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.
