Food Intervention Studies
From Idea to Impact: Substantiating Product's Health Benefits
Consumers seek scientifically proven health benefits. Turning ideas into functional foods demands rigorous research. TFTAK provides end-to-end support with dietary intervention studies from study design to execution – validating health claims.
Multi-disciplinary Expertise
Deep understanding between food, gut microbiome and human body
​Our approach is built on a deep understanding of the intricate relationship between food, the human body, and the gut microbiome.
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We work with you to design customized studies that are scientifically robust, ethically sound, and tailored to meet your specific research and development goals.
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At the core of our service is a highly educated and experienced team with a proven track record of scientific achievement. We bring together a diverse group of specialists to ensure a comprehensive and nuanced approach to every study. We work efficiently to help you reach your goals faster.
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Our unique team includes:
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A Medical Doctor with specialized experience as a nutritional therapist and in gut microbiota interpretation, bridging the gap between clinical health and nutritional science.
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Bioinformaticians and Data Analysis Specialists who translate complex biological data into clear, actionable insights.
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Microbiologists, food scientists, and nutritional experts who provide a 360-degree view of your product's journey and its impact.
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Success Stories
What have we done
The products we develope have
balanced macronutrient profile, additional functional properties, they are gut-friendly, improve well-being, and healthier lifestyle.
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Some product segments we have developed in cooperation with the biggest Estonian food industries:
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Healthy functional yogurts enriched with fiber
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Functional soups enriched with vitamins and minerals
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Functional Near Water beverages
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Our Services
Over 20,000 gut microbiota samples analyzed
We provide a full range of health benefit substantiation services, backed by extensive experience and a significant database of microbiota information.
Our strength lies in providing a complete end-to-end service – from designing a tailor-made study with targeted focus groups to delivering a comprehensive, insight-driven report that showcases the full spectrum of health benefits, with a special emphasis on gut health.
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Our validated sequencing pipeline, trusted and refined over the past six years, ensures exceptional data consistency and reliability. Backed by a unique reference database of more than 20,000 gut microbiota profiles – including around 1,800 curated Estonian microbiota datasets enriched with detailed metadata – we offer unparalleled benchmarking capabilities. This robust data foundation enables us to precisely interpret intervention outcomes and deliver clear, evidence-based insights into how each tested food or ingredient supports and enhances human health.
Our services include:
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Study Design and Protocol Development: Crafting scientifically sound study protocols tailored to your product and research questions.
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Participant Recruitment and Management: Identifying and managing study cohorts to ensure reliable and high-quality data collection, while ensuring ethical compliance and obtaining participant consent.
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Biological Sample Analysis: Advanced analysis of various biomarkers, including - but not limited to - gut microbiota profiling.
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Data Analysis and Interpretation: Utilizing sophisticated bioinformatics and statistical methods to uncover the true impact of your product.
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Scientific Reporting and Publication: Compiling comprehensive reports and supporting the publication of findings in peer-reviewed journals.
Success Stories
Healthy gut, healthy future
Tere HI!Fiber Yoghurt – improves digestive comfort, supports normal cholesterol levels, and contributes to immune function
Together with Nordic Milk OÜ, we developed a yoghurt enriched with a unique blend of four dietary fibres. A dietary intervention study showed beneficial shifts in gut microbiota, supporting the growth of health-promoting bacteria. Regular consumption of this product improves digestive comfort, supports normal cholesterol levels, and contributes to immune function – demonstrating how innovative food design can combine science and health benefits.
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Fibes Smoothie – pectin-enriched smoothie promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria
In this collaborative project with Siidrikoda, apple pomace was successfully used to produce a tasty, fibre-rich smoothie. We demonstrated that industrial by-products such as apple pomace can serve as a main component, alongside other fibres, to create snacks with health benefits that enrich the regular diet and increase fibre intake. A nutritional study revealed beneficial shifts in gut microbiota composition, suggesting that a pectin-enriched smoothie promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria.
Read more
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Kadarbiku Kimchi – daily consumption of fermented vegetables offers an easy way to enhance the natural probiotic profile
In this collaborative project with Kadarbiku Köögivili, recipes for fermented vegetables were developed. Our nutritional study results highlight the importance of fermented vegetables as probiotic-potential dietary components that influence both the host’s microbial composition and physiological parameters. This study demonstrates that daily consumption of fermented vegetables offers an easy way to enhance the natural probiotic profile.
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Fibre Study – not all fibre is equal
This dietary supplement clinical research, conducted in collaboration with Elsavie, involved consuming different dietary fibre supplements. Results showed that the impact of fibres on faecal microbiota metabolism strongly depended on the individual’s microbiota type. Combining microbiota analysis with knowledge of fibre properties offers a powerful strategy for personalized nutrition and disease prevention.
Scientific Contributions
Recent publications
Our team is actively contributing to the scientific community.
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Our recent publications demonstrate our expertise and commitment to advancing the understanding of nutrition and the microbiome.
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Ehala-Aleksejev K.; Pihelgas S.; Kazantseva J (2025). Consuming a high-pectin smoothie has different effects on the uric acid levels and gut microbiota of healthy women. Applied Microbiology, 5 (1), 31. DOI: 10.3390/applmicrobiol5010031.
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Pihelgas, S.; Ehala-Aleksejev, K.; Kutti, M-L.; Kuldjärv, R.; Kazantseva, J. (2025). Impact of fresh and fermented vegetable consumption on gut microbiota and body composition: insights from diverse data analysis approaches. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1623710.
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Pihelgas, S.; Ehala-Aleksejev, K.; Kuldjärv, R.; Jõeleht, A.; Kazantseva, J.; Adamberg, K. (2024). Short-term pectin-enriched smoothie consumption has beneficial effects on the gut microbiota of low-fiber consumers. FEMS Microbes, 5, #xtae001. DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtae001.
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Pihelgas, S.; Ehala-Aleksejev, K.; Adamberg, S.; Kazantseva, J.; Adamberg, K. (2024). The gut microbiota of healthy individuals remains resilient in response to the consumption of various dietary fibers. Scientific Reports, 14 (1). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72673-9.
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Jaagura, M.; Part, N.; Adamberg, K.; Kazantseva, J.; Viiard, E. (2022). Consumption of multi-fiber enriched yogurt is associated with increase of Bifidobacterium animalis and butyrate producing bacteria in human fecal microbiota. Journal of Functional Foods, 88, #104899. DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2021.104899.
When it comes to functional foods, consumers expect scientifically proven benefits
"Reliable and well-conducted intervention studies are key – they create a bridge between an idea and a real health impact. Evidence is the cornerstone of credibility in nutrition science."
Kristel Ehala-Aleksejev, MD, PhD
Senior Researcher in Microbiome Research Group