Researchers can now identify the plants people have consumed, providing valuable insights into diets, improving clinical trials, and unlocking crucial information.
The marker they focused on is a specific region of DNA found in plants that power chloroplasts, the organelles responsible for converting sunlight into sugars. Known as trnL-P6, this genomic region is present in all plants but varies slightly from one species to another.
Their findings revealed that these DNA markers indicated the consumed foods and provided insights into the relative amounts of certain species. Moreover, the diversity of plant DNA discovered in feces varied based on a person's diet, age, and household income. While the researchers haven't yet tracked meat intake using the DNA barcode, Dr. David mentioned that the technology could do so. Determining the plant-to-animal intake ratio is crucial when assessing nutritional factors.In one experiment, the scientists applied the marker to fecal samples from individuals participating in a weight loss intervention.
Dr. David emphasized that the barcode can accurately identify the diversity of plants in a sample, serving as a proxy for dietary diversity, a recognized marker of nutrient adequacy, and improved heart health.
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