The chocolate lovers expressed this profile even when they ate no
chocolate, the researchers note. The activity of the gut microbes in
the chocolate lovers was also distinctively different from the other
subjects, they add.
�Our study shows that food preferences, including chocolate, might be
programmed or imprinted into our metabolic system in such a way that
the body becomes attuned to a particular diet,� says Kochhar, a
scientist with Nestl� Research Center in Switzerland.
�We know that some people can eat a diet that is high in steak and
carbs and generally remain healthy, while the same food in others is
unhealthy,� he explains. �Knowing one�s metabolic profile could
open-the-door to dietary or nutritional interventions that are
customized to your type so that your metabolism can be nudged to a
healthier status.�
Researchers have known for some time that metabolic status and food
preferences can vary from person to person and even between different
cultures. The recent growth of the new field of proteome research,
which focuses on characterizing the structure and function of the
complete set of proteins produced by our genes, has allowed scientists
to gain a deeper understanding of the metabolic changes that occur
when foods are digested, Kochhar says.
�There�s a lot of information in metabolism that can be used to
improve health and this information is just now being explored and
tapped,� the researcher says.
In the future, a test for determining one�s metabolic type could be
performed as part of a blood or urine test during a regular visit to
the doctor, Kochhar predicts. But a reliable test to measure one�s
metabolic type may be five years away, as more research is still
needed in this area, he notes.
Women were not included in the current study in order to avoid any
metabolic variations linked to the menstrual cycle, which has been
shown in studies by others to influence metabolic differences, Kochhar
says. But the researchers plan to include women in future clinical
trials on metabolic responses to chocolate to determine if there is a
gender-specific response to the treat.
In addition to providing a better understanding of individual
metabolic types, the current study could also lead to the discovery of
additional biomarkers that can identify new health benefits linked to
chocolate and other foods, says Kochhar, whose research was funded by
Nestl�.
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