PhD defence M.M.J. (Milanne) Galekop

Brief summary:

Diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, which are related to our diets, significantly contribute to global deaths. Consuming unhealthy foods and having overweight are major factors causing these diseases, resulting in both health and economic challenges. This highlights the urgent need for dietary improvements. Since individuals respond differently to the same foods, there is growing interest in "personalized nutrition." This approach tailors nutritional advice, products, or services based on individual characteristics, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all recommendations. Within this PhD thesis, the potential of personalized nutrition was explored through an early Health Technology Assessment (HTA). An early HTA uses various methods to evaluate the benefits, costs, and impact of new healthcare technologies before they are widely implemented. 

As part of the European project PREVENTOMICS, three personalized nutrition strategies were developed and evaluated. In one of these strategies, participants received either personalized meal boxes tailored to their specific needs or standard, non-personalized meal boxes over a 10-week period. By comparing the health effects and costs between the two groups over time, several important conclusions were drawn about personalized nutrition.

The results suggest that personalized nutrition has the potential to be effective, with possible positive health effects, including modest improvements in quality of life. These benefits may justify the additional costs associated with personalizing nutrition, making it a potentially cost-effective approach. In other words, the extra investment could potentially offer good value. Research into people’s preferences also shows a willingness to use and pay for personalized nutrition, though not at any price. Reimbursing effective personalized nutrition strategies, especially for individuals with obesity, could be both efficient and equitable in preventing diet-related diseases. While challenges remain and further research is needed before personalized nutrition can be widely adopted, this PhD thesis highlights its broad potential, positioning personalized nutrition as a beacon of hope in shaping the future of healthcare.