16 News


THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 20 2017


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New urine test detects healthy diet SCIENTISTS have developed a


urine test that measures the health of a person’s diet. The five-minute test measures


biological markers in urine created by the breakdown of foods such as red meat, chicken, fish and fruit and vegetables. The analysis, developed by


researchers from Imperial College London, Aberystwyth University and Newcastle University, also gives an indication of how much fat, sugar, fibre and protein a person has eaten. Although the work is at an early


stage, the team hope that with future development the test will be able to track patients’ diets. It could even be used in weight loss programmes to monitor food intake. Evidence


suggests people


inaccurately record their own diets, and under-report unhealthy food while over- reporting fruit and vegetable intake - and that the likelihood of inaccuracies in food diaries increases if a person is overweight or obese. Professor Gary Frost, senior author


of the study from the Department of Medicine at Imperial, said: “A major weakness in all nutrition and diet studies is that we have no true measure of what people eat. We rely solely on people keeping logs of their daily diets - but studies suggest around 60% of people misreport what they eat to some extent. This test could be the first independent indicator of the quality of a person’s diet - and what they are really eating.” Professor John Draper, from the


Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University, and co-author on the study, is working on developing the test for use in the home. Professor Draper said: “The future


challenge is to apply the technology developed in this laboratory study in a community setting and objectively monitor diet in the home. The teams in Aberystwyth and Newcastle have been


The team now hope to refine


the technology by testing it on larger numbers of people. They also need to further assess the accuracy of the test on an average person’s diet, outside of a research setting. Dr Isabel Garcia-Perez, co-author


Professor John Draper, of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University: Co-author of the study


doing just this and the results are looking very promising.” In the study, published in the journal


Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology and conducted at the MRC-NIHR National Phenome Centre, the researchers asked 19 volunteers to follow four different diets, ranging from very healthy to very unhealthy. These were formulated using World


Health Organisation dietary guidelines, which advise on the best diets to prevent conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The volunteers strictly followed these


diets for three days while in a London research facility, throughout which the scientists collected urine samples in the morning, afternoon and evening. The research team then assessed the


urine for hundreds of compounds, called metabolites, produced when certain foods are broken down in the body. These included compounds that


indicate red meat, chicken, fish, fruit and vegetables, as well as giving a picture of the amount of protein, fat, fibre and sugar eaten. They also included compounds that point to specific foods such as citrus


fruits, grapes and green leafy vegetables. From this information,


the


researchers were able to develop a urine metabolite profile that indicated a healthy, balanced diet with a good intake of fruit and vegetables. The idea is this ‘healthy diet’ profile


could be compared to the diet profile from an individual’s urine, to provide an instant indicator of whether they are eating healthily. The scientists then tested the accuracy of the test on data from a previous study. This included 225 UK volunteers


as well as 66 people from Denmark. All of the volunteers had provided urine samples, and kept information on their daily diets. Analysis of these urine samples


enabled the researchers in the current study to accurately predict the diet of the 291 volunteers. Professor John Mathers, co-author


from the Human Nutrition Research Centre at Newcastle University, said: “For the first time, this research offers an objective way of assessing the overall healthiness of people’s diets without all the hassles, biases and errors of recording what they’ve eaten.”


from the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial, explained: “We need to develop the test further so we can monitor the diet based on a single urine sample, as well as increase the sensitivity. This will eventually provide a tool for personalised dietary monitoring to help maintain a healthy lifestyle. We’re not at the stage yet where the test can tell us a person ate 15 chips yesterday and two sausages, but it’s on the way.” The team added the technology


may one day be used alongside weight loss programmes, as well as patient rehabilitation, for instance to help heart attack patients follow a healthy diet. Professor Elaine Holmes, co-author


from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial, added: “We are hoping to make this test available to the public within the next two years. The idea would be to collect a urine sample at home and deliver it to a local centre for analysis. We envisage the tool being used by dieticians to help guide their patients’ dietary needs, or even by individuals who are interested in finding out more about the relationship between diet and their health.” Dr Des Walsh, head of population


and systems medicine at the Medical Research Council, said: “Though this research is still in its early stages, it’s grappling with essential methods in food and diet studies where advances are really needed. Measuring what we eat and drink more accurately will widen the benefits of nutrition research, developing better evidence-based interventions to improve individuals’ health and reduce obesity.”


Converting nappies into bio-fuel DISPOSING of post-Christmas


waste, including wrapping and packaging, is a headache for many at this time of year. But managing specific types of


waste, including disposable nappies, presents significant environmental challenges. Now, a new eco-friendly process,


developed by Aberystwyth University biology graduate Joe Freemantle, could provide a solution. Joe has devised a process to turn


disposable nappies, incontinence pads and sanitary products into valuable products, including pure cellulose fibre and bio-fuel. Every year, the UK produces one


million tonnes of Absorbent Hygiene Product (AHP) waste with the majority going to landfill sites and contributing to the build-up of greenhouse gas emissions. Joe developed the new process


during his studies for a Master’s degree in Green Biotechnology and Innovation Management at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University. The work was funded by the


Climate-KIC Greenhouse programme, following a successful bid in December 2015. “Our intention is to intercept this


waste and by using separation and refining technologies, allow for the recycling of valuable components, reducing the amount of AHPs that end up in landfill/incinerators and in turn reduce the demand and therefore the emissions associated with the production of these materials,” said Joe. “The nappies then need to be


processed - separating the fibres from the plastic components and the sanitary waste must be made non-toxic before fermentation to liquid transport fuel. “It will also be possible to regenerate


(L-R): Joe Freemantle and Dr Gordon Allison


very pure and valuable cellulose, which can be used to manufacture polymers such as rayon, lyocell and viscose. ”I have always had a passion for


sustainability, climate change and business and my aim here is to bring all three together in a positive move,” he added. Dr Gordon Allison, Senior Research


Scientist at IBERS and Joe’s MSc tutor, said: “Joe came to his MSc course at Aberystwyth with his head full of ideas after spending a year working in commercial biotechnology. This funding will allow him to take his business ambitions to the next level.” Joe’s original concept was based


on converting used cigarette butts into biofuel, an idea he and friends developed whilst attending the Climate-KIC’s Summer School ‘The Journey’ in 2015. This led to establishing start-up


company Green Phoenix and the project to convert used nappies and sanitary waste. Joe added: “Throughout my MSc


in Green Biotechnology and Innovation Management, I was able to develop the business model and refine the idea with the help of IBERS scientists. I’m learning new skills all the time which is really helping me to grow as a person and acceptance onto the greenhouse project has given me the opportunity to test the Green Phoenix concepts. I also have more confidence in my own ability.”


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