PoChoSpike

A Potato or a Chocolate Spiker?

David Gómez Varela, head of the Center of Excellence for Metaproteomics, nutritionist Karl-Heinz Wagner and pharmacologist Manuela Schmidt investigate how the effect of food on an individual’s blood sugar levels might be predicted.

After we eat, our blood sugar levels naturally rise, a phenomenon often referred to as “sugar spikes.” While this is a normal physiological response, both the frequency and magnitude of these spikes matter for long-term health.

When blood sugar rises sharply and repeatedly, the body must release large amounts of insulin to restore normal levels. Over time, this constant demand can make cells less responsive to insulin and place stress on the pancreas. High glucose spikes also promote low-grade inflammation and damage the lining of blood vessels. This helps to explain why frequent spikes increase the long-term risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease – even in people who otherwise appear healthy.

Importantly, people respond differently to food. Research has shown that some people experience much stronger blood sugar spikes than others, even when eating exactly the same food. For example, one person may show a pronounced glucose spike after eating potatoes, while another reacts more strongly to chocolate. A direct consequence is that a universal diet cannot effectively reduce glucose spikes for everyone. To design truly effective dietary recommendations, we need to understand how and why individuals differ in their glucose responses and tailor diets accordingly.

4 questions about the project

What is the aim of this project?

We want to understand why people respond so differently to the same foods. In particular, we focus on the gut microbiome – the community of microorganisms living in our digestive system. However, instead of only looking at which microbes are present, which has limited predictive value, we use a new technology developed in our Center, called metaproteomics, to study what these microbes are actually doing - that is, their biological functions. At the same time, we examine how human gut cells respond to microbial activity. By combining these molecular layers, we aim to better understand how each person’s unique gut ecosystem influences blood sugar responses in everyday life.

The primary objective of our project is to establish a foundation for a personalized data-driven approach to nutrition. By combining continuous blood sugar monitoring, detailed food records, blood measurements, advanced molecular analysis of host-microbiome functional interactions, and AI-based data analysis, we seek to identify patterns that explain why certain foods trigger glucose spikes in some people but not in others. In the long term, our goal is to move beyond general dietary advice and toward truly personalized nutritional recommendations based on how an individual’s body responds to food. We envision a future in which people could receive accurate, personalised guidance for controlling blood sugar spikes by providing only a fecal sample.

How could the results be used in practice and/or in everyday life?

Participants in our study will receive personalized “spike-food” profiles that show which foods are more likely to cause strong glucose spikes for them. This information is immediately actionable and will help participants make practical, science-based food choices that match their own physiology. In the longer term, our results will support the development of digital health tools, nutrition apps, or clinical strategies aimed at preventing metabolic diseases through personalized diet planning.

Who is the target audience for these results?

Members of the general public interested in improving their metabolic and cardiovascular health. Also, individuals at risk of prediabetes or other metabolic disorders, as well as nutrition and health professionals seeking more individualized dietary guidance, and researchers and developers working on personalized nutrition and digital health solutions.

What else should be researched but is not covered by this project?

This seed project involves a relatively small group of participants. However, it serves as an important first step toward larger studies involving more diverse populations, longer follow-up times, and clinical groups such as people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Additional research will also be needed to translate these findings into scalable tools and to evaluate whether personalized dietary advice based on gut microbiome function leads to long-term health benefits.