OBJECTIVES:

Many believe that personalized nutrition (PN) can achieve both health gain and cost-savings. However, decisions about its implementation should be supported by a broader health technology assessment (HTA). We conducted an HTA of PN interventions developed through an EU-funded project (PREVENTOMICS, Horizon 2020).

METHODS:

The HTA was based on the Core Model framework developed by the European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA), which consists of nine domains: health problem, description of the technology, safety, clinical effectiveness, costs and economic evaluation, ethics, organizational aspects, patients and social aspects, and legal aspects. Information was obtained from PREVENTOMICS deliverables and reports, PREVENTOMICS clinical trial data, modelling, online user preference surveys and the literature.

RESULTS:

PN interventions can help to reduce the global burden of obesity and prevent diet-related diseases. PN interventions do not involve any major safety concerns; only minor ones are expected (e.g., puncture wounds). Moreover, no major (insurmountable) issues were found in the organizational, ethical, and legal domains. Effectiveness results from the PREVENTOMICS clinical trials are very promising, but uncertainty about the actual benefit exists due to sample sizes (n:60-264) and follow-up durations (10-16 weeks). While PN interventions can reduce obesity-related disease risks and costs, the significant cost component remains intervention costs. Regarding user preferences, studies show that people seem open to using PN interventions, but total costs of PN interventions appear to be a dominant decision-making criterion.

CONCLUSIONS:

Trials of the PN interventions developed during PREVENTOMICS are promising for different populations. Use of the EUnetHTA Core Model helped to identify where more attention is needed before implementation of PN. One area is improving evidence of effectiveness, e.g., through trials with longer follow-ups or specific patient subgroups. Financing of PN is also a vital issue to consider; shared financing, but not going Dutch, is one viable solution.