Finding blood markers that show which common foods people eat
Intervention Core for the Dietary Biomarkers Development Center at Harvard University
This project will look for blood chemicals that appear after adults eat common foods to help track diets more accurately.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143143 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would eat specific amounts of common foods such as chicken, beef, soybeans, whole wheat bread, potatoes, and oats under tightly controlled conditions. Researchers will take timed blood samples before and after eating and use metabolomics to measure small molecules that come from those foods. The goal is to find chemical signatures in blood that match particular foods and doses, and to study how long those signals last. The work is done in adults and aims to include diverse participants so findings apply broadly.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Healthy adults aged 21 and older who can follow prescribed meals and agree to provide blood samples at scheduled visits would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children, pregnant people, and anyone unable or unwilling to follow controlled diets or undergo blood draws are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give doctors and researchers accurate blood tests to know what people actually eat, improving nutrition advice and disease prevention.
How similar studies have performed: Prior metabolomics research has identified promising food-specific molecules, but controlled feeding trials like this are needed to confirm and validate those markers.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sacks, Frank M — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Sacks, Frank M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.