A NEW blood test will offer an early warning sign for people who are putting their health at risk from poor diet and lifestyle.

Scottish researchers have ­developed the system tests by examining the blood of healthy volunteers who had consumed meals containing saturated and unsaturated fats, to check how their body's reacted to the compounds.

They found the stress response in the metabolic systems of some participants were higher or lower than what would be expected in a normal person. However, none of the volunteers had any overt signs of disease at that stage. The pattern also showed no direct correlations with volunteers' age or their weight.

Dr Janice Drew, who led the study at Aberdeen University's Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, said: "When we eat, our bodies show mild metabolic stress responses to the food. This is perfectly normal and our bodies resolve this quickly when functioning normally.

"But what we discovered is some people exhibit atypical metabolic stress responses and, at a molecular level, this may suggest slight deviations from the healthy norm. This did not appear to be a direct effect attributable to age or Body Mass Index.

"If the normal responses to food are compromised, this may cause health implications over time - particularly when foods high in fat or sugar are regularly consumed."

The researchers found changes in the level of gene expression - increased or decreased levels of certain genes - in the cells in our blood could act as red flags, alerting researchers to individuals who are at heightened risk of developing of diet and lifestyle-related diseases.

The researchers hope their ­findings can be used to help create more tailor interventions for people through diet and exercise, and in turn halt the development of serious health problems.

Dr Drew added: "The gene ­markers we identified may provide early indicators of unhealthiness that are the forerunners to developing disease, but further research is required if we are to understand this system better.

"Our study highlights the need to look at the pre-disease stage so any changes in blood cells can be detected very early. This would provide greater opportunity to intervene to prevent pathways to disease and a better chance of restoring metabolic health.

"This key finding could assist in the design and testing of effective interventions better tailored for each individual.

"Crucially, we would be able to detect whether a diet low in fat or sugar, a programme of exercise, or a combination of both is having a positive impact. Being able to demonstrate to someone how their metabolic health is improving to changes in their lifestyle could prove a good motivator.

"We will now be working to characterise these gene markers and to identify ways to modify gene expression levels to maintain and/or restore health. Importantly, the genes we are interested in are potentially modifiable by specific foods, diet and lifestyle interventions"

The study was supported by funding from the Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division.

The Rowett Institute is one of the foremost research centres in the UK for nutrition science.

Last month, a research paper co-produced by scientists at the institute in collaboration with colleagues from Edinburgh University and Europe, found eating can be psychologically addictive. However, they said there was no evidence people could become hooked on fat or sugar in the same way as other types of substance abuse, such as alcohol or nicotine addiction.