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Research

Energy balance, appetite regulation and nutrition education

The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adults is a major public health challenge in the UK and worldwide. Obesity is a complex disorder influenced by many factors involving both the individual and wider environment.

The central factor in the development of obesity is sustained positive energy imbalance i.e. the energy consumed from food is greater than the energy expended in physical activity.

Our current research investigates the factors that affect the amount of food that an individual consumes, including: portion size; energy density; and, satiety. We also measure physical activity using questionnaires and accelerometers.

Past and present studies have utilised the residential facilities in the Human Intervention Studies Unit (HISU). The HISU also includes state-of-the-art body composition facilities: BOD POD; and, Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Past research has also included the development of two interactive learning CD-ROMs "Dish-it-up!" aimed at 11 to 12 year olds and "Taste Buds" aimed at primary school children. The CD-ROMs were designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity among school aged children.

Contact: Professor MBE Livingstone: mbe.livingstone@ulster.ac.uk

Folate and related B vitamins in health and disease

Conclusive evidence has been available for over 15 years that folic acid given to mothers before conception and in early pregnancy prevents spina bifida and related birth defects collectively known as neural tube defects (NTDs).

Since then, other potential roles for folate have emerged to the extent that it should no longer be perceived by consumers as "a woman’s nutrient". Evidence suggests that an optimal status of folate and the related B-vitamins (vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and riboflavin) may protect against cardiovascular disease (particularly stroke) and certain cancers, and may have other important roles in maintaining cognitive function and bone health. These beneficial effects of folate and related B-vitamins may be mediated by their ability to lower blood homocysteine, itself a recognized risk factor for heart disease and stroke, both major health concerns in industrialised countries throughout the world.

Studies in the Folate and B-vitamin Group at the University of Ulster are focused on the roles of these important nutrients in disease prevention, the best means to achieve an "optimal" status and the interplay between the dietary and genetic factors involved. It is known for example that around 1-in-10 healthy people have a genetic variant ("TT genotype") of the MTHFR gene, which predisposes them to high blood homocysteine concentrations. Such people are estimated to be at 14-21% greater risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those without this factor. For these individuals, dietary supplementation with folic acid and B-vitamins is especially recommended.

The latest evidence from our research has indicated that riboflavin supplementation can significantly lower blood pressure in patients with the TT genotype, over and above the therapeutic effect of routine anti-hypertensive (blood pressure-lowering) drugs.

Contact: Professor H McNulty - h.mcnulty@ulster.ac.uk

Phytochemicals and gut microflora in health and disease

We interpret the term phytochemicals, in a broad sense, to comprise any of the very diverse range of relatively minor plant components, which are not recognised as nutrients, but that may exert health benefits through a variety of mechanisms.

Current projects include our participation in the EU 6th Framework Integrated Project Healthgrain (healthgrain.org) where we are assessing the uptake and physiological impact of components in wheat in human intervention studies, with a focus on phenolic acids, and the physiological methyl donors, choline and betaine.

A non-digestible carbohydrate, with prebiotic effects, is being evaluated for effects on lipid metabolism, gut hormone responses and appetite in humans. We have ongoing research into gut microflora, and their interactions with prebiotics and gut health.

Furthermore, phytochemicals from sources including berries, olives, soya and crucifer species are being assessed for potential effects on carcinogenesis, using in vitro and animal models, and also with human interventions. Metabolomic and nutrigenomic tools are being increasingly used to investigate the complex interactions between phytochemicals, and risk factors for chronic diseases.

Much of our research is cross-cutting and we work closely with other research areas within NICHE, and with many research centres in Ireland, Britain, Europe and beyond.

Contact: Professor R Welch: rw.welch@ulster.ac.uk

Micronutrient modulation of immune and inflammatory responses

Alterations in immune function and inflammation are associated with the major diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease, 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.

Micronutrients of current interest to the group include omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, alpha-tocopherol, polyphenols, soy isoflavones and vitamin D. The intervention studies 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: Dr J Wallace: j.wallace@ulster.ac.uk

Nutrition, toxicology and child development

Fish contain nutrients that promote optimal foetal growth and development but also contain methylmercury (MeHg) that can have neurotoxic effects. A longitudinal observational mother-child cohort is investigating associations between maternal exposure to nutrients, especially long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) and toxins, especially MeHg, and child development in the Republic of Seychelles, an Indian Ocean archipelago where fish consumption is high. The Seychelles Child

Development Nutrition Study, has been awarded two grants from the National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences (USA) and one from the EU, through the VI Framework integrated project PHIME. Findings emanating from the study support the potential importance to child development of n-3 LCPUFA present in fish and of LCPUFA in the overall diet and indicate that the beneficial effects of LCPUFA can obscure adverse effects of maternal MeHg exposure in longitudinal observational studies.

This research is part of a large collaborative effort involving scientists not only from the University of Ulster but a team of toxicologists, pediatricians, psychologists, statisticians, dietitians and nurses from the University of Rochester and the Ministry of Health in the Republic of Seychelles.

Contact: Professor JJ Strain: jj.strain@ulster.ac.uk

Food Safety, Security and Regulatory Affairs

Food safety is important for both consumers and food producers. We are particularly interested in microbiological aspects, with a focus not only on food-borne pathogens (e.g. Salmonella), but also on food spoilage organisms and their influence on the bio-load associated with food products.

Our interests include not only testing and diagnosis, but also the ways in which food processing and handling can keep food safe and maintain / extend its shelf-life, guaranteeing supply both in industrialised and in developing countries. A further area of interest is antibiotic resistance carried by micro-organisms, and the likely impact of antibiotic resistance transfer between food spoilage organisms, human pathogens and the commensal flora in the human gut. The gut microflora is of particular interest with ongoing research in gut microbial interactions and measuring the myoelectrical activity of the gut in model systems, both in vitro and in vivo.

The area of Food Regulation in the major trading blocs of the world is dynamic and fast-moving, reflecting evolving national and international policies in public health and nutrition, as well as policy responses to emerging threats and crises. These matters have direct impact throughout the ’farm to fork’ chain. Our work in the interdisciplinary area of Food Regulatory Affairs investigates and monitors the educational, scientific, legal and policy issues of relevance to industry and the regulatory agencies.

Contact: Dr P Naughton: pj.naughton@ulster.ac.uk

Psychological factors associated with food and nutrition

Work in the psychology of food and health seeks to complement that of the other NICHE research groups in researching issues related to food product development, both consumer and sensory, psychological functions and health behaviour.

Using a range of methodologies both quantitative and qualitative, research is ongoing into factors influencing food preference (including taste acuity) and choice (consumer perceptions and attitudes); psychological benefits of foods (affective, cognitive and behavioural); sensory assessment of food and food products (employing ’untrained’ consumers); psychological underpinnings of the metabolic syndrome; and, factors determining infant feeding decisions. Understanding of these areas is important for the successful promotion of healthy eating.

Contact: Dr B Stewart-Knox: b.knox@ulster.ac.uk