How the Mediterranean Diet Affects You: Predicting Responses Based on Your Microbiome

Predicting Microbiome-Associated Personalized Responses to the Mediterranean Diet

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:

1. Are there specific microbes that influence who is most likely to benefit from the Mediterranean diet?
2. What changes occur in the gut microbiome when healthy individuals follow a Mediterranean diet?

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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy participants, defined as free from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension
• Body Mass Index of 20-25
• Between the ages 20-50 years
• Low adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD serving score [MDSS] less than 10 points).
• Must live in the Okanagan area

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with a self-reported history of irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, Type-2 diabetes, kidney disease, intestinal obstruction, infectious gastroenteritis, colitis or gastritis, Clostridium difficile infection (recurrent) or Helicobacter pylori infection (untreated), malabsorption (such as celiac disease), major surgery of the GI tract, or colorectal cancer
• Oral antibiotics within three months of the intervention start date
• Individuals with any known food allergies, reported dietary intolerances of any kind, and those with eating disorders
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Participants with a high MDSS (> 10 points)
• Individuals who are intermittent fasting or refuse to follow the study protocol