Research of the Nutritional Biology Group
Ageing is a natural process involving a series of progressive biological changes that show marked differences between individuals. Importantly, these changes start long before we become aware that we are getting older.
Our research lines
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Nutrition and ageing
Nutrition and ageing is a central theme within our chair group. We aim to identify dietary strategies that optimize nutritional status to prevent, slow down or reverse stages preceding ageing-related pathologies such as cognitive decline, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and malnutrition.
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Nutrition during metabolic stress and recovery
Metabolic stress, triggered by acute or chronic illness, disrupts metabolism, leading to complications such as muscle wasting, inflammation, and gastrointestinal issues that may impair long-term recovery.
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Kinetics and metabolism of nutrients and other food components
Understanding the fate of nutritional components in the body is crucial because processes such as their release from the nutritional matrix, digestion and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion are key determinants of their biological effects. Moreover, insight into these processes can help identify new biomarkers for dietary exposure and aid in detecting and preventing nutritional deficiencies.
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Nutrition and intestinal biology
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract performs multifaceted functions: it serves as a physical barrier, regulates food digestion and nutrient absorption and communicates with other organs. To fulfill all these functions it is equipped with specialized cells that play crucial roles in gut hormonal signaling, gut-barrier integrity, nutrient absorption, protection and immune function.