MetAbolomics in pRecision Childhood nutritiOn: a way for precision nutrition?

Project Information

MARCO

Grant agreement ID: 101109120

DOI

10.3030/101109120

Project closed

EC signature date 31 March 2023

Start date 10 July 2023

End date 9 October 2024

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 113 220,60

Coordinated by

UNIVERSIDAD DE ZARAGOZA
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MARCO (MetAbolomics in pRecision Childhood nutritiOn: a way for precision nutrition?)

Reporting period: 2023-07-10 to 2024-10-09

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The rising rates of overweight and obesity among children in many parts of the world are a serious concern for future health. Childhood obesity increases health costs and leads to higher rates of diseases because children who are obese are more likely to remain obese into adulthood. Preventing obesity is a top priority, and it involves encouraging healthy habits like eating right and being active from a young age, especially during early childhood (ages 2-6), when habits are forming.
Precision nutrition offers a new way of looking at health by tailoring nutrition strategies to fit each person’s unique needs and characteristics, rather than just treating a single health issue. This approach considers a person’s genetics, diet, physical activity, socioeconomic status, and even their gut bacteria. It’s about creating dynamic, personalized nutrition plans that consider how different factors interact over time and how they impact health and disease.
Metabolomics is an important part of precision nutrition. It involves studying metabolites, which are the end products of gene activity, proteins, and other molecules in the body. By looking at metabolites in things like saliva, blood, and urine, scientists can learn more about how food affects health and what diseases a person might be at risk for, including obesity. Metabolomics can also show changes in how a person’s body handles food and exercise, which can be used to track progress during health interventions. This method provides a more accurate picture of the impact of diet on health than traditional methods, helping to create more effective personalized nutrition plans.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The MARCO project aims to identify the metabolomics profile in children aged 3-6 years, and, through a longitudinal intervention, whether eating behaviour and physical inactivity modi-fy the profile of metabolites that can lead to obesity.
For this purpose, a urine-targeted metabolomics technique will be used to measure phenolic metabolites. Urine samples were collected at baseline and after 12 months of follow-up in children from the 'MELIPOP study
The MELIPOP study is a randomised clinical trial conducted in three Spanish cities, aiming to help young children (ages 3-6) build healthier lifestyles, especially when their parents are overweight or obese. Initially, 293 families were contacted, and 206 children participated in the study. The children were divided into two groups:
1. Control Group: Families received basic advice from healthcare professionals on leading a healthy lifestyle, including tips on eating well, staying active, and limiting screen time.
2. Intervention Group: Families received more detailed education about the Mediterranean lifestyle, which emphasizes a Mediterranean diet (rich in olive oil, fish, fruits, and vegetables) and staying physically active. To support this:
o Families were provided with extra-virgin olive oil as the main cooking fat.
o They were given fish to include in meals at least twice a week.
o Children could join free physical activity sessions, three times a week for one hour each, involving moderate-to-intense exercise.
To measure the impact, researchers used tools like:
• A questionnaire to see how well families followed the Mediterranean diet.
• A separate questionnaire to track how active the children were compared to recommendations for their age.
• Height and weight measurements to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), following a standardized method.
Additionally, urine samples were collected at the start and after 12 months to analyse, by metabolomic approach, polyphenols and their gut-microbiota derived metabolites. Advanced technology was used to study these samples (ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to a high-resolution mass spectrophometry (QTOF-HRMS).), offering insights into the connection between the poliphenols, diet and lifestyle.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Urinary polyphenols were evaluated in 162 participants (84 boys and 78 girls) at two time points (baseline and after 12 months), with 160 compounds identified. Preliminary analysis included 114 compounds, of which 28 had more than 20% of values recorded as zero, and 34 were not detected in children's urine, resulting in a total of 52 compounds for analysis. Adjusted for confounders, urinary polyphenols (vanillic acid sulfate, syringic acid glucuronide, syringic acid sulfate) showed significant changes after one year of intervention. Further analysis will explore whether these compounds are associated with adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern.
Additionally, further research is needed to identify food consumption markers using polyphenols, assess the impact of interventions on polyphenols and obesity risk, and determine metabolic pathways linked to obesity progression. Integrating advanced tools such as immune nutrition, sensory nutrition, artificial intelligence, and machine learning will help address broader questions about nutrition and health across the lifespan. This holistic approach aims to advance precision nutrition.