By Sunil Kochhar, Ph.D., Head of BioAnalytical Science Department, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland

Dietary preferences, although predominantly cultural in origin, are also a result of multiple biological and behavioral processes, with interactions between satiety, psychological perception and metabolic effects of foods. Individuals’ unique dietary preferences, along with lifestyle factors and genetics, influence health status and the likelihood of developing certain diseases. There is a clear need to understand human metabolism, environmental and lifestyle factors, to meet the ultimate goal of promoting better health and wellness through nutrition.

Perhaps one of the greatest scientific challenges in modern nutrition is to decipher the key metabolic interactions between food and human metabolism, and to understand its role in health and wellness. In addition, the complexity of different food matrices that contain a high number of bioactive compounds makes it a very challenging task to understand the exact effects of these compounds, and to further make specific recommendations for tailored nutritional solutions.

The sheer complexity of a food matrix, such as dark chocolate, may also have a variety of effects on metabolism. Many studies have demonstrated the potential health implications of dark chocolate constituents, but studies rarely examine the benefits of the product in its entirety. Despite the growing evidence on the health benefits associated with chocolate, the mechanisms of action of chocolate bioactive components at the molecular level are poorly understood. This is particularly the case for benefits related to brain health and the improvement of stress states where only physiological data are available.

The present study conducted by scientists at the Nestlé Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, sought to capture a holistic view of the metabolic changes associated with dark chocolate consumption in healthy and free living men and women, using nutritional metabonomics.

The study has concluded that consuming dark chocolate daily can positively impact the metabolism of people whoreport having high-stress levels. These results strongly support our ongoing metabonomics research efforts to ascertain the impact of certain foods on human metabolism through the adaptation of gut microbial activities.

 Nutritional Metabonomics

Modern nutrition research has promoted the use of state-of-the-art “omics” techniques which provide information on biological processes to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between nutrition, health, and physiological processes.

Metabonomics addresses the comprehensive analysis of the entire metabonome under a given set of conditions. It entails the quantitative measurement of dynamic metabolites (metabolic profiling) of living systems in response to genetic modifications or physiological stimuli, including diet and nutrients.

The metabonomic approach is used to obtain knowledge and insights about individuals’ metabolic responses to nutrients and bioactive compounds. Using metabolic profiling in nutrition research is a powerful method to study metabolic health, monitor nutrition status and identify biomarkers for early disease diagnosis.

Metabotypes (Metabolic Phenotypes)

Metabolic phenotypes of individuals are expressed as a result of genes, environment, lifestyle, diet and gut microbiota interactions.

Metabonomics is used to understand the role of genetic, environmental and behavioural factors on metabolism and the associated effects of nutrition on specific metabolic phenotypes. The relationship between dietary habits and metabolic phenotypes can also be studied through evaluation of metabolic interactions with gut microbiota.

Nestlé Research Initiatives

Nestlé Research Center scientists use metabonomics to make associations between specific dietary preferences and metabotypes (metabolic phenotypes). Links between dietary preference and metabotypes can be further leveraged to develop tailored foods to meet specific nutritional needs of consumers.

The Present Study

Nestlé scientists found that dark chocolate consumption may beneficially impact the metabolism of people that report feeling higher levels of stress. Anxiety and stress can have considerable effects on human health, causing a variety of physical and emotional conditions, and sometimes leading to more serious health concerns.

In the present study, 30 healthy adults consumed two portions of 20g daily of dark chocolate for fourteen consecutive days. Researchers measured the subjects’ global metabolic responses attributed to daily dark chocolate consumption, with particular emphasis on stress-related metabolic changes, including energy metabolism and gut microbial activities. They additionally assessed participants’ anxiety characteristics using validated questionnaires.

Results indicated that individuals reporting higher anxiety traits, i.e. - experiencing higher everyday stress, showed a distinct metabolic phenotype marked by differences in energy and hormonal metabolism, as well as gut microbial activities. Daily dark chocolate consumption had a positive impact on stress-associated metabolic signatures in individuals that reported feeling higher levels of stress. The observed reduced levels of stress-associated hormones and normalization of the stress-related metabolic differences suggest that daily consumption of dark chocolate significantly modulated the metabolism of study participants, with potential benefits in improving their metabolic reaction to stress.

This further demonstrates the link between metabolic phenotype and specific dietary patterns. Lifestyle and genetic factors, including diet, substantially influence individuals’ metabolic responses. A previous study by Nestlé scientists showed that dietary preferences, including chocolate consumption, can significantly impact energy and microbiota metabolism.

Scientists at the Nestlé Research Center continue to strengthen their position that the gut ecology and metabolic activity, which can be modulated by diet, is of key importance for health and wellness.

Nestlé Science & Research

Nestlé Science & Research, encompassing the Nestlé Research Center and its extensive network of external alliances, is a leading research entity in food, nutrition and life sciences. With over 700 scientists from 50 nations, Nestlé Science & Research forms the heart of the most active, dynamic and successful translational science engine in the world. A diverse staff of premier researchers from a broad range of scientific competencies together with external collaborators worldwide are central to fulfilling Nestlé’s vision of Good Food, Good Life.

Food and human interactions with and around food comprise myriad scientific complexities and research avenues. Nestlé scientists seek insight into the complex physical, chemical, physiological and biochemical mechanisms of nutrition science, in addition to the social sciences and food-consumer interactions to guide the innovation of products with optimal biological activity and efficacy.

Nestlé advocates for the best science anywhere in the world and apply this science into useful applications for the company and a host of innovative products for consumers. The multi-faceted science at Nestlé Science & Research has an ever-increasing role in improving the quality and benefits of food for people everywhere.

For more information on Nestlé Science & Research, its mission and ongoing research programs, please visit our website at: www.research.nestle.com.

Definitions

Metabonomics - the quantitative measurement of the metabolic responses of living systems to pathophysiological stressors, genetic modifications, environmental stimuli and nutritional interventions.

Article Reference:

Martin FPJ, Rezzi S, Peré-Trepat E, Kamlage B, Collino S, Leibold E, Kastler J, Rein D, Fay LB and Kochhar S. Metabolic effects of dark chocolate consumption on energy, gut microbiota and stress-related metabolism in free-living subjects. Journal of Proteome Research, 2009; Published online ahead of print, Oct 2009.

Related Articles:

Rezzi S, Ramadan Z, Martin FPJ, Fay LB, van Bladeren P, Lindon JC, Nicholson JK and Kochhar S. Human Metabolic Phenotypes Link Directly to Specific Dietary Preferences in Healthy Individuals. Journal of Proteome Research, 2007;6:4469-77.

Martin FP, Sprenger N, Yap IK, Wang Y, Bibiloni R, Rochat F, Rezzi S, Cherbut C, Kochhar S, Lindon JC, Holmes E, and Nicholson JK. Panorganismal Gut Microbiome-Host Metabolic Crosstalk. Journal of Proteome Research, 2009;8:2090-2105.

Rezzi S, Ramadan Z, Fay LB, Kochhar S. Nutritional Metabonomics: Applications and Perspectives. Journal of Proteome Research, 2007;6:513-25.
 

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