ESB - Teses de Doutoramento / Doctoral Theses
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Browsing ESB - Teses de Doutoramento / Doctoral Theses by Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) "01:Erradicar a Pobreza"
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- IMPULSE : IMpact of a PULSE-based partial replacement diet on metabolome and healthPublication . Ferreira, Helena Alexandra Gonçalves; Pinto, Elisabete Cristina Bastos; Vasconcelos, Marta Wilton Pereira Leite de; Gil, Ana Maria Pissarra CoelhoThis doctoral project was conceived in the context of urgent global challenges related to food security and environmental sustainability, as a response to the need for transitioning to plantrich dietary patterns. The project aimed to explore the feasibility and impact on human organisms of partially substituting animal protein-rich foods with plant-based protein-rich foods, specifically pulses, in omnivorous diets. Identified gaps in scientific evidence regarding the health effects of pulses, especially as protein alternatives, prompted a comprehensive exploration combining classical nutrition research tools with molecular biology and metabolomics techniques. A quasi-experimental dietary intervention was designed involving a single group of volunteers. Non-vegetarian individuals aged 18 to 45 were provided with a pulse-based vegetarian meal on weekdays for eight consecutive weeks in Porto, Portugal. Sociodemographic data, health-related information, and lifestyle details were recorded for each volunteer. A post-meal satisfaction questionnaire assessed participants' satisfaction with each meal using a nine-point hedonic scale. Untargeted 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics was applied to plasma, urine, and fecal samples (totaling 248 samples), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) molecular biology was used on fecal samples (34 samples) to obtain holistic and integrated information on the impact of pulse diets on the metabolome and intestinal microbiota. Additionally, three-day food diaries, anthropometric parameters, and blood biochemical analyses were obtained for each individual, contributing to a comprehensive data collection. Data analysis, including comparison of different parameters at the intervention's start and end, utilized various statistical tests for proportion and mean comparisons, and multivariate analysis. Significant differences were considered when the p-value was below 5%. The meal satisfaction analysis highlighted the significant role of cooking methods in determining food preferences, with greater satisfaction for stewed dishes and lower ratings for boiled dishes. Peas received lower appreciation, likely reflecting them being less preferred as protein alternatives. Moreover, most participants were able to meet national and international guidelines for pulse consumption without exacerbating nutritional inadequacies for the tested macro- and micronutrients, except for vitamin B12. The intervention demonstrated potential benefits in reducing blood lipids, with decreases in total and LDL cholesterol levels, supporting cardiovascular health benefits associated with pulse-rich diets. Using NMR spectroscopy, a dynamic metabolic response to pulse consumption was identified in plasma and urine samples, emphasizing the modulation of protein and energy metabolism, as well as the identification of potential intake markers. Correlations between bacterial quantification and fecal metabolome suggest possible metabolic patterns of some of the 8 studied bacterial groups. The results highlight the potential benefits and challenges of adopting pulse-based diets but suggest that pulses would be readily accepted in dietary habits if prepared and presented pleasantly. While positive impacts on cardiovascular health and metabolic activity are evident, the results emphasize the need to avoid nutritional deficiencies, especially in vitamin B12, when substituting animal-origin foods with pulses. Metabolomic analysis highlighted the dynamic nature of the response to pulse consumption, and its combination with molecular biology revealed the potential impact of these foods on the intestinal microbiota. Through a multidisciplinary approach, this study elucidated the potential of pulse-based diets in promoting individual well-being and sustainable food choices. These results need confirmation in experimental studies involving a larger number of participants and a control group, but they identify potential biomarkers and advance the understanding of the broader effects of pulses on human health. Future work should further optimize pulse-based dietary recommendations and explore innovative strategies to enhance the adoption of sustainable dietary patterns on a larger scale.