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| ID | Type | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| POP23-11034 | Other Grant/Funding Number | Weston Family Foundation |
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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| University of Calgary | OTHER |
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People respond differently to various diets-some may see significant benefits, while others may not. This project aims to personalize dietary recommendations by analyzing the gut microbiome to predict who will benefit most from the Mediterranean diet based on their unique biology, including their microbiome.
The study focuses on answering these key questions:
To explore these questions, researchers will compare the effects of a Mediterranean diet to a Western-style diet. Participants will receive all their meals and snacks for the study to ensure accurate comparisons of how these diets impact the gut microbiome.
Understanding the role of therapeutic dietary interventions in treating chronic diseases requires acknowledging that the response to nutrition varies in populations, subgroups and individual's. Varying responses to dietary intervention is dependent on interpersonal differences and environment. Personalized nutrition addresses these differences between individuals to maximize the benefits of dietary interventions. Many large, randomized controlled trials have effectively demonstrated that only 40% of a study cohort responds to dietary interventions, and lifestyle measures in regards to reducing disease risk. A more pragmatic approach to enhance the effectiveness of dietary treatment emerges by identifying microbiome-derived biomarkers capable of predicting and categorizing those most likely to benefit from specific nutritional interventions. Developing a predictive microbiome signature represents an advancement in this endeavour, offering the prospect of tailored, personalized nutrition interventions and a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between diet, gut microbiota composition, and human health. Specifically, the Mediterranean diet (MD) has been investigated as a therapeutic diet for varying diseases due to its positive correlation with an array of health benefits. However, there is little consensus on specific microbial changes associated with the MD and how the MD alters the gut microbiome. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap that exists surrounding the MD and to determine a predictive microbiome associated with the MD. Ultimately producing a highly predictive microbiome signature that will have the ability to identifies those who will respond to the MD.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean Diet | Active Comparator | During the Mediterranean Diet (MD) phase, participants will receive three meals and two snacks per day for three weeks, adhering to the MD guidelines. To monitor compliance, participants will log their daily appetite and record any uneaten food. Additionally, participants will meet with the Research Coordinator weekly to receive guidance and support throughout the nutrition intervention. |
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| Westernized Diet | Active Comparator | During the Westernized Diet phase, participants will receive three meals and two snacks per day for three weeks, following a Westernized diet plan. To ensure compliance, participants will log their daily appetite and record any uneaten food. They will also meet with the Research Coordinator weekly for additional support and guidance. |
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| Washout Period | No Intervention | This will be the period between two different interventions where participants will consume their usual diet while we wait for the participants' microbes to normalize after the first intervention before beginning the next one. |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean diet | Other | The MD is characterized by increased consumption of legumes, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and olive oil, moderate consumption of fish, poultry and dairy foods, with low consumption of processed foods and red meat. The nutritional profile of the MD intervention will consist of 46% carbohydrates, 17% protein, and 35% fat. A significant focus on dietary fat consumption with maintaining an omega 6:3 ratio of approximately 3:1 or lower. The MD will provide fibre-rich foods to meet the fibre recommendations for Canadians (males: 30 grams/day, females: 21 grams/day) |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Microbiome - Microbial Diversity | Metagenomic sequencing will be employed to analyze stool samples, focusing on changes in the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiome in healthy individuals in response to interventions with the Mediterranean and Western diets. | Baseline, Week 3, Week 9 and Week 12 |
| Microbiome - Microbial Signature | Metagenomic sequencing will be utilized to analyze stool samples, aiming to identify microbial signatures of the gut microbiome in healthy individuals following interventions with the Mediterranean and Western diets. | Baseline, Week 3, Week 9 and Week 12 |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Metabolomics - Change in fecal metabolites | Fecal metabolites will be analyzed using a untargeted metabolomic platform with samples collected pre and post MD and Western diet. Quantification will be performed using untargeted reverse-phase ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). | Baseline, Week 3, Week 9 and Week 12 |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natasha Haskey, PhD | Contact | 250-807-9597 | natasha.haskey@ubc.ca | |
| Maitreyi Raman, MD | Contact | 403-592-5020 | mkothand@ucalgary.ca |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Natasha Haskey, RD PHD | University of British Columbia | Principal Investigator |
| Maitreyi Raman, MSc MD FRCPC | University of Calgary | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of British Columbia-Okanagan | Kelowna | British Columbia | V1V 1V7 | Canada |
All IPD used in the results of the publication will be shared
From December 31, 2026 onward
A proposal for planned analyses must be submitted to the PI's of this research.
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D038441 | Diet, Mediterranean |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D000095500 | Diet, Plant-Based |
| D004035 | Diet Therapy |
| D044623 | Nutrition Therapy |
| D013812 | Therapeutics |
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| Westernized Diet | Other | The WD is characterized by increased consumption of highly processed foods, refined grains, red meats, processed meats, added sugars, added salt, high intake of omega-6 PUFA, accompanied by a reduction in fibre, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, as well as nuts and seeds.The nutrition composition of the WD intervention will consist of 46% of calories derived from refined carbohydrates and added sugars, 17% protein (sourced from red and processed meats) and 35% fat. The fatty acid profile will be characterized by higher amounts of n-6 PUFAs while lacking in n-3 PUFAs and MUFAs, with a omega 6:3 ratio of 15-20:1. |
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| Metabolomics - Change in serum metabolites | Serum metabolites will be analyzed using a untargeted metabolomic platform with samples collected pre and post MD and Western diet. Quantification will be performed using untargeted reverse-phase ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). | Baseline, Week 3, Week 9 and Week 12 |
| Change in Quality of Life | Health-related quality of life will be measured using the 12-item short form-12 (SF-12). The SF-12 is comprised of two components: physical health and mental health. Scores range from 0 to 100, where a zero score indicates the lowest level of health and 100 indicates the highest level of health. | Baseline, Week 3, Week 9, Week 12 |
| Dietary intake | Dietary intake and supplement use will be evaluated at both baseline and week 9 using two non-consecutive 24-hour food recalls collected through the ASA-24 Canadian version. These assessments will establish participants' habitual dietary patterns and help monitor dietary consistency during the washout period. | Baseline, Week 9 |
| Appetite rating | Visual Analog Scales (VAS) for Appetite will be used to assess appetite of healthy participants in response to interventions with Mediterranean and Western diets. Higher values typically indicate greater intensity of the sensation being measured. | The Visual Analog Scales (VAS) for Appetite will be completed daily throughout the dietary intervention period, which includes 3 weeks on the Mediterranean diet and 3 weeks on the Western diet. |
| Change in Anxiety | Anxiety will be assessed by the GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7). It is a self-reported screening tool used to measure the severity of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms over the past two weeks. The total score ranges from 0 to 21. A score of 10 or higher typically indicates clinically significant anxiety and suggests the need for further evaluation or intervention.. | Baseline, Week 3, Week 9 and Week 12 |
| Change in Depression | Depression levels will be assessed by PHQ-8 (Patient Health Questionnaire-8). It is a widely used self-report screening tool for assessing the severity of depressive symptoms over the past two weeks. The total score is the sum of all item responses, ranging from 0 to 24. A score of 10 or higher indicates the presence of clinically significant depressive symptoms and suggests the need for further evaluation or intervention. | Baseline, Week 3, Week 9 and Week 12 |
| D004032 |
| Diet |
| D009747 | Nutritional Physiological Phenomena |
| D000066888 | Diet, Food, and Nutrition |
| D010829 | Physiological Phenomena |