Investigation of Microbiome-Derived Metabolite Production in Response to a Mediterranean Diet

There is a large inter-individual variability in gut microbiome-derived metabolites production upon ingestion of similar meals. Since many of these microbiome-derived metabolites have enteric and systemic biological effects, these variabilities could in part account for the different responses to meals and diets.

This project thus aims to improve the understanding the relationship between gut microbiome composition and the nature of dietary metabolites produced from similar bioactive precursor-rich meals.

The investigators therefore propose to characterise the circulating microbiome-derived metabolite profiles in healthy individuals fed the same 2-day precursor-rich Mediterranean diet prior to and after a 2-week of habitual Canadian diet feeding.

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women aged between 18 and 35 years
• Body mass index between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2
• General good health
• Computer and Internet access
• Basic understanding of written French

Exclusion criteria

• Intestinal pathologies including inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal cancers
• Pregnant and/or breast-feeding women
• Alcohol consumption greater than 15 portions for men and 10 for women weekly
• Active tobacco usage
• Consumption of dietary supplements (e.g. multivitamins, omega-3, probiotics)
• Completion of a course of antibiotics in the past 3 months
• Regular use of anti-inflammatory drugs, or use in the past 3 months
• Important weight change (+/- 5 kg) in the past 6 months
• Allergies or food intolerances to ingredients present in trial diets