societal costs. Engagement of IBD-specific organisations such as EFCCA will facilitate the dissemination of evidence-based knowledge and clinically useful insights to patients, their relatives, and healthcare professionals. Furthermore, miGut will provide key recommendations for high-level policy considerations, advocating for the integration of personalized healthcare approaches into health agendas and potentially shifting the focus of healthcare systems from disease treatment to prevention. By following this comprehensive pathway, miGut will improve the health outcomes of millions of individuals globally by fostering a healthier society with improved quality of life and reduced burden of chronic diseases.
The expected impacts of miGut are substantial, as the delivered cross-sectoral solutions (molecular, nutritional, eHealth, patient engagement) for health promotion and IBD prevention would enable engaging citizens in proactive health strategies and self-care management and in a long-term might lead to reductions as high as 10% of the assigned societal costs. Engagement of IBD-specific organisations such as EFCCA will facilitate the dissemination of evidence-based knowledge and clinically useful insights to patients, their relatives, and healthcare professionals. Furthermore, miGut will provide key recommendations for high-level policy considerations, advocating for the integration of personalized healthcare approaches into health agendas and potentially shifting the focus of healthcare systems from disease treatment to prevention. By following this comprehensive pathway, miGut will improve the health outcomes of millions of individuals globally by fostering a healthier society with improved quality of life and reduced burden of chronic diseases.
The miGut team is creating tools and software to analyze gut health by combining genetic data with disease symptoms and inflammation markers. The goal is to find important patterns that can be used as biomarkers. So far, we have considered various factors: genetic (conducted a large analysis of genes linked to IBD in people from different backgrounds and developed tools to predict risk based on genetics), immune system (examined specific T-cells and B-cells in IBD and healthy individuals), and gut microbiome (gathered and generated new data in IBD patients from different countries).
In addition, the reliability of existing markers that help identify IBD has been confirmed, such as changes in gut bacteria, levels of certain proteins like calprotectin, and changes in immune markers associated with IBD. Early research results have also uncovered new potential markers for IBD. A study on the long-term effects of a gluten-free diet (GFD) for IBD patients has begun, involving patients with Primary sclerosing cholangitis-associated IBD , ulcerative colitis (UC) , and Crohn’s disease (CD). Early results of the study show that starting a GFD has an effect on the immune system.
To explore how diet-related compounds affect gut health, two groups of substances were selected: tryptophan (an amino acid) and polyphenols (plant-based compounds). Tryptophan and its derivatives, as well as polyphenols have shown positive effects on gut cell functions.
miGut is also studying how psychological and behavioral factors affect IBD patients, with early observations from Italian patients showing strong interconnection between these factors. Our team is now expanding the survey to other countries and planning workshops to involve patients and share evidence-based information.
Furthermore, we are developing digital tools to study how lifestyle factors affect the progression of IBD. These tools include mobile applications like MyIBDcoach (tracks disease activity, patient-reported outcomes, and lifestyle habits) and MyFoodRepo (tracks diet); and a wearable device (monitors fatigue). These tools are being used in two dietary studies, VitaGraid and LT-GFD, to gather data. Additionally, the team is creating computer models to identify lifestyle factors that influence IBD progression and patients' quality of life.
In addition, the reliability of existing markers that help identify IBD has been confirmed, such as changes in gut bacteria, levels of certain proteins like calprotectin, and changes in immune markers associated with IBD. Early research results have also uncovered new potential markers for IBD. A study on the long-term effects of a gluten-free diet (GFD) for IBD patients has begun, involving patients with Primary sclerosing cholangitis-associated IBD , ulcerative colitis (UC) , and Crohn’s disease (CD). Early results of the study show that starting a GFD has an effect on the immune system.
To explore how diet-related compounds affect gut health, two groups of substances were selected: tryptophan (an amino acid) and polyphenols (plant-based compounds). Tryptophan and its derivatives, as well as polyphenols have shown positive effects on gut cell functions.
miGut is also studying how psychological and behavioral factors affect IBD patients, with early observations from Italian patients showing strong interconnection between these factors. Our team is now expanding the survey to other countries and planning workshops to involve patients and share evidence-based information.
Furthermore, we are developing digital tools to study how lifestyle factors affect the progression of IBD. These tools include mobile applications like MyIBDcoach (tracks disease activity, patient-reported outcomes, and lifestyle habits) and MyFoodRepo (tracks diet); and a wearable device (monitors fatigue). These tools are being used in two dietary studies, VitaGraid and LT-GFD, to gather data. Additionally, the team is creating computer models to identify lifestyle factors that influence IBD progression and patients' quality of life.
miGut researchers have discovered new markers for IBD, including changes in gut bacteria in relatives of IBD patients, early changes in immune system and protein patterns before diagnosis of IBD. To better predict IBD risk, the team has developed advanced tools and software that combine genetic and clinical data. These findings and tools could lead to earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatments, with more research planned.
In the ongoing study on a gluten-free diet, early results suggest that the diet has an impact on inflammatory response in IBD patients, but these findings will be re-evaluated as the study continues. Researchers are also studying how tryptophan (an amino acid) and polyphenols (plant compounds) affect genes and inflammation, with promising results so far. Additionally, the identified link between emotional well-being and lifestyle choices in IBD patients shows that it is important to consider psychosocial risk factors when exploring development of the disease. Preliminary research results were published in an article.
Digital tools to track disease activity and diet are also being developed, with data collection in progress to improve patient care and quality of life.
In the ongoing study on a gluten-free diet, early results suggest that the diet has an impact on inflammatory response in IBD patients, but these findings will be re-evaluated as the study continues. Researchers are also studying how tryptophan (an amino acid) and polyphenols (plant compounds) affect genes and inflammation, with promising results so far. Additionally, the identified link between emotional well-being and lifestyle choices in IBD patients shows that it is important to consider psychosocial risk factors when exploring development of the disease. Preliminary research results were published in an article.
Digital tools to track disease activity and diet are also being developed, with data collection in progress to improve patient care and quality of life.