MetAbolomics in pRecision Childhood nutritiOn: a way for precision nutrition?

The high prevalence of childhood obesity in several parts of the world indicates a worrying future health scenario, making prevention

a high priority. This prevention should focus on diet and physical activity. Regarding food, the beginning of establishing eating habits

and preferences occurs in childhood, being necessary that this prevention and treatment is individualized. In this context, precision

nutrition offers a new paradigm for health, where the focus is to prevention and treatment strategies based on an individual's unique

characteristics. Metabolomics (which is in the omics group - transcriptomics, genomics and proteomics) is being considered an

important aspect in precision nutrition, reflecting more realistically effect of food on health and disease. Therefore, the aim of this

project is to identify, the metabolomic profile in children aged 3-6 years, and through a longitudinal intervention, if eating behaviour

and physical inactivity modify the profile of metabolites that can lead to obesity. The data for this proposal will be derived from a

multicenter, parallel, randomized and controlled clinical trial that will be carried out with a cohort of children, followed initially by one

year of intervention, with the intention of 10 years in total. The intervention will be based on healthy eating and physical activity.

Metabolomics data, anthropometric, dietary, socioeconomic, behavioural, metabolic, biochemical and food environment variables

will be collected. Similar studies to this are not available in the literature, and have the potential to increase knowledge about

nutritional metabolomics, especially in early childhood and serve as a database for other studies with this population. This can reduce

childhood obesity, minimize nutritional and metabolic risks in childhood and reduce the economic, environmental and social impact

this disease.