CONFERENCES
CNS Thematic Meeting
Speakers from the Department of Nutritional Sciences, University
of Toronto
Dr. Elena Comelli, PhD, gave a spectacular talk on “prebiotic,
microbiome, and metabolic syndrome”. Dr. Comelli discussed how
the imbalance in gut microbiota may negatively impact host
health and metabolic risk. Diet in general, prebiotics and
probiotics in particular, play a main role in this relationship. The
presentation led to a hot discussion thereafter.
Dr. Deborah L O’Connor, PhD, RD, gave a talk on “Maternal
Micronutrient Intake, Programing and Metabolic Outcomes in
Offspring”, including a remarkable introduction on epigenetic
programing and the role of maternal diet on the risk of disease.
Nutrients of one-carbon metabolism, including folate, vitamin B6
and B12, methionine, choline and betaine as well as vitamin D have
been linked to changes occurring during pregnancy that might
impact disease risk during adulthood. This topic led to a lively
question period.
Dr. Amel Taibi, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher under the
supervision of Dr. Comelli. Dr. Taibi. She participated with a
poster presentation on novel approaches for quantifying a
key species in gut microbiota that has been shown to be
associated with risk of Metabolic Syndrome. The poster title
is “Novel Assays for the Analysis of the Genetic Diversity and
Quantification of Intestinal Bactericides”
Christopher Villa, PhD candidate from Dr. Comelli’s Lab also
participated with a poster presentation entitled “Improvement
of Metabolic Parameters in Mice Supplemented with Vitamin D
Throughout Life”. Christopher Villa’s research has shown an
association between post-weaning high intake of vitamin D and
risk of diabetes. A publication for this poster can be found in the
FASEB Journal 29(1), 2015
By: Ohood Alharbi
Photos: https://cns-scn.ca/2016-thematic-conference/photo-gallery
SPRING 2016 | From Prescription to Nutrition | 26