Using metabolomics to discover novel blood biomarkers of a healthy dietary pattern with a distinct focus on the Mediterranean diet

The LC-MS shortlisted metabolites in particular were statistically significantly associated with dietary factors (four for fish intake, one for fruit and vegetable intake, and two for processed meat) which made these 7 biomarkers worthy of further investigation together with citric acid, betaine, EPA, α-linolenic acid, vitamin C, myo-inositol, mannose and pyruvic acid. Six of these biomarkers have been associated with MD in previous studies, whereas 8 of them were associated with MD for the first time.

The present study also showed the use of cluster analysis to derive dietary patterns from dietary data, classify individuals according to their dietary pattern and find representative biomarkers of such diets. This investigation leaves important findings that, after validation, may be added to current metabolites food and dietary pattern biomarkers libraries.