Looking into the digital future of nutritional science

• How personalized nutrition is changing the game 
• The importance of digital tools for consumer-relevant health research 
• Big data, Artificial Intelligence, and simulated research 
• Balancing the push of science with the pull of commercial valorization 

In nutritional science, big data and AI will change the game. With the sheer quantity of data being collected and analyzed across the industry, we are beginning to piece together a more accurate image of how nutrition impacts the human body. This also includes our company’s specific niche: collagen’s impact on health and fitness. Where could this lead? Perhaps in 10 years, our industry might use data in tandem with AI to make accurate simulations before testing in a clinical setting.  

As simulation becomes an ever more viable form of research, we could be able to predict whether a specific collagen formulation can aid a certain segment of the population to manage certain conditions – a random example might be, say, that a specific collagen product might help to maintain eyesight among a specific group of people. While we can’t predict how far this will take us, it’s clear that today’s technological advancements can unlock research areas that were previously inaccessible, letting us delve into collagen’s impact on cutting-edge health benefits that will benefit very specific groups of people – based, for example, on age brackets, health conditions, lifestyle, or physical build. It will also speed up the innovation process, with more insights emerging more quickly all the time.  

Coming back to our work today, integrating new tech is already shaping what and how we can study in a practical research context. By leveraging digital tools in research – think, for example, of adopting 24-hour live monitoring, metabolic screeners, or accurate samplers - scientists can track and record an unparalleled amount of data. And they can do this relatively simply and easily now, while improving the experience for participants too. These new tools also open the door to research among populations who don’t have the time or opportunity to come to study centers. Altogether, digital tools will offer researchers a broader insight into real-life consumer health, providing a greater understanding of the impact of certain supplements. By introducing fresh elements like these, and combining tradition and innovation, we can move in exciting directions, ushering in a new age of consumer-relevant science. One recent example of this is GutMe!, a study that used a mixed-method methodology with digital tools to learn about collagen and gut health. 

With digital tools, the possibilities are significant. In the past, nutrition researchers needed to unpack how a supplement’s impact on an individual affects their overall health – a complex process. But imagine, for example, if you had a real-time snapshot of a participant’s digestive system, combining all the real-time data being recorded, you could see the influence of weight loss, microbiomes, glucose levels, or certain metabolites – all at once. This would give scientists more insight than ever before into an individual’s body and its responses to different treatments and supplements. As we map these minute reactions, we can create solutions tailored to unique issues. A tool like this offers the complex information needed to highlight the response of an individual; from that, we can look for wider patterns amongst the population– corresponding to the rise of personalized nutrition.  

The body is such an incredibly complex system: there are so many interlocking strands to untangle. And each individual human has traits and characteristics that affect their overall health in unique ways that we want to learn to identify and navigate. From genes and gender to age, lifestyle, and activity level. Biology shows us that we are all different – and that how we respond to things like food, activity or disease is different too. More consumers are beginning to recognize this, looking for personal solutions that are right for them. This is how consumers are pushing the rise of personalized nutrition.  

The essential question in science is ‘why?’ In a company like Rousselot, having the courage, simplicity, and patience to continually ask this question is indispensable. When I first joined the team, one of my responsibilities was organizing the clinical and pilot studies: I needed to ensure everything was carried out correctly - within budget, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and more. When working on studies like that, one of the key questions was and is always about its relevance to consumers. What and who do we want to address with this research, and why? What is our purpose here, what are we hoping to achieve?