ALIMES: Microbiome map in the senior population for developing personalized nutrition geared toward active aging

Our society was experiencing an unprecedented increase in life expectancy, which brought new challenges associated with the older population. ALIMES proposed going one step further in the commitment to personalized solutions for this population segment and their influence on quality of life, longevity and active aging through individualized nutrition, by producing a detailed and up-to-date map of the microbiome in the senior population that would make it possible to determine the relationship between the presence or absence of certain microbial groups and health status.

The microbiome comprises the set of microbial communities, their genes, metabolites and living conditions, and provides highly valuable information for moving toward personalized nutrition and integrating it into the daily lives of older people.

As a starting point, the project carried out monitoring of the gut microbiota through personalized nutritional strategies, with the aim of finding potential biomarkers associated with healthier aging. As a pilot study, ALIMES conducted an in vitro study of the modulating capacity of milk fermented with Bifidobacterium lactis on the gut microbiota of older people, as well as an in silico study of gut metagenomes and an in vitro intervention with a probiotic food.

Within the consortium, CTIC's contribution focused on the analysis and exploitation of the data generated: characterization of the microbiota through metagenomics, identification of biomarkers and modulation of the metabolic pathways of the microorganisms involved, relying on Big Data technology and bioinformatics, which made it possible to extract highly valuable information associated with the microbiota value chain, aimed at improving the quality of life of older people.