Nestlé Health Science will undertake a longitudinal study designed to discover how lifestyle factors — specifically dietary fibre — shape the human microbiome and influence health.
The longitudinal collaboration study, FIBER-IMPACT, will enrol 60 healthy adults and their households for a 16-week observational period where participants will supplement their diets with chia seeds and provide stool and blood samples, while completing daily dietary and stress surveys and submitting meal photos.
The research aims to evaluate how dietary fibre affects the gut's spore colony-forming units (SCFU), assess the effects of stress, identify host biomarkers and explore the relationship between microbiome composition, metabolomic features and overall health — all in the context of real-world lifestyles.
Bringing together leading experts from across the field, the study will be led by Principal Investigator Dr Jason Goldsmith, Senior Director, Clinical Operations and Microbiome Sciences, Nestlé Health Science.
The collaboration includes Dr Thaddeus Stappenbeck, Chair of Inflammation and Immunity at Cleveland Clinic, focusing on the root causes of inflammatory and infectious diseases, Dr Katrine Whiteson, Professor and co-Director of UCI Microbiome at UC Irvine, specialising in human-associated microbial and viral communities and the impact of dietary fiber and Dr Sonia Grego of Coprata, whose technology supports the study's innovative sample collection.
"This research will help unlock how daily habits and nutrition shape the microbiome, paving the way for future breakthroughs," said Dr Goldsmith.
Dr Stappenbeck added: "By translating our discoveries on gut bacteria and immune health into this real-world study, we aim to advance new strategies for disease prevention."
Dr Whiteson remarked, "Our work shows fibre's powerful role in the microbiome."
"People want to take control of their health and this collaboration lets us see the impact of a very doable intervention in everyday life."
The study will leverage Coprata's innovative stool sampling tools and digital tracking, making participation less burdensome than traditional methods.
All sample collection and data gathering are conducted under Institutional Review Board (IRB) oversight to ensure participant safety and privacy, as is standard for clinical research of this kind.
Dr Grego said: "Coprata's technology lets participants collect samples conveniently and hygienically, making research participation easier and more comfortable."