Applying Artificial Intelligence and machine learning in precision nutrition.

TitleApplying Artificial Intelligence and machine learning in precision nutrition.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2026
AuthorsMassara P, Kirkland J, Pagani I, Huey SL, Hirsh H, McDonald D, Patel L, Finkelstein JL, Gantz M, Wang F, Erickson D, Wells MT, Elemento O, Knight R, Mehta S
JournalNat Commun
Volume17
Issue1
Date Published2026 Jul 06
ISSN2041-1723
KeywordsArtificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Diet, Digital Technology, Humans, Large Language Models, Machine Learning, Nutritional Sciences, Precision Medicine
Abstract

A key feature of the Precision Nutrition and Health approach is the ability to tailor interventions to individual variability using multimodal data from large-scale biobanks and cohorts. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models offer new potential to model complex data but remain constrained by challenges related to data quality, interpretability, validation, and causal inference. This Perspective synthesizes current AI/ML methodologies in PN, elucidates their interplay with the distinctive features of multi-omic and nutritional data, such as being compositional, episodic, context-dependent, and error-prone, and delineates nutrition-specific best practices for achieving robust, interpretable, and clinically actionable AI integration in research and practice.

DOI10.1038/s41467-026-75004-w
Alternate JournalNat Commun
PubMed ID42409828
PubMed Central IDPMC13338271
Grant List3U24HD107676 / / Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Inc.) /
T32 GM139790 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
T32GM139790 / / U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) /
T32 HD113301 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
T32GM007198 / / U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) /
F30 AG094275 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
5T32HD113301 / / Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Inc.) /
U24 HD107676 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
T32 GM007198 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
5T32HD087137, 5T32HD113301 / / Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Inc.) /
T32 HD087137 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
Division: 
Institute of Artificial Intelligence for Digital Health
Category: 
Faculty Publication