Nutritional Composition and Environmental Impact of Meals Selected in Workplace Canteens before and after an Intervention Promoting the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet

Enhancing healthy and sustainable food systems is one of the key goals of the current European Commission policy. In this light, the creation of a food environment where people are properly informed about the healthiness and sustainability of food choices is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional profile and the environmental impact of meals consumed in a workplace canteen in Italy in the presence of a nudge (i.e., the Double Pyramid logo) combined with a web-based application promoting the Mediterranean Diet. Energy and nutrient contents and the carbon, water, and ecological footprints of 29,776 meals were compared across three subsequent periods (from June to April) through one-way ANOVA. Although the choice of dishes labelled with the Double Pyramid logo was comparable across periods, the selection of fish- and plant-based dishes increased from +2% (fish, vegetables) up to +17% (whole-grain cereals), with a concurrent reduction of meat-based options (−2%). Although the consumption of healthy items increased (p < 0.001), they were not added as a replacement for alternative options, leading to a higher content in energy (p < 0.001) and nutrients (p < 0.001) and worse environmental footprints, contrarily to what was observed when data were adjusted for energy. The intervention significantly improved food choices; however, as the higher selection of desired dishes was not adequately compensated for, it was not fully effective.

Development of an Oral (Poly)Phenol Challenge Test (Opct) to Identify Aggregate Metabotypes for Dietary (Poly)Phenols and Their Drivers: A Study Protocol

Objectives

Evidence shows that bioactive (poly)phenols are pivotal in the prevention of chronic diseases, in particular in cardiometabolic health. However, the inter-individual variability existing in their bioavailability and physiological response can impact their true efficacy. Individuals showing similar metabolic profiles for specific (poly)phenols can be clustered into phenolic metabotypes, while comprehensive phenolic metabolic profiles derived from main dietary (poly)phenols could be referred to as “aggregate phenolic metabotypes”. The main aim of the study is to identify aggregate phenolic metabotypes and the determinants related to their formation.

Methods

An intervention study is carried out on 300 healthy volunteers (18–74 y) which are asked to provide information on dietary habits, smoking, physical activity, sleeping, anthropometric measures, health status, and biological samples. Subjects undergo a standardised oral (poly)phenol challenge test consisting in an acute supplementation of several classes of dietary (poly)phenols. Urine samples collected during the following 24h are analysed through UPLC-IMS-HRMS to assess the individual urinary excretion of phenolic metabolites, allowing aggregate metabotype clustering. Blood samples are analysed to determine common cardiometabolic health biomarkers, and buffy coat processed to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) used for whole-genome genotyping. Transcriptomic signatures in PBMCs are also assessed. Gut microbiota composition will be profiled by shallow shotgun metagenomics. Cardiometabolic risk scores are also computed. Predictive models will be used to assess the determinants of inter-individual variation in (poly)phenol metabolism, providing indications in the cardiometabolic health status of each individual.

Results

Preliminary results are expected to be available for mid-2023.

Conclusions

Metabotyping according to the metabolism of the whole set of dietary (poly)phenols may thus represent a promising attempt for cardiometabolic health promotion through personalised nutrition initiatives.

Funding Sources

This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.