What does a professor of Nutritional Biochemistry actually do?
In loose order, we wish to introduce our professors and degree programmes at the Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition & Health in Kulmbach. Today it’s Janin Henkel-Oberländer’s turn.
What specifically are you researching at the new faculty in Kulmbach?
We’re interested in finding out how certain food components (e.g. fatty acids, cholesterol, and fructose) affect our metabolism in the body, and why some combinations can be harmful to our health. We also ask how "bioactive" food components affect our metabolism and can, for example, activate cells of the immune system more strongly or reduce their activation? We are investigating the molecular mechanisms behind the fact that we have a higher risk of diseases such as fatty liver or type 2 diabetes if we eat a diet high in fat and sugar. And, of course, we are trying to find out how we can counteract this.
What do you see as the potential benefits of this research?
I think it's obvious in view of current statistics: almost 40% of the population in Germany are overweight, increasing their individual risk of suffering from secondary diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Our lifestyle - including our diet - is one of the main causes of this trend. The main goal of our basic research is to develop mechanistic insights in order to better understand the connection between nutrition and health.
Do you cooperate with companies or public institutions in the region? With which ones and in what way?
A lot is being planned, there have already been "getting-to-know-you" events with MUPÄZ in Mönchshof and with the company RAPS, contact has also been established with the Max Rubner Institute and KErn; concrete joint projects are to be defined and worked on in the near future. But we are also seeking out the schools, for example, we have already spoken to seniors at the Caspar-Vischer-Gymnasium and have received further requests to give workshops on nutrition. We are also planning public events in Kulmbach, where we will give interested people from the region insights into our areas of research.
Find more here: https://www.nutritional-biochemistry.uni-bayreuth.de/en/index.html