Project description
Predicting individual response to plant (poly)phenols
(Poly)phenols are a large family of compounds found in fruits, vegetables and seeds that we consume daily. Emerging evidence corroborates their beneficial effects on many non-communicable chronic diseases, in particular with regard to cardiometabolic health. The scope of the EU-funded PREDICT-CARE project is to understand why individuals respond differently to the consumption of (poly)phenols. Researchers will investigate the determinants of this variability and then take into account the individual makeup to predict cardiometabolic responses to (poly)phenols. To do that, PREDICT-CARE will develop new concepts, new methodologies and a new analytical platform. Project results are expected to assist the design of effective dietary strategies for the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases.
Objective
The increased burden of cardiometabolic diseases is a major societal challenge worldwide. Plant-based diets, rich in bioactive compounds such as (poly)phenols, may promote cardiometabolic health. However, the preventive effects of these bioactives depend on the individual capacity to produce, and respond to, (poly)phenol metabolites. This heterogeneity in the individual response to the consumption of (poly)phenols is the main hindrance to exploit their potential for the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases through effective dietary strategies.
I aim to implement integrative tools for the prediction, at individual level, of the cardiometabolic response to the consumption of dietary (poly)phenols, taking into account inter-individual differences in both metabolism and health effects of these plant food bioactives. My vision is understanding the determinants leading to individual variability in the production of phenolic metabolites and driving cardiometabolic responsiveness to (poly)phenol consumption. I will be identifying comprehensive metabolic phenotypes (metabotypes) for main dietary (poly)phenols and the factors associated with their formation. Then, I will demonstrate the association between phenolic metabotypes and cardiometabolic health. Last, I will develop an integrative, high-throughput platform to identify phenolic metabotypes and to predict cardiometabolic responses to the consumption of dietary (poly)phenols considering individual’s makeup.
PREDICT-CARE will develop new concepts, new methodologies and a new analytical platform. It relies on the integration of factors determining inter-individual variability, the deployment of translatable nutrition interventions, and the application of predictive modelling. PREDICT-CARE will lead to long-lasting breakthroughs and will build a new scenario in preventive, evidence-based, personalised nutrition strategies with these major dietary plant bioactives.
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Funding Scheme
ERC-STG - Starting GrantHost institution
43121 PARMA
Italy