Personalized Responses to Dietary Composition Trial 3

Overview

The PREDICT 3 study will build on previous research in over 2,000 individuals to further refine machine learning models that predict individual responses to foods, with the aim of advancing precision nutrition science and individualized dietary advice. The study incorporates both standardized and controlled dietary intervention, for the purpose of testing postprandial responses to specific mixed meals, in addition to a free-living period with a dietary record for measuring responses to a large variety of meals consumed in a realistic context, where the role of external factors (e.g. exercise, sleep, time of day) on postprandial responses may be determined. For the first time this PREDICT study is built on top of a commercial product which will allow access to a much larger group of participants who are already collecting large amounts of data through digital and biochemical devices that can contribute to science.

Choice of design: The study is a single arm mechanistic intervention study. Study population: The subject must have enrolled in the commercial ZOE testing program in order to apply for participation in the PREDICT 3 research program. Screening Assessment: The study eligibility criteria listed below closely match to the commercial eligibility criteria, which ZOE users consent to before enrolling in the commercial program. Study duration: Each participant will take part in the study for 6-14 days. Dietary intervention: The dietary intervention will be carried out on up to 6 days with the option to continue monitoring for a total study period of 14-days. On day one, participants will be asked to fit glucose monitor. Over the following consecutive days, each participant will be instructed to eat 2 standardized meals. Participants are free to eat whatever they wish at all other times. The standardized meals will be provided to all participants by the study team via post. The foods included as part of these meals will be foods that are commonly consumed and can be made from products sold in US supermarkets. Participants will be asked to consume the entire amount of food indicated for the standardized meals and to record any left-over food via a digital app for which training will be provided at the start of the study. Following completion of standardized meal period, participants are free to eat and drink whatever they wish and will be asked to track all meals, snacks and drinks on their digital app. Participants will also be advised not to change their physical activity patterns during the course of the study. Regular contact will be made with the participants via phone, their app and text messages for the period of the intervention to encourage compliance and answer any queries. Anthropometry: The participant will be instructed to report height and weight. Dietary and Lifestyle: Participants will be asked to complete a baseline questionnaire online, as well as a diet history questionnaire with portion sizes about the month preceding their study period. They will be asked to record on a daily basis their dietary, activity, and psychological data (e.g. hunger) using a digital mobile phone app. Training in all apps and equipment will be given through written and online instructions and via communications with the study support staff. Digital devices: Participants will be asked to record daily dietary and activity information using digital apps and lifestyle information will be monitored using a wearable device. The continuous glucose monitor (Freestyle Libre, CGM) provides continuous glucose profiles for up to 14 days. The CGM will be inserted on the back of the upper arm, one day before participants begin dietary intervention. This will measure subcutaneous interstitial fluid glucose concentrations every 5 minutes. The CGM will be removed at the end of the intervention period by the participant. A contact number will be made available to participants for any inquiries or if any problems arise. Data from the CGM will be downloaded, and glucose profiles will be evaluated on the basis of data collected. Meal responses: As a product user, the participant will consume standardized meals an additional day to the study intervention. Blood samples: As a product user, the participant will collect postprandial blood on 1 day using finger-prick blood sampling. Stool sample: As a product user, the participant will collect a stool sample on 1 day. Digital app: As product users, participants will be asked to download an app designed specifically for this study, which provides diet logging functionality similar to widely used existing apps such as MyFitnessPal. Participants will be asked to record and monitor the following information via the digital app: * All food and drink they consume, with serving sizes and photos * Sleep and physical activity patterns, including exercise * Hunger and alertness ratings * Psychological feeling of energy and mood * Prescription and over-the-counter drug consumption The app will be available in versions for iOS operating systems. The app will synchronize remotely with backend database servers, over an encrypted and authenticated API, and will support offline operation for when patients wish to record an entry without network coverage. This continuous background synchronization means that it will not be necessary to explicitly download data from the phone at the end of the study. Following the 2020 pandemic of COVID-19, participants are asked to use the COVID-19 Symptom Tracker app to record their physical health symptoms, or lack thereof, attributable to COVID-19, as well as demographic and other health information to track the spread of disease in real time, and to potentially reveal risk factors for infection and severe illness. Subcohort: An opt-in follow-on study will be offered to participants to follow dietary guidance from the ZOE app based on their PREDICT 3 results. During the first 4 weeks, participants will be given dietary guidance to follow from the ZOE app. Thereafter, for a period of up to 12 months, participants will be asked to report on outcome measures at regular intervals (monthly). Outcome measures will be reported before, during and after the 4 week period and include weight, bristol stool chart, bowel habits, hunger, energy, adherence to dietary advice, and app usage. Participants (UK only) will collect additional stool samples at variable intervals. The data will be used to test the efficacy of the ZOE dietary advice in promoting weight loss and improvement of overall health, and may be stratified by age, sex, BMI, adherence and/or motivation to take part in the PREDICT 3 study. Food Frequency Questionnaire Validation: A food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed using the most frequently logged foods within the ZOE app will be validated against a 4-day period of food logging in the app as well as the commonly used US-based DHQ3 FFQ (target enrollment; n=100).