Multi-Omics-based BIomarker Signatures of dietary Carbohydrates qUalITy and risk of chronic diseaseS.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and dementia is rapidly increasing worldwide and is therefore a major public health concern.

Carbohydrate intake (40-80%) represents the main source of energy in most populations and the quality more than the quantity has a large effect on health.

Recently, a “carbohydrate quality index” (CQI) emerged as a exposure that captures the combined and potentially synergistic effects of dietary glycemic index and intakes of total fiber, whole grains, and liquid or solid carbohydrates in a comprehensive manner.

A high dietary carbohydrate quality assessed by the CQI has been associated with lower risk of T2D, CVD, and intermediate risk factors.

However, the precise mechanisms of the associated beneficial effects offered by high CQI scores remain unresolved partially due to the lack of accurate biomarkers reflecting their exposure and the minimal information available on how CQI impacts the gut microbiota.

The main objective of BISCUITS is to identify multi-omics signatures of dietary carbohydrate quality assessed by the CQI and evaluate their associations with the risk of chronic diseases in adult populations.

We will integrate metabolomics and microbiota datasets using novel machine learning algorithms to identify combined panels of metabolites and microbial species reflecting the exposure to high CQI scores.

We will also investigate the potential associations of these signatures with the risk of T2D, CVD, and dementia in two populations.

Similar studies to this are not available in the literature and have the potential to discover novel biomarkers of CQI exposure and map biochemical mechanisms explaining the complex relationship between CQI and these diseases.

This could open new avenues for the prevention and management of cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, resulting in easy-to-follow lifestyle recommendations and strategies that general population and patients can easily adopt.