Dietetics, Nutrition and Biological Sciences
Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism
Key Aims
This research group comprises basic science
research attempting to elucidate the effects of dietary (ingested)
components on the development of specific diseases and applied
research with the aim of developing nutritional strategies
to reduce risk and the progression of existing disease.
Prime activities and achievements
Investigation into the
effect of different dietary fatty acids on the activation of
key cells (platelets, leucocytes) and biochemical pathways integral
to the pathology of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases.
The approach used ranges from extensive in vitro work to ex vivo
analysis from dietary substitution (transLinE study) and dietary
supplementation trials (fish oil and cardiopulmonary bypass,
PhD). In addition to determining risks associated with ingestion
of specific fats (trans poly unsaturates, oxidised lipids) this
work aims to identify functional fatty acids with protective
effects (mono and poly unsaturates, ascorbyl derivatives). Work
investigating the cardio-protective effects of certain dietary
polyunsaturated fatty acids is currently being undertaken in
a clinical trial with the Sudan Heart Centre (PhD). Main achievements
include receipt of significant funding from the EC (3 centre
trial with the University of Edinburgh) and BHF (PhD) for novel
research into the implications of dietary trans polyunsaturates
in cardiovascular disease (3 publications to date). This project
has formed a strong link with the Cardiovascular Research Unit,
Edinburgh to couple our expertise in functional assays of cellular
activity with their analytical expertise in biochemical assays
of lipid and haemostatic factors. We are currently investigating
the harmful effects of oxidised lipids (PhD) on platelet activation
and endothelial dysfunction in hyperlipidaemic patients. A further
achievement by this group has been to secure significant
funding in a new area of research - herbal medicine (TCS
scheme (PhD) and Bioforce funded PhD studentship). Davidson
and Richardson research the alterations in gastrointestinal
sensory mechanisms effecting changes in ingestive behaviour,
energy intake and nutritional status in disease. Having
the primary objective of improving nutritional status in patients
at risk of undernutrition, the work extends to groups such
as cancer patients (PhD), inflammatory bowel disease patients
and more recently those with chronic liver disease (Richardson,
PhD). This has led to multidisciplinary and collaborative
research with the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit (University
of Edinburgh) and ETH in Switzerland which currently focuses
on the role of the liver in the metabolic control of eating
and the implications for this in undernutrition and obesity.
The primary source of funding in this group has been from
industry (Nutricia, UK) but the strong collaborative link
with ETH in Switzerland and the SLTU in Edinburgh has resulted
in generation of funding from ETH. The primary achievement
has been to elucidate the transition from undernutrition
in chronic liver disease to overweight and obesity following
liver transplantation by this group which has provided
a model whereby the metabolic influences on energy and nutritional
status may be more clearly identified. This work is being
extended to assess the effect of specific macronutrient
preloads on the metabolic profile and feeding behaviour of liver
transplanted patients (PhD) and is carried out at the Wellcome
Trust Clinical Research Facility (Western General Hospital, Edinburgh).
Other commercially funded projects are on-going and continue
in collaboration with the Department of Clinical and Surgical
Sciences, University of Edinburgh (eg carbohydrate loading
in pre-surgical patients).
McBean researches the long-term consequences
of ecstasy abuse on both cerebral function (glucose utilisation)
and cerebral blood flow in the rodent brain. The neurotransmitter
serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is known to be involved
in many processes within the human brain: appetite; depression;
mania; and cerebrovascular control and the synthetic drug
of abuse methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) has
been shown to selectively destroy serotonergic neurones within
the mammalian brain. The purpose is to determine whether the
neurotoxic effects, and hence the glucose utilisation changes,
produced by ecstasy are irreversible or whether there is a
return, even partial, of normal function. McBean collaborates
with and is a co-grant holder (Wellcome Trust) with staff
in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the Western
General Hospital through which the animal house facilities
are made available.
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