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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Components and Health Laboratory » Research » Research Project #438888

Research Project: Impact of Food and Particulates on Metabolic Risk

Location: Food Components and Health Laboratory

Project Number: 8040-10700-007-003-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 1, 2020
End Date: Aug 31, 2025

Objective:
1. Investigate the impact of particulate matter (airborne from engine combustion or manufactured carbon nanotubes) on inflammation and risk for metabolic dysfunction. 2. Determine dietary components that may mitigate adverse effects of particulate matter exposure in vitro and in vivo.

Approach:
There is growing consensus that environmental factors (e.g. air pollution, chemicals, nanoparticles) influence the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Also, increased consumption of plant-based foods is associated reduction in risk factors of a number of these chronic, non-communicable diseases. Using in vitro cell culture and in vivo rodent models, the effect of exposure to particles on inflammation and diabetes risk will be determined whether specific phytonutrients or macronutrients can mitigate the inflammatory responses. In addition, disease pathogenesis that lead to the development of non-communicable diseases (NCD's) will be studied.