The researchers in a number of European nations aimed to guage how a six-week customized diet program, delivered by way of an AI-powered app, would influence the intestine microbiome.
In addition they checked out adjustments in meals consumption, physique measurements, and biochemical markers, and the way these adjustments relate to shifts in intestine microbial composition.
The research, which was funded by a big EU funding program (PROTEIN below Horizon 2020) geared toward supporting analysis, innovation, and science tasks throughout Europe, was printed within the journal Vitamins.
AI diet apps
AI has turn into more and more essential in diet, with the know-how getting used to develop customized diets. AI instruments like chatbots, digital dietitians, and well being apps have proven advantages in managing weight, diabetes, and cancer-related dietary wants.
AI-driven methods – utilizing machine studying, wearables, and cell apps – can now monitor food regimen and supply tailor-made suggestions. Nevertheless, in response to the researchers, their effectiveness in accounting for particular person traits like life-style, well being information, or the intestine microbiome, wants extra analysis.
In keeping with the researchers, present packages are inclined to overlook organic variability and focus too closely on genetics, regardless of restricted proof linking genes to dietary habits.
“Many of the customized diet ideas have targeted on genetic variants, however with out including proof on how genetics influences dietary habits, as famous within the Food4Me European study, the biggest research of customized diet to this point,” they wrote.
“Given the advances within the area of omics sciences, the exploration of different key organic elements such because the intestine microbiome will supply unprecedented alternatives and open novel avenues within the area of customized diet.”
The microbiome can clarify a lot of the variability in how folks reply to meals, and as food regimen shapes the intestine microbiome, it, in flip, impacts metabolism and meals responses. Consequently, customized diets that focus on the intestine microbiome have been linked to higher cardiometabolic health and cognitive function.
Previous research has additionally proven promising outcomes when microbiome information guides customized diet, together with improved glucose and triglyceride responses and higher administration of irritable bowel syndrome.
Examine particulars
The researchers recruited 29 wholesome people in Thessaloniki, Greece, and guided them by way of a six-week intervention utilizing the AI-powered PROTEIN app, which offered customized meal and bodily exercise plans.
Firstly, a nutritionist helped individuals set food regimen and train objectives tailor-made to their wants. The app delivered each day plans based mostly on particular person profiles, whereas a dietician offered ongoing help.
Contributors accomplished a validated meals frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to file their standard food regimen and the Worldwide Bodily Exercise Questionnaire (IPAQ) to evaluate exercise ranges. The researchers measured individuals’ peak, weight, physique fats, muscle mass, metabolic price, and physique circumferences.
The researchers collected fasting blood samples at first and the tip to investigate biochemical markers and calculate insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), beta cell operate (HOMA-B), and the atheromatic index. In addition they analyzed individuals’ fecal samples earlier than and after the intervention as a way to analyze intestine microbiota.
After six weeks, individuals considerably diminished their consumption of carbohydrates (by 18.1%), proteins (13.2%), and complete power (12.7%). In addition they in the reduction of on alcohol (39%), sweets (33%), and quick meals (14%). Waist circumference decreased by 1.5% (a mean discount of 1.2 cm), although weight, BMI, and muscle mass confirmed no important adjustments.
Contributors additionally confirmed important shifts in intestine microbiota. The intervention elevated the variety of useful micro organism, notably Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group and Oscillibacter, which have been linked to ldl cholesterol discount and cardiovascular well being. On the similar time, it diminished doubtlessly dangerous genera like Eubacterium ruminantium group and Gastranaerophilales, which have ties to irritation, weight problems, and illness danger.
The intervention additionally influenced SCFA-producing microbes. It elevated useful genera like Faecalibacterium and Subdoligranulum, identified for anti-inflammatory results and metabolic well being advantages.
Preliminary information confirmed that about 70% of individuals consumed extra energy than EFSA suggestions, whereas bodily exercise (PA) ranges diverse: 27.6% confirmed low exercise, 51.7% reasonable, and 20.7% excessive. Sitting time averaged 6.6 hours each day, with 44.8% labeled as sedentary (≥8 hours/day).
Nevertheless, bodily exercise ranges improved modestly all through the intervention interval, with the proportion of people labeled as having low exercise falling from 27.6% to 13.8%. Notably, 5 out of eight individuals within the low-activity group transitioned to the next exercise degree.
“AI-driven packages might facilitate analysis into food-based therapies by figuring out dietary interventions that help a wholesome microbiome and advance the usage of the meals as a medicinal strategy,” the researchers concluded.
They famous that future research ought to combine multi-omics information to refine customized diet additional, and researchers must also discover long-term results on continual situations like weight problems and diabetes and think about environmental sustainability in dietary suggestions.
Supply: Vitamins 2025, 17(7), 1260; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071260; “The Affect of an AI-Pushed Personalised Diet Program on the Human Intestine Microbiome and Its Well being Implications.” Authors: Rouskas, Ok. et al.
