Use of Metabonomics and Body Imaging for Metabolic Health Assessment
Use of Metabonomics and Body Imaging for Metabolic Health Assessment
The aim of this pilot study is to develop at Nestlé Research Center a database of metabolic
 profiles, body composition, food habits and physical activities on a large cohort of human
 volunteers. Analysis of collected data will serve to measure the variability of the data and
 to assess the potential of combining metabonomics with imaging techniques (iDXA) to monitor
 the metabolic and physiologic effects of foods.
The study will be carried out at the metabolic unit of the Nestlé Research Center (Lausanne).
 A large cohort of subjects will be recruited among Nestlé employees. Body composition will be
 determined by iDXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) and basal metabolism will be measured
 by metabonomic analysis of urine and plasma samples.

 Individual food habits and physical activities will be assessed by questionnaires.

 The clinical protocol plans also the measurement of energy expenditure (EE) by indirect
 calorimetry on a subset of twenty subjects. These EE data will be used to validate iDXA
 outcomes for resting energy expenditure.

 The volunteers can participate a second time to this study in the case they would like to
 control the evolution of their body composition and metabolism after a period of dietary
 regime or physical training. In such a case, a minimum period of two months between the
 visits is required.

 After two days of dietary restrictions, the volunteers will come in the morning at the
 metabolic unit at fasting state, for urine and blood sampling. The metabolism of some foods
 can bias the metabonomic analyses. Therefore, the consumption of alcoholic beverages, fish
 meals, liquorice, grapefruit, power drinks and bars, spices, mineral supplements, soft
 drinks, chocolate, coffee and tea limited to 2 cups per day, are not allowed during two days
 preceding the visit. In addition, the intake of pain-killers or antiinflammatory drugs is
 forbidden during the two days before the sampling of urine and blood because their metabolism
 alters the metabolic profiles of blood and urine.

 Antibiotics alter gut microflora, for which the activity represents an important contributor
 to the urinary metabolic profile. In order to preserve gut microflora-related metabolic
 information, we recommend a minimum period of one month between the end of any antibiotic
 therapy and the visit at the metabolic unit.

 On the visit day, subjects will come fasting at the metabolic unit, where they will have to:

 -  Answer some medical questions during an interview with the doctor in charge of the study

 -  Fill in two questionnaires on food habits and physical activities. A dietician of the
 CHUV will visit you at NRC to ask you for some questions relative to your food habits.
 This is to validate the new questionnaire you filled in

 -  Give a sample of urine

 -  Undergo iDXA scan (2 consecutive measures will be run at each of the two visits, in
 order to assess the intra-individual variability of the results) and measure of the
 state of hydration by bioimpedance The analysis of plasma samples is recommended to
 complete the metabonomic analysis. However, the blood sampling will be freely decided by
 each participant. The protocol plans also to perform measurements of resting energy
 expenditure by indirect calorimetry on a subset of twenty subjects.
Inclusion Criteria:

 All subjects must comply with all the following inclusion criteria:

 -  Having respected dietary restrictions 2 days before the visit

 -  Having obtained his/her or his/her legal representative's informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 Subjects representing one or more of the following criteria are excluded from participation
 in the study:

 -  Pregnancy as per precaution principal to avoid risks linked to X-ray exposure

 -  Any pathology (infectious or other) having required an antibiotic therapy within

 1 month prior to the beginning of the study

 -  Any therapy (contraception apart) within the 2 days before the visit day

 -  Subject who cannot be expected to comply with measures

 -  Currently participating or having participated in another clinical trial during the
 last 3 months prior to the beginning of this study