Aims & Objectives

Aims

In agreement to the Joint Programming Initiative “A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life” (JPI HDHL), the top class transnational and multidisciplinary “AMBROSIA” research consortium has been defined to coordinate research in the areas of food and health in order to tackle one of the major social challenges in current health care, the undernutrition in a well-defined population represented by Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation older patients.
AMBROSIA addresses important research questions regarding the prevention of undernutrition in these patients through the development of an appropriate/suitable innovative functional food, such as the AMBROSIA bar and an interventional study (RCT) with a prevention strategy.
The development of AMBROSIA bar is based on new research on metabolism, on macro- and/or micronutrient bioavailability, and absorption in older adults. AMBROSIA bar contains a specific mix of probiotic strains and a cocktail of micro/macronutrients (fibers, protein hydrolysates, coenzyme Q10).
The efficacy of AMBROSIA bar on undernutrition prevention and its impact on cognitive functioning and skeletal muscle mass of older patients will be evaluated through a prospective monocentric interventional clinical study. Finally, statistical and machine learning methods will be developed for the identification of features from the “Microbiota-Inflammation-Brain axis” that are predictive for undernutrition (biomarkers) and/or related to AMBROSIA bar treatment outcome.
To achieve these ambitious and innovative scientific goals, AMBROSIA consortium comprises several fields and sectors such as academic and clinical researchers, food scientists, research and biotechnology/food industry, bioinformatics experts and software system development.
In addition, AMBROSIA is a consumer-centred project, integrating a relevant organisation/stakeholder as the patient association “Federazione Associazioni Italiane Pazienti Anticoagulati” in the research throughout the various stages as design, conduct, analysis, and dissemination to raise awareness, share knowledge and improve dialogue between researchers, healthcare providers, policy-makers, industry and the targeted population.

Objectives

Objective One

The development of innovative food products to prevent undernutrition in Heart failure and Atrial Fibrillation older patients: a new chocolate AMBROSIA bar containing specific mix of probiotic strains and a cocktail of micro/macronutrients (fibers, protein hydrolysates, coenzyme Q10) and further studies on the metabolism and absorption of novel hydrolysates, involving the patient association. Realization of a proper-realistic strategy (in respect of the environment), from development and delivery of the AMBROSIA bar to the patients. The target population will be involved during the development of AMBROSIA bar

Objective Two

Evaluation of the effects of “AMBROSIA” bar + nutritional consulting on undernutrition prevention and its impact on cognitive functioning and skeletal muscle mass of older patients through a prospective monocentric interventional clinical trial on biological samples-parallel group (RCT).

Objective Three

Development of statistical and machine learning methods for identification of features from the “Microbiota-Inflammation-Brain axis” that are predictive for undernutrition and/or related to AMBROSIA bar treatment outcome and could be used as biomarkers for prevention and treatment of undernutrition.

Work plans / Work packages

Work package one

Research, development and delivery strategy of innovative “AMBROSIA” food product.

Task 1

Development of the AMBROSIA bar (P2. P3-duration: 8 months; timeline: months 1-8)

Task 2

In vitro digestion and macronutrient profiling and sequence characterization of peptides post in vitro digestion of commercial protein hydrolysates included in “AMBROSIA” food product

Work package Two

Ambrosia” food strategy for preventing undernutrition and assessment of new biomarkers in older heart failure patients

Task 1

Ethics committee approval, selection of eligible patients, clinical assessment, sample collection, follow up

Task 2

Evaluation of “ambrosia bar in preventing undernutrition and skeletal muscle mass decline

Task 3

Evaluation of “ambrosia bar “effect on the functional, emotional and cognitive profile

Task 4

Measure of predictive biomarkers of undernutrition associated with the MicrobiotaInflammation-Brain axis

Work package Three

Data harmonization and machine learning analyses

Task 1

Development of a semantic knowledgebase

Task 2

Development of Machine Learning methods for predicting undernutrition

Task 3

Development of statistical and ML methods for investigation of treatment effects

Work package Four

AMBROSIA Coordination and Management

Task 1

Management plan

Task 2

Dissemination of the research results