Exploring health effects of plant food bioactives using integrative multi-omics approach

Health-promoting dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, are based, among other factors, on the consumption of substantial amounts of plant-based foods. These foods are rich in macronutrients, dietary fibers, and a variety of bioactive compounds including (poly)phenols, phytosterols, and carotenoids. Studies have shown that some of the health-promoting properties of plant-based foods can be attributed to these bioactive compounds. The biological effects of certain plant food bioactives are well studied; however, many aspects and bioactives still require further investigation. This need also applies to new, innovative foods with potential to be incorporated into the human diet.
In this context, there is considerable scope for developing collaborative European projects aimed at exploring the under-researched aspects of plant food bioactives by employing cutting-edge analytical multi-omics technologies and integrative bioinformatic approaches.