NMR based Metabolic Profiling for improving Nutritional Health
Dietary patterns ascribed to the West — high sodium, cholesterol, added sugars, saturated fats coupled with low fiber intake — underpin several public health concerns (O’Keefe et al., 2015). In particular, these consumption patterns are associated with an elevated risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs); those that cannot be transmitted from person-to-person, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Of notable concern are low to middle-income countries where the growing consumption of energy-dense foods is creating new health challenges, such as higher rates of type 2 diabetes. Observation of higher-income countries offers little comfort, as no country has succeeded in reversing rates of obesity.
If left unchecked, NCDs are predicted to rise, bringing additional burdens to healthcare systems and economies. Altogether, this highlights the need for improved nutrition in tackling this issue.