Nutrition
Our research explores the ways in which nutrition at each point in the lifespan affects long-term health and response to disease.
Across the lifespan food is a major determinant of health. Liggins scientists were among the first in the world to identify associations between a lack of appropriate nutrition during the early stages of life and developmental changes leading to chronic adult conditions such as obesity and diabetes, learning and behavioural disorders and effects on subsequent generations.
The quality of nutrition throughout life is an important aspect of maintaining health and reducing disease later in life. Our research focuses on identifying the factors that link good nutrition to long-lasting health.
Human nutrition
Food contains a complex array of chemicals that directly affect genes, cell signalling and metabolic pathways within our bodies. We identify the key genetic and cellular mechanisms that link good nutrition to long-lasting health.
We’re particularly interested in:
- Food structures and impact on digestion and metabolism
- Differences in digestion, metabolism, and nutrient use and requirements in elderly people
- Understanding food intolerance and manipulation of foods or food structures that can change short or long term tolerance to foods
- How dietary interventions can change the microbiome
- How we can use metabolites as biomarkers of dietary intake, to better understand nutrient bioavailability and metabolism
- Understanding dairy intolerance, and how this differs from lactose intolerance