Research within the Nutrition and Biosciences Research Group is focused on the interrelationship between food, nutrition, and health. Our research aims to better understand the health and wellbeing of individuals and populations across the lifespan and how diets, foods and food components can influence this. Previous and current research studies cut across the Food, Nutritional and Biological Sciences to help understand the complex relationships between food environments, food choice behaviours, nutrient intake, physical activity, and health. Our research interests and expertise include fundamental aspects of our susceptibility to disease (from clinical, public health and personalised perspectives) and how nutrients affect health, as well as the development and evaluation of interventions designed to improve food choice behaviours, physical activity, and health (including dietary assessment and measuring food environments). We also have an interest in food quality management, food product development, and the sustainable production of healthy and nutritious foods.
Current Members Include:
- Dr Richard Webb
- Dr Leo Stevenson
- Dr Margaret Charnley
- Dr Tokunbo Olayanju
- Dr Peppy Emeagi
New frontiers in lipoprotein analysis: Small molecules, big questions?
Low-density lipoprotein particles are a causal factor of cardiovascular disease. This project aims to use a combination of ultracentrifugation and liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry to determine the molecular composition of these particles, which will offer unique insights in their functionality and role in disease.
Molecular determinants of metabolically healthy obese subjects: Insights from a Qatari population.
In Qatar there is a high prevalence of obesity. This project aims to investigate molecular characteristics which are associated with obesity phenotypes in a Qatari population. Findings from this project will inform more personalised treatment approaches with a view to reducing the levels of obesity in this population.
Anabolic steroid use in male bodybuilders – implications upon lipid and lipoprotein metabolism and cellular mechanisms of cardiometabolic health (SLIM Study).
Anabolic steroids are sometimes taken by bodybuilders to increase muscle mass; however, their use has also been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to determine the influence of anabolic steroids upon advanced measures of blood lipid metabolism in male bodybuilders and how the increased cardiovascular risk associated with these compounds may be mediated on a cellular level.
Interventions to improve the nutritional quality of take-away foods from small independent Liverpool-based take-away food outlets (Liverpool EATRIGHT).
This study is a collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool PCT and Liverpool Trading standards with a view to promote inherently healthy take-away meals and to work with businesses to make popular meals healthier.
Explorations of weight change and dietary intake in pregnant women living with obesity.
Maternal nutrition can have a profound impact on both foetal development and long term health risk in off-spring. Therefore, exploring food choice and eating behaviours in pregnant women helps to inform healthy eating guidelines and reduce excessive gestational weight gain.
Investigating midwives perceptions, knowledge and experiences of caring for pregnant women with obesity.
Midwives are at the interface of delivering healthy eating and weight management advice to pregnant women. However, BMIs of 30 to 35 are often normalised. Consistent and informed guidance is needed for the referral of pregnant women with obesity to appropriate dietetic and/or weight management services.
Mazidi M, Webb RJ, Lip GYH, Kengne AP, Banach M, Davies IG. Discordance between LDL-C and Apolipoprotein B Levels and Its Association with Renal Dysfunction: Insights from a Population-Based Study. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 9;11(2):313. doi: 10.3390/jcm11020313.
Webb RJ, Mazidi M, Lip GYH, Kengne AP, Banach M, Davies IG. The role of adiposity, diet and inflammation on the discordance between LDL-C and apolipoprotein B. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2022 Mar;32(3):605-615. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2021.12.004.
Mazidi M, Webb RJ, George ES, Shekoohi N, Lovegrove JA, Davies IG. Nutrient patterns are associated with discordant apoB and LDL: a population-based analysis. Br J Nutr. 2021 Sep 15:1-9. doi: 10.1017/S000711452100369X.
McCullough D, Webb R, Enright KJ, Lane KE, McVeigh J, Stewart CE, Davies IG. How the love of muscle can break a heart: Impact of anabolic androgenic steroids on skeletal muscle hypertrophy, metabolic and cardiovascular health. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2021 Jun;22(2):389-405. doi: 10.1007/s11154-020-09616-y.
Farhat G, Dewison F, Stevenson L. Knowledge and Perceptions of Non-Nutritive Sweeteners Within the UK Adult Population. Nutrients. 2021 Jan 29;13(2):444. doi: 10.3390/nu13020444.
Tay ME, Foster E, Stevenson L, Brownlee I. The Adherence of Singaporean Students in Different Educational Institutions to National Food-Based Dietary Guidelines. Nutrients. 2020 Sep 30;12(10):2995. doi: 10.3390/nu12102995.
Lloyd AJ, Wilson T, Willis ND, Lyons L, Phillips H, Janssen HG, Stiegler M, Xie L, Tailliart K, Beckmann M, Stevenson L, Mathers JC, Draper J. Developing community-based urine sampling methods to deploy biomarker technology for the assessment of dietary exposure. Public Health Nutr. 2020 Dec;23(17):3081-3092. doi: 10.1017/S136898002000097X.
Charnley M, Newson L, Weeks A, Abayomi J. Pregnant Women Living with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study of Dietary Quality and Pregnancy Outcomes. Nutrients. 2021 May 13;13(5):1652. doi: 10.3390/nu13051652.
Abayomi JC, Charnley MS, Cassidy L, Mccann MT, Jones J, Wright M, Newson LM. A patient and public involvement investigation into healthy eating and weight management advice during pregnancy. Int J Qual Health Care. 2020 Apr 21;32(1):28-34. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzz081.
McCann MT, Newson L, Burden C, Rooney JS, Charnley MS, Abayomi JC. A qualitative study exploring midwives' perceptions and knowledge of maternal obesity: Reflecting on their experiences of providing healthy eating and weight management advice to pregnant women. Matern Child Nutr. 2018 Apr;14(2):e12520. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12520.
