Gut microbiome composition and diversity among health and lifestyle induced dietary regimen

The aim of the project is to determine differences in gut microbiota composition in groups with specific dietary regimen in general Latvian adult population aged 19–64 (n=600). Work tasks will include dietary data collection using food frequency questionnaire, one 24-h dietary recall and a two-day food diary; socio-demographic, health status and medical history data collection; anthropometrical measurement collection; fecal sample collection; fecal sample analysis using 16S amplicon sequencing. Expected results include energy and nutrient intake differences in five study groups with different dietary patterns - regular non-sweetened sour milk consumers, vegans, celiac disease patients, chronic liver disease patients and control group of healthy individuals with no dietary restrictions; gut microbiome composition and diversity in five study groups; relationship between the results obtained from dietary and fecal analysis data and socio-demographic and anthropometrical data; development of at least four scientific publications dedicated to the research results in areas of public health and molecular biology; dissemination of the results in 4 international scientific conferences; inclusion of the results in lecture materials of students of Riga Stradiņš University; involvement of young researchers; elaboration of two doctoral thesis based on the results obtained.