Metagenomic Estimation of Dietary Intake (MEDI) is based on sequencing the entire DNA from stool samples to determine previous meals’ consumption and nutritional content. Image credit: Brooke Lark on Unsplash
In this study, CoE Key Researcher Christian Diener, Deputy Director of Research Christine Moissl-Eichinger, and CoE PostDoc Klara Filek have developed a new method to determine dietary habits from residual DNA in stool samples. Metagenomic sequencing, traditionally used in microbiome research to detect microorganisms, determines the consumption and nutritional content of previous meals. It is a data-driven, noninvasive alternative to traditional surveys and diaries, which remain the standard in clinical research but can be prone to error and inaccuracy.
Main findings of the study:
1. MEDI detects more than 400 foods through a database of food DNA with more than 300 billion base pairs. MEDI was able to correctly map food intake in children, adults, and in two controlled nutritional studies.
2. MEDI converts the detected food quantities into a total nutrient profile of a representative 100g food portion. These nutrient profiles also showed good agreement with data from controlled nutritional studies and could measure, for example, how much protein and vitamins subjects had consumed.
3. In a study of more than 500 subjects, MEDI identified foods and nutrients associated with the risk of developing metabolic syndrome without access to dietary surveys.
The further development and widespread use of MEDI could therefore facilitate the measurement of individualized dietary effects in clinical and epidemiological studies without the need for surveys.