Our next Scholar seminar is just around the corner! Dr. Mary Ward will be visiting our faculty as a guest of the Human Nutrition program. She is currently a professor of Nutrition and Dietetics and Ulster University as well as Director of the Wellcome Trust-Wolfson Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility at the City Hospital Belfast and president of the British Nutrition Society. Her research focusses on B-vitamins involved in 1-C metabolism.
Abstract: Folate and the related B vitamins have essential roles in human health throughout life. Sub-optimal B vitamin status is increasingly common due lack of diversity in the diet and contributes to several adverse health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, poorer cognitive and bone health and anaemia. Furthermore, in the case of certain vitamins i.e. Riboflavin, subclinical deficiency (low riboflavin status without clinical signs) may be much more widespread than generally recognised, including in high-income countries and especially in women of reproductive age, but typically goes undetected due to lack of available data. Riboflavin biomarkers are rarely assessed in human studies, and thus neither deficiency nor subclinical deficiency is well documented. The adverse health consequences of low and deficient riboflavin status throughout the life cycle, include anaemia and hypertension, that contribute substantially to the global burden of disease. In the case of vitamin B12 achieving optimal B12 status can be particularly problematic for certain population groups due to inadequate intake or B12 malabsorption. This presentation will consider the metabolic and health consequences of low B-vitamin status and the related research, public health, and policy priorities. Consideration will also be given to the impact of transitioning towards a healthy diet from sustainable sources on B-vitamin status.
When: Friday, March 14th 10am-11am.
Where: MCML 256
A coffee and cookie social will be held afterwards – free Blue Chip cookies!
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