Food Science and Nutrition
University of Minnesota
The human gut microbiome is increasingly appreciated as a complex metabolic organ capable of impacting both health and disease. In this session, Dr. Levi Teigen, Assistant Professor of Clinical Nutrition at the University of Minnesota, will explore what is currently understood about diet-microbiome interactions. Drawing on his research in microbiome-targeted diet therapies, Dr. Teigen will discuss the role for diet in shaping our gut microbiome. This presentation will attempt to bridge the gap between microbial science and clinical nutrition by describing and differentiating microbial composition and function and the role of microbial metabolites in assessing diet impact. Participants will examine how microbial metabolites, as direct measures of microbial function, often provide a sensitive assessment of dietary impact. Finally, the session will address existing gaps in the field to help define the next steps for advancing our understanding of diet-microbiome interactions. Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify basic gut microbiome characteristics and the mechanisms by which dietary components influence microbial composition and function. 2. Describe the importance of measuring microbial metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids and hydrogen sulfide) as diet-responsive assessments of microbiome function. 3. Discuss current understandings and gaps in research regarding diet-microbiome interactions.
Levi Teigen is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Nutrition in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. In addition to his primary faculty appointment, he is a member of the University of Minnesota Microbiota Therapeutics Program and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition in the Department of Medicine. With over 12 years of clinical practice prior to his current role, Dr. Teigen brings a unique blend of practical experience and research expertise to the study of diet-microbiome interactions. Levi earned his PhD in Nutrition under Dr. Carrie Earthman, investigating the use of clinically available technologies for malnutrition assessment. He later completed five years of postdoctoral training under Dr. Alexander Khoruts in microbiota therapeutics, including microbiome transplant therapy research. Currently, the Teigen Lab focuses on two primary areas: utilizing body composition technologies to optimize nutrition assessment and developing microbiome-targeted precision-nutrition strategies to help improve patient outcomes.