Location: Dietary Prevention of Obesity-related Disease Research
Project Number: 3062-10700-002-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Jun 3, 2024
End Date: Jun 2, 2029
Objective:
Objective 1: Determine the role of vegetable intake in mitigating the negative effect of high dietary phosphorus or protein on bone metabolism. [NP107, C3, PS3B; C4, PS4A]
Sub-objective 1.A: Determine whether modulating dietary phosphorus intake alters bone metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD) induced obese animal model.
Objective 2: Determine the impact of lentils on colon health in models of HFD-incuded obesity. [NP107, C3, PS3B; C4, PS4B]
Sub-objective 2.A: Determine differences in lentil varieties on colonic health markers.
Sub-objective 2.B: Determine the impact of lentils on colonic bile acid pathway and inflammation.
Objective 3: Determine whether diet and/or physical activity can resynchronize biological clocks altered by light-pollution. [NP107, C3, PS3B; C4, PS4A]
Subobjective 3.A. Determine whether dim-light exposure in the dark-phase alters diurnal rhythms of metabolism in mice.
Subobjective 3.B. investigates whether food timing, physical exercise, and vegetable consumption restore metabolism altered by light-pollution.
Approach:
Obesity in humans is a risk factor for many chronic disorders including osteoporosis, colonic inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. The main factors that contribute to the rising prevalence of obesity include unhealthy dietary practice, lack of physical activity, and environmental factors (e.g., prolonged light exposure). This project will examine the effects of dietary factors (consumption of vegetables including lentils), exercise, and timing of food intake on obesity-related changes in bone and colon health, and metabolic disturbance. Specifically, this project will address the following questions: (1) Does the intake of vegetables mitigate the negative effects of excessive dietary phosphorus, an acid-producing nutrient, and further enhance the anabolic effects of protein on bone? (2) Does whole lentil consumption reduce obesity-mediated colonic inflammation? and (3) Does maintaining a healthy lifestyle (e.g., a healthy eating pattern and physical exercise) attenuate metabolic dysfunction induced by light pollution? We will perform cell and rodent studies to address each of these questions. In addition, we will perform a human intervention trial to translate question 1 to humans.
This project takes multi-omics approaches to addressing these questions in the context of healthy dietary practice, exercise, and timing of food intake to promote health and wellbeing. Findings from this research will provide valuable information and greater understanding of how regular intake of vegetables, including pulses, and sleep hygiene minimizes obesity-mediated metabolic dysfunction and prevents associated disorders, including osteoporosis and colonic inflammation.
