Functional Food Expert Group on Microbiome Study Guidance.

Expert Group – New

Specific Guidelines for the Design and Conduct of Human Gut Microbiome Intervention Studies Relating to Foods

Objectives

Human microbiome research is a rapidly evolving research area. At the same time, recent advances in DNA-sequencing technologies and systems biology approaches are applied to the field. Hence, there is a need for researchers to carefully consider specific factors in the design and execution of human microbiome studies. Guidelines to support such studies will also help to make future trials more comparable and reproducible, and describe the limitations, confounding factors and benefits of dietary human intervention studies involving the gut microbiome, in particular in relation to molecular mechanism of action.

Activity

The expert group intends to carry out an initial survey of relevant original research papers describing studies that investigate: i) the effects of the gastrointestinal microbiota / microbiome on the metabolism and the bioavailability of nutrients and non-nutrients (building on the work of the expert group that explored the role of the gut microbiota on nutritional and functional benefits of nutrients and non-nutrients); ii) the effects of diet on the microbiota / microbiome composition and activity; and iii) the effects of changes of the microbiota / microbiome (following dietary intervention) on human health. This survey will facilitate the identification of the range as well as the strengths and weaknesses of currently reported methodologies. Furthermore, existing reviews and guidance documents will be taken into consideration to identify and elaborate on the specifics that exist for human dietary intervention studies and microbiota related outcomes.

Expected Output

The guidelines will help to understand and advance the field based on scientific results from human intervention studies that are comparable and reproducible, and therefore, allow longer-term development for dietary recommendations built on solid science regarding diet-gut microbiota / microbiome interactions. Furthermore, the guidelines will improve quality of intervention studies used within health claims dossiers that link changes of the microbiome to physiological or clinical outcomes.

For more detailed information, please contact Dr Bettina Schelkle.