Decoding the Foodome: Molecular Networks Connecting Diet and Health

Overview

Journal Annu Rev Nutr

Publisher Annual Reviews

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2024 Aug 29

PMID 39207880

Authors

Giulia Menichetti

Albert-Laszlo Barabasi

Joseph Loscalzo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Diet, a modifiable risk factor, plays a pivotal role in most diseases, from cardiovascular disease to type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and obesity. However, our understanding of the mechanistic role of the chemical compounds found in food remains incomplete. In this review, we explore the "dark matter" of nutrition, going beyond the macro- and micronutrients documented by national databases to unveil the exceptional chemical diversity of food composition. We also discuss the need to explore the impact of each compound in the presence of associated chemicals and relevant food sources and describe the tools that will allow us to do so. Finally, we discuss the role of network medicine in understanding the mechanism of action of each food molecule. Overall, we illustrate the important role of network science and artificial intelligence in our ability to reveal nutrition's multifaceted role in health and disease.

Citing Articles

Prevalence of processed foods in major US grocery stores.

Ravandi B, Ispirova G, Sebek M, Mehler P, Barabasi A, Menichetti G Nat Food. 2025; .

PMID: 39806219 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-024-01095-7.

GroceryDB: Prevalence of Processed Food in Grocery Stores.

Ravandi B, Ispirova G, Sebek M, Mehler P, Barabasi A, Menichetti G medRxiv. 2024; .

PMID: 38883708 PMC: 11177926. DOI: 10.1101/2022.04.23.22274217.

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