Andrew Salter PHOTO: Manuel Castells

Andrew Salter inaugurated today the I Nutrition Week at the University of Navarra with a workshop on Genetics and obesity. In it, the expert stressed that foods enriched with saturated fatty acids alter the expression Genetics in the liver.

According to the specialist, professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom), this alteration could be the basis for the adverse effects of these acids on plasma cholesterol or blood cholesterol: "We have known for some time that polyunsaturated fatty acids have potent effects on gene expression. In particular, on enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis. However, the in vivo programs of study that we are carrying out will allow us to understand the mechanisms that produce these changes".

Regarding the mother's diet and the influence it will have on her child's health, Andrew Salter clarifies that both malnutrition -particularly low protein intake- and obesity and excessive consumption of nutrients "can increase the susceptibility of the offspring to suffer from a series of chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes or cardiovascular disease. In this sense, the specialist confirms that the mechanisms underlying these effects are beginning to be known: "Changes in the structure Chemistry of DNA -studied by Epigenetics- could allow us to design dietary interventions capable of reversing this programming subject Genetics , to prevent us from suffering the diseases to which we seem to be destined".

Free nutritional advice
Finally, the specialist, invited to this 1st Nutrition Week at the University of Navarra, emphasized the work he is developing with his team to alter the fatty acids in foods such as meat and milk. "When we discover how to modify the composition of these fatty acids," says Salter, "we could avoid the harmful effects of certain foods in the development of cardiovascular diseases. We would not be talking about obtaining new foods enriched with active ingredients, but rather about improving the usual foods to avoid their adverse effects".

Tomorrow Tuesday, the 24th, the activities organized by the Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics will continue at the Civican in Pamplona. There, from 5 p.m. onwards, dietitians-nutritionists from the academic center will offer free nutritional advice. Then, at 7 p.m., the audiovisual meeting "Alimenta la vista" will take place. The most informative audiovisual programs in the promotion of healthy lifestyles will be awarded.