Investigating the possible link between habitual diet, physical activity, sleeping patterns, obesity status and age with gut bacterial composition, gut barrier function, metabolic endotoxemia, systemic inflammation and glycemic control.
Principal Invesitigators: Dr. Carl Hulston, Dr. Oonagh Markey, Malvina Begall
In the UK, 25% of adults are affected by metabolic syndrome (NHS, 2016). Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of different conditions such as insulin resistance, high blood pressure and obesity.
People with metabolic syndrome have increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. What causes the development of metabolic syndrome in people is complex with potentially many factors and understudied in humans.
It has been suggested that changes in the composition of the gut microbiota may drive insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. This could occur through a mechanism that is linked to the increased movement of molecules from the gut to the blood, and the development of inflammation.
The aim of this project is to investigate the relationship between different physiological and behavioural/ lifestyle variables (such as habitual diet, physical activity, sleeping patterns, obesity status and age etc.) and measures of gut bacterial composition, gut barrier function, inflammation and blood sugar.
For more information about the study contact: m.begalli@lboro.ac.uk or phone 01509 226445
Study Poster: Recruitment Poster (R18-P206)
Patient Information Sheet: The Gut Microbiota Study- Participant information sheet