Email ak.deehan@ulster.ac.uk
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Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health
| Micronutrient modulation of immune and inflammatory responses |
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Alterations in immune function and inflammation are associated with the major diseases on the developed world, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia in the developed world. While it has been recognized for many years that deficiency of particular nutrients can lead to impaired immunity and susceptibility to infection, suboptimal status of nutrients, can also lead to impaired immune function. NICHE conducts fundamental research assessing changes in immune function associated with normal physiological processes and also associated with pathological disease processes. The group also researches the complex relationship between specific nutrients and immune function using in vivo and in vitro techniques.
The influence of specific micronutrients including omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, α and γ-tocopherol, polyphenols, soy isoflavones and vitamin D in modulating immune function is a particular interest of the research group. A number of intervention studies have been undertaken and focus on a nutritional approach, providing micronutrient supplementation at a level which can be achieved by dietary strategies with whole foods or functional foods. Interventions are undertaken in healthy populations, groups at risk of particular diseases and in clinical populations.
The group also employs cellular and molecular techniques to investigate the effects of micronutrients on cancer development and metastasis with research focused particularly on hormone dependent cancers particularly breast and prostate cancer.
Contact: niche@ulster.ac.uk