The main aim of the NutriDutcH consortium is to investigate the interdependence of the gut-muscle-brain axis in order to translate individual biological parameters to personalised nutritional treatment to improve during hospitalization and recovery at home. Inflammation and disease lead to decreased appetite, muscle wasting and an increased risk for complications, longer hospital stay, re-admissions and more medication all leading to higher health care costs. Malnutrition during hospital admission and at home concerns every one of us at some point in our lifespan, being our family, our loved ones, our friends or ourselves independent of the disease.
Nutritional targets are often not reached in the hospital setting. Current interventions often focus on calorie and protein supplementation, without solving the problem itself of reduced appetite (anorexia), muscle loss and attenuated recovery mechanisms. Individual biological, sociological and psychological patient-related factors emphasize the need for a personalised approach. NutriDutcH focuses on the interdependence of the gut where nutrients are taken up, the muscle reflecting functional protein mass and the brain’s control over appetite in individual patients to address recovery and (psychological) from a completely new perspective.
NutriDutcH works towards its aim via three themes. Theme “Discover” aims to discover potential individual biological parameters in ~10.000 adults that may be amenable to personalised nutritional treatment. Theme “Analyse” focuses on the storage, integration and computational analysis of the data generated in the project. Theme “Implement” integrates this into a strategy for implementation of a novel personalised nutritional advice in care.
We want to achieve personalised nutritional advices based on scientific evidence for identification of individual gut, muscle and brain factors. This translation from fundamental outcomes to personalised advice in a hospital setting is innovative and the change that NutriDutcH pursues, aiming for breakthroughs in the scientific and societal arena.