Insights from a Lumen User Study
A new study by Lumen, the revolutionary metabolic tracking device, analyzes the relationship between metabolic flexibility - the body’s ability to switch between carbohydrate and fat sources depending on availability - and Body Mass Index (BMI).
To investigate this relationship, the Lumen device was used to measure postprandial (post-meal) carbon dioxide (%CO2) responses as an indicator of real-time metabolic states.
The analysis examined the metabolic patterns of 2,607 participants across varying BMI ranges.
This published study, led by Lumen’s team of researchers, including Drs. Shlomo Yeshurun, Tomer Cramer, Daniel Souroujon, and Merav Mor, has deepened our understanding of metabolic flexibility - a capability crucial for maintaining optimal health and mitigating the risk of metabolic disorders.
The findings reveal a clear positive correlation between metabolic flexibility and BMI. Participants with healthier BMIs exhibited higher postprandial %CO2 responses, indicating superior metabolic flexibility and efficiency in carbohydrate metabolism.
In contrast, those with obesity displayed diminished %CO2 responses, suggesting reduced metabolic flexibility and inefficiency in metabolizing excess carbohydrates, potentially leading to their storage as fat.
It was observed that CO2 levels increased following a meal, peaking between 30 to 210 minutes afterward.
Significant relationships were found between the CO2 response to meals, the carbohydrate consumption in these meals, and the users’ BMI.
This analysis was additionally strengthened by showing that CO2 response was higher when carbohydrate intake was higher and weakened in users with high BMI.
The study's methodology involved examining the post-meal CO2 responses of Lumen users after consuming logged meals.
The Lumen device accurately tracks metabolic shifts after meals, uncovering a strong correlation between carbohydrate intake and Body Mass Index (BMI).
By measuring the %CO2 in exhaled breath, Lumen can distinguish changes in metabolic fuel usage—higher CO2 levels indicating carbohydrate burning and lower levels indicating fat usage.
The %CO2 in your breath reflects the fuel your body is metabolizing at that moment (carbs vs. fat, higher %CO2 means more carbs are being burned, and lower means more fat is being burned.
The study revealed a significant positive correlation between metabolic flexibility and BMI. Participants with healthier BMIs demonstrated significantly higher efficiency in carbohydrate metabolism, indicating better metabolic flexibility.
This flexibility, measured by Lumen's %CO2 response, directly reflects the body's ability to adapt fuel sources based on dietary intake.
With a staggering 88% of Americans falling into the metabolically unhealthy bracket, this research provides crucial insights into the connection between BMI, metabolic inflexibility, and, therefore, metabolic health.
The findings highlight the importance of managing metabolic flexibility in maintaining a healthy BMI and reducing the risk of insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders. Individuals with obesity may benefit from interventions that enhance metabolic health.
Metabolic health hinges on the efficiency of our mitochondria, the cellular power plants responsible for energy production. Enhancing mitochondrial function—and, by extension, metabolic flexibility—is achievable through lifestyle modifications, such as balanced nutrition, regular exercise, restorative sleep, and effective stress management.
Lumen offers an accurate, real-time glimpse into our metabolic state, empowering users to make better decisions about their lifestyle, such as boosting physical activity and adopting a well-rounded macronutrient diet, can enhance metabolic flexibility.
Personalizing nutritional intake ensures you’re feeding your body what it needs to reach your health goals. For example, understanding how different foods affect their metabolic process can encourage individuals toward dietary choices that better suit their metabolic requirements.
This comprehensive study confirms Lumen's high accuracy in metabolic tracking and clarifies the critical relationship between metabolic flexibility and BMI. By providing tangible, real-time insights into how our bodies metabolize different foods, Lumen equips individuals with the knowledge to steer towards healthier lifestyle choices conducive to metabolic health.
Our Lumen editorial desk includes an in-house team of certified and registered nutritionists and dietitians, scientists, researchers, and writers.