From ABC Science, 20 November 2015:
Even if we all ate the same meal, everyone would metabolise it differently, according to a new study that suggests that there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all dietary advice.
Rather diets should be tailored to an individual’s gut microbiome, or combination of gut bacteria, Israeli scientists said.
The glycaemic index is used by doctors and nutritionists to develop healthy diets based on how different foods affect glucose levels in the blood.
But the study, published today in Cell, shows different people can have a very different glycaemic response to a food.
“If my and your response to the same food are opposite then by definition a similar diet cannot be effective for both of us,” said co-author Dr Elan Elinav, from the Immunology Department at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
The team found that an individual’s gut bacteria was a key factor influencing whether a food delivers a long, slow rise in blood sugar, or a short, sharp spike. Read more.
Bianca Nogrady 