Identifying the Microbial Metabolome: The Missing Link Between Diet and Human Health

There is a lot of evidence to suggest that the bacteria in our gut play a major role in maintaining our health, but very little is known about the way in which this is achieved. In this study we will identify how the bacteria in out gut change the food we eat into products that may be responsible for this effect. We will also identify which bacteria are responsible for these changes. The foods we will look at are those suggested by the American Institute of Cancer Research to help prevent cancer; leafy green vegetables (cabbage, spinach), soft fruits (strawberry) cereal (oats) and plant-based protein (soya and pea). We will feed a diet rich in these foods to volunteers, monitoring the changes to the bacteria in our gut and the products produced. We will identify which products have potential to prevent cancer and also to work out how they are being produced. This work will provide new and important information that will allow us to understand more about the link between diet and health.