Profiling of vulnerable targets (in connection with SPOKE 5) through: a) analyses of existing data in children affected by obesity and ageing population at risk of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) b) screening of socioeconomic factors, lifestyle and dietary habits, environmental factors, food knowledge, nutritional status, body composition, functional status and disability, quality of life, genetic, metagenetic, phenotypic profiles, exposure to endocrine disruptors chemicals (EDCs), immune system functions in children and aging population with malnutrition c) human-derived biological samples analysis (including samples for the gut microbiome structure analysis and function).

Task 6.1.2.

Identification and application of biomarkers of malnutrition (including inflammatory, metabolic, microbiological, genetic and epigenetic ones) and biochemical pathways associated with diet and age-related diseases/ syndromes for early malnutrition detection and quality of life restoration in target specific categories.

Task 6.2.1.

Identification of sustainable tailored multidimensional approach including nutritional strategies aimed at reducing malnutrition in target specific populations by exploiting the interactions between environment, food, genotype and phenotype: a) analysis of the positive and negative interactions between lifestyle, socioeconomic status, clinical condition, psychological distress, medical treatment and diet for the implementation of sustainable dietary patterns; b) malnutrition biomarker validation; c) draft of sustainable nutritional protocols (in connection with Spoke 1 and 4).

Task 6.3.1.

Assessing microbiome–host interaction in malnutrition (in connection with Spoke 4 and 5). a) Evaluation of gut microbiome features in paediatric and ageing subjects affected by malnutrition and malnutrition-related conditions, with a focus on immune and metabolic pathways; b) Investigation of gut microbiome cell wall constituents on immune and metabolic pathways involved in human malnutrition; c) Investigation of the diet, environmental factors and drugs influencing human gut microbiome structure and function; d) Design of an algorithm to predict the risk of gut dysbiosis associated with malnutrition and malnutrition-related diseases.

Task 6.4.1.

Implementation of sustainable dietary patterns as nutritional treatment for target specific groups with malnutrition. The task includes the prototyping of foods, supplements, ingredients and nutraceuticals aimed at restoring resilience in specific targets with malnutrition (in connection with Spoke 4). In addition, it is implemented a friendly end user personalised web responsive application for remote promoting and monitoring of sustainable dietary patterns target specific.

Project deliverables

D6.1.1.2.

Identification and mapping of specific target groups with malnutrition (M24)

D6.1.1.3.

Creation of a biobank for biological samples in connection with Spoke 5 (M36)

D6.1.2.1.

New biomarkers of malnutrition specific for diseases and age and related to diet (M24)

D6.1.2.2.

Identification of biochemical pathways interconnected with biomarkers of malnutrition and immunological responses (M36)

D6.2.1.5.

New sustainable nutrition protocols for specific target groups with malnutrition (M20)

D6.3.1.3.

Definition of the modifiable factors facilitating malnutrition-related gut microbiome alteration (M16)

D6.4.1.1.

Development and validation of new sustainable nutritional protocols for specific target groups with malnutrition (M36)

State of the art

Immune-mediated diseases (IDs) (autoimmune and allergic diseases) are major chronic conditions for the EU population. These patients have an increased risk of malnutrition. Malnutrition could also facilitate the occurrence and could drive the IDs course.

Operation plan

It will be enrolled n=200 patients affected by IDs (n=100 with type 1 diabetes), of both sexes, aged between 5-65 years observed at the Department of Translational Medical Science and of Clinical and Surgery Medicine of the University Federico II (Naples, Italy). The following variables will be evaluated:

anthropometric parameter;
nutritional status assessment;
dietary habits;
fasting and postprandial metabolic parameters;
gut microbiome metagenomic and metabolomic features.

Analyses will be performed using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence systems.

Expected results

Identification and validation of innovative and sustainable nutritional counseling protocols aimed at ensure an adequate nutritional status of IDs patients, avoiding malnutrition and dysbiosis.