A Novel Personalized Nutrition Program Improves Health and Lifestyle Behaviors: Subgroup Analysis Results from Habit's Personalized Approaches to Health (PATH) Study (P15-019-19)

This study evaluates the impact of a digitally-delivered systems biology-based personalized nutrition (PN) program (Habit LLC, Oakland, CA), that included nutrition and behavior advice, and meals. In this single-arm, multi-phase, open-label study (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03424395), participants (n = 107; 67% female) were provided a Fitbit® Activity Tracker and completed an at-home kit that included collection of DNA and capillary blood before and after (30 and 120 min) consuming a mixed macronutrient challenge beverage. Participants completed a 10-week run-in and 10-week PN program intervention phase. The intervention included personalized nutrition and behavior advice and meals (2 meals/day; 5 days/week) tailored to dietary subgroups. Here we report on changes in diet, anthropometrics, and biomarkers of two subgroups (Range Seekers [RS] and Protein Seekers [PS]) that differed in anthropometrics and biological measures at baseline and were provided different dietary recommendations. At baseline, there were no differences between groups in nutrients assessed, however, compared to RS (n = 48), PS (n = 22) had higher BMI, weight, body fat %, waist and hip circumference (all P < 0.0001), HOMA-IR, age, (both P < 0.01), muscle mass, diastolic blood pressure, hepatic insulin resistance index and c-peptide (all P < 0.05). After the intervention, both groups reduced intakes of calories (P < 0.001) and % calories from saturated fat and monounsaturated fat (both P < 0.05). Intakes of total fat, saturated fat, and sodium (all P < 0.001) as well as carbohydrate and total sugars (both P < 0.05) were also reduced. RS and PS increased vitamin C and fiber intakes (P < 0.001). PS, but not RS, received advice to increase protein intake, accordingly % calories from protein increased in PS by 28% (P < 0.001). PS also increased intake of b-carotene and vitamin A (P < 0.01). BMI and weight decreased in both groups (P < 0.001) after the intervention, with greater extent of weight loss observed in PS. In addition to weight loss in PS, a reduction in total and LDL cholesterol (P < 0.001) was observed. Together, these results support the efficacy of a digitally-delivered PN program, differentiated by subtype, in improving dietary patterns and health indicators. Habit, LLC.