Chensheng Lu

　　T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University

　　This study is the extension of our research efforts to demonstrate the health benefits of diets rich in organic foods. We utilized specimens collected from a previous dietary intervention study to explore the feasibility of utilizing metabolomics as a tool in elucidating the potential chronic health outcomes associated with dietary pesticide intakes in children. The statistically significant perturbations of metabolic pathways relevant to oxidative stress, inflammation, and the demands of xenobiotic detoxification were most likely resulted from the presence of pesticides in the conventional foods, or antioxidants in the organic produce, or both. Metabolomics would allow the extension of our current understanding beyond pesticide’s acute toxicity to the perturbation of metabolic pathways at exposure levels commonly experienced in the population that may have implications to the occurrence of chronic health effects.