Nestlé Health Science has announced the launch of a longitudinal study designed to discover how dietary fiber and other lifestyle factors can influence the human microbiome and health outcomes.

The study, FIBER-IMPACT, will enroll 60 healthy adults and their households for a 16-week observational period where participants will supplement their diets with chia seeds and provide stool and blood samples, while also completing dietary and stress surveys and submitting meal photos. The research aims to evaluate how dietary fiber effects the gut’s spore colony-forming units (SCFU), assess the effects of stress, identify host biomarkers, and explore the relationship between microbiome composition, metabolomic features, and overall health, all in the context of real-world lifestyles.

The research will be led by principal investigator Dr. Jason Goldsmith, MD, PhD, senior director of clinical operations and microbiome sciences at Nestlé Health Science. Dr. Thaddeus Steppenbeck, MD, PhD, inflammatory and infectious disease specialist and chair of inflammation and immunity at Cleveland Clinic, is a collaborating author, as is Katrine Whiteson, PhD, professor and co-director of UCI Microbiome at UC Irvine, and Sonio Grego, founder and CEO of gut health research company Coprata.

“This research will help unlock how daily habits and nutrition shape the microbiome, paving the way for future breakthroughs,” said Goldsmith.

“By translating our discoveries on gut bacteria and immune health into this real-world study, we aim to advance new strategies for disease prevention,” said Steppenbeck.

“Our work shows fiber’s powerful role in the microbiome. People want to take control of their health and this collaboration lets us see the impact of a very doable intervention in everyday life,” said Whiteson.

The study will use Coprata’s stool sampling tools and digital tracking, making participation less burdensome that other gut health studies. All sample collection and data gathering will be conducted under Institutional Review Board (IRB) oversight to ensure participant safety and privacy. “Coprata’s technology lets participants collect samples conveniently and hygienically making research participation easier and more comfortable.”