Study on Treating by Eating: Role of AGEs on Mucosal Barrier and Microbiome.

Overview

This is an exploratory study aimed at healthy volunteers to investigate the impact of differential cooking methods on global and gut inflammation, intestinal permeability, and the gut microbiota. The investigators hypothesize that a short dietary intervention of baking and grilling of food for 2 weeks as opposed to steaming and boiling of food for 2 weeks will result in measurable differences in blood, stool and urine samples that guide towards gut and overall health and disease. All food will be provided, together with detailed cooking instructions. Food logs including photographs will be used to check whether participants complied with the study. The investigators aim to better understand the role of cooking methods in human health, so that this can be implemented in preventive strategies and dietary treatments for specific patient groups.

This is a pilot project aimed at healthy volunteers to investigate the impact of differential cooking methods on systemic and intestinal inflammation, permeability, and the gut microbiota, using a randomised cross-over design. The investigators hypothesize that a short dietary intervention of baking and grilling of food for 2 weeks (high-Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) diet) as opposed to steaming and boiling of food for 2 weeks (low-AGEs diet) will result in measurable differences in inflammatory, cardiometabolic and microbial markers in blood and stool as well as changes in intestinal permeability through their effect on dietary AGEs. All food will be provided, together with detailed cooking instructions. Food logs including photographs will be used to assess and check adherence to the intervention. The investigators aim to better understand the role of cooking methods and thermal treatments in human health, so that this can be implemented in preventive strategies and dietary treatments for specific patient groups.