Developing community-based urine sampling methods to deploy biomarker technology for the assessment of dietary exposure

Amanda Lloyd (Lead Author), Thomas Wilson (Lead Author), Naomi D. Willis, Laura Lyons, Helen Phillips, Hayley Janssen, Martina Stiegler, L. Xie, Kathleen Tailliart, Manfred Beckmann, Leo Stevenson, John C. Mathers, John Draper (Corresponding Author)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Objective:
Obtaining objective, dietary exposure information from individuals is challenging because of the complexity of food consumption patterns and the limitations of self-reporting tools (e.g., FFQ and diet diaries). This hinders research efforts to associate intakes of specific foods or eating patterns with population health outcomes.

Design:
Dietary exposure can be assessed by the measurement of food-derived chemicals in urine samples. We aimed to develop methodologies for urine collection that minimised impact on the day-to-day activities of participants but also yielded samples that were data-rich in terms of targeted biomarker measurements.

Setting:
Urine collection methodologies were developed within home settings.

Participants:
Different cohorts of free-living volunteers.

Results:
Home collection of urine samples using vacuum transfer technology was deemed highly acceptable by volunteers. Statistical analysis of both metabolome and selected dietary exposure biomarkers in spot urine collected and stored using this method showed that they were compositionally similar to urine collected using a standard method with immediate sample freezing. Even without chemical preservatives, samples can be stored under different temperature regimes without any significant impact on the overall urine composition or concentration of forty-six exemplar dietary exposure biomarkers. Importantly, the samples could be posted directly to analytical facilities, without the need for refrigerated transport and involvement of clinical professionals.

Conclusions:
This urine sampling methodology appears to be suitable for routine use and may provide a scalable, cost-effective means to collect urine samples and to assess diet in epidemiological studies
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3081–3092
Number of pages12
JournalPublic Health Nutrition
Volume23
Issue number17
Early online date11 Jun 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Dec 2020

Keywords

  • dietary exposure
  • metabolomics
  • biomarkers
  • home urine collection
  • population monitoring
  • cost-effective diagnostic tool
  • Home urine collection
  • Metabolomics
  • Biomarkers
  • Cost-effective diagnostic tool
  • Population monitoring
  • Dietary exposure
  • Urinalysis
  • Dietary Exposure/analysis
  • Humans
  • Metabolome
  • Diet
  • Technology
  • Biomarkers/urine

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