Eat2beNICE was able to generate high quality association analysis showing the link between different dietary interventions and behavior. On top of that we were able to characterize, properly, the effects sizes of dietary interventions on behaviour. In other words, we now know that diet exerts a true, significant effect on our brains and our behaviour and that this effect is (very) small. These results are significant to our stakeholders because it underscores and widens the effect diet has on our brain and the true effects diet exerts on neurobiology.
The RCTs from the project discovered true effects of several dietary exposures on behaviour. The TRACE RCT, shows the short-term effects of the tested dietary interventions on ADHD symptomatology. Initial results of the PROBIA RTC show a positive effect of the symbiotic product tested, in reducing ADHD, BPD and irritability. The PREDIMED RCT finished collection and multiple publications were produced. The VANTASTIC RCT tried hard to catch up on recruitment (there was less interest of potential participants to join the study after COVID). Unfortunately, the pharmacy responsible to randomize the distribution of the nutritional supplement and the placebo made a serious error which created an unbalanced active-placebo distribution across the Mannheim (GER) and Groningen (NL) sites. Although the data could not be analyzed as planned, clinically relevant data were found that are also relevant for future research.
Association analysis on the effects of exercise and physical activity on behaviour were carried out and several scientific publications were produced. Additionally, the validated mHealth application was successfully used in several scientific projects and data on mHealth was collected on several samples included some of the RCTs.
We created a dissemination and education platform where we evaluated population knowledge about links between diet and behaviour. We used the metrics of the visits to the project’s website and via twitter-based polls directed to (I.e.) people with ADHD and their families and friends. We also created a new e-cook book where we show, for the first time, a collection of food recipes associated with the reduction of symptoms of ADHD. We are paying special attention to the visits to the e-cook book which we recently launched.
The are being shared with relevant stakeholders via multiple channels. We generated a series of blogs, written by partners of the project were they tell an easy-to-follow account of their work, experiences and results from the project. Both junior and senior researchers took the time to talk about science, explain their work and share all of this with the general public.
Eat2beNICE collected multiple types of biological data. Feces collection form the RCTs finished and all fecal samples were processed, the bacterial DNA was isolated and sequenced (both 16S and metagenomics). Statistical analysis using gut microbial data is ongoing and initial association results will be available soon. Fecal samples the LORA study were also sequenced and analysed in relation to multiple behavioral readouts. The initial plan to investigate MRI data from the RCTs became unfeasible. We changed our plans and analyzed existing MRI data in the Generation R study in relation to maternal vitamin use during pregnancy in order to carry out the proposed aims and tasks. Finally, work on the (mediating) (epi)genetic effects on the diet-behavior relationship yielded very interesting set of candidate genes involved as mediators of this relationship. We will start the analysis of blood samples from the RCTs as funding to continue this work is secured.
