Biomarkers of the nutrition quality and environmental impact

Abstract

Modern "Omic" technologies are increasingly used to isolate biomarkers of the nutrition model. In order to find the impact markers of the food quality and environment on the metabolic profile of preschoolers from two territories with different ecology (main group (Preschool Educational Institution 1) and comparison group (Preschool Educational Institution 2)), a nutrition assessment was carried out (data analysis of the cyclic two-week menu for the Preschool Educational Institution and nutrition outside the Preschool Educational Institution). The results of the food set assessment and the nutritional value of the menu were compared with the norms established by the requirements of legislation and medical recommendations. The content of organic acids in the urine of 60 children was analyzed to identify markers of environmental exposure, metabolic disorders of macro- and micronutrients using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. It was found that the menu of the Preschool Educational Institution 1 was more rational in terms of the food set in comparison with the menu of the Preschool Educational Institution 2. The menu of the Preschool Educational Institution 2 had insufficient levels of macronutrients necessary for normal metabolism, such as proteins by 1.7%, vegetable fats by 22%, including PUFA by 1.9%, dietary fiber by 10.9%, as well as micronutrients vitamins B1 by 25.9%, PP by 15.2%, and calcium by 18.2%. In the Preschool Educational Institution 1 there was deficiency in the amount of vegetable fats by 8%, vitamin B1 by 13%, and calcium by 19.4%. Analysis of organic acid biomarker data showed that the lowest titer values of markers for branched amino acid metabolism deficiency (valine, leucine, isoleucine) were detected for 3-hydroxy-isovalerian (leucine metabolite) acid in the children of the Preschool Educational Institution 1. However, the average values don’t significantly differ (p=0.7). Correlation analysis showed the relationship between the content of nutrients and organic acids in the urine of the children. A high amount of organic acids, markers of vitamin B6, B9, and B12 deficiency were identified in children of both groups. The titers of markers of sulfur-containing amino acids (2-hydroxybutyric and pyroglutamic acids) are higher in children of the Preschool Educational Institution 1, which indicates the need for them in detoxification reactions.