UNH research seeks to quantify health outcomes based on food access, fiber intake and gut microbiota

The U.S. obesity epidemic continues to have profound impacts on individuals’ health and socioeconomic well-being. Hispanic communities—constituting near 19% of the full US population and making up the second-largest population in Latest Hampshire (and certainly one of the fastest growing ethnic minority groups within the state)—are particularly vulnerable, with 42% affected by obesity, 77% being obese, and lots of facing associated chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes. Research from the Latest Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station is searching for to discover and quantify health outcomes across the interrelated aspects of food access, fiber intake and gut microbiota in Latest Hampshire’s Hispanic communities, and offer Granite State farmers higher insights about latest potential local market opportunities.

“The Hispanic/Latino population within the U.S. could be very diverse from a cultural and sociodemographic perspective,” described Station scientist Maria Carlota Dao. “In Latest Hampshire, this population is rapidly growing—but we lack comprehensive information concerning the health and dietary needs of Hispanics and Latinos in N.H.”

Dao, an assistant professor within the agriculture, nutrition, and food systems department on the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, is especially all in favour of the role of fiber intake. Fiber, a vital part of a healthy food plan, undergoes fermentation by the gut microbiota, leading to the production of metabolites—small molecules which are byproducts of microbial metabolism—that play a vital role in human metabolism and appetite regulation.

The study, which is able to leverage the deep community relationships developed by UNH Cooperative Extension specialists, will involve working with Hispanic adults aged 18-55 years with either a healthy or high body mass index and who reside in households eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—a federal program that gives food advantages to low-income households. The research team will assess food insecurity, dietary intake and gut microbiota measures, all of which have been validated to guarantee accurate data collection for Hispanic populations. The researchers may also collect blood samples to judge how hormones involved in glucose regulation, hunger and satiety reply to the consumption of a meal.

“This study will generate unprecedented information on the interplay between food plan, the gut microbiome and human health in Hispanic/Latino adults,” Dao said. “Moreover, it’ll reveal opportunities for our food systems and nutrition assistance programs to higher serve the state’s Hispanic/Latino communities.”

Dao hopes that the research results will help develop effective and accessible lifestyle interventions for weight management. The findings even have the potential to higher inform local food producers concerning the kinds of high-fiber foods that could be in demand, enabling Granite State farmers to access more robust markets while higher serving the region’s growing Hispanic population.

The research is supported by members of UNH Cooperative Extension including, Amy Hollar, associate state specialist; field specialist Rebecca Betts; SNAP-Ed program manager Zeanny Egea Alvarado and SNAP-Ed teachers Awilda Muniz and Grace Tavares. As latest evidence-based interventions are learned from this research, Hollar and her team will partner with the state’s Hispanic communities to supply programs and resources.

Ultimately, we’ll give you the chance to find out the effectiveness of the tailored nutrition by assessing behavior changes of the populations we work with. We may eventually make these interventions available to other states to be used of their SNAP-Ed programs and really highlight the success of culturally tailored nutrition.”

Amy Hollar, Associate State Specialist

You may learn more about Dao’s Fiber and Food Insecurity Research STudy (FIRST) on her lab website.