Tel. +34 913941873
Complutense University of Madrid
Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid
Our research group was created in 1992, in response to the UCM call for the formation of research groups and under the umbrella of its teaching and research training in this scientific field. The members of the group have taught and continue to teach various subjects in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Pharmacy, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as Food Science and Technology. They have also been and are involved in postgraduate teaching on the PhD programme in Nutrition and the Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, including the subjects of Nutrition and Cardiovascular Diseases, Functional Nutrition and Nutrigenomics, and Personalised Nutrition.
In addition, this group has been working for years on the study of the role of diet and its nutritional and non-nutritional components in the possible prevention of some chronic diseases, with particular emphasis on cardiovascular diseases (ALI 98-0830, Regional Ministry of Castilla-La Mancha 93145, AGL 2001-2398-C03-03; AGL2005-07204-C02-01/ALI, AGL 2008-01892-C03-02, FISS 00/0015-01; Castilla La Mancha Foundation for Health Research (FIS-CAM) AN/2006/22 y PI2009/01; Consolider-Ingenio (network) 2010 CSD2007-00016; AGL-2011-29644-C02-02).
We believe that the multidisciplinary contribution of the group is enriching as the different members of the group have extensive experience in nutrition, dietetics, nutritional epidemiology, ageing, oxidative stress, mineral, and lipoprotein metabolism, among others, as can be deduced from the list of projects and publications that have been carried out. For example, his contribution to the study, separation, and quantification of lipoproteins is internationally recognised. We have also made a novel contribution to the finding of significant relationships between plasma mineral levels and different lipids and lipoproteins in several studies in Spanish neonatal populations since 1993.
Currently, this group has initiated studies in the search for early hormonal and lipoprotein markers of metabolic syndrome (MS) and is also interested in gene-diet interactions in cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this respect, in the Avena Project (FISS 00/0015-01) of which the Principal Investigator is a research staff, some environmental factors such as diet, physical activity, etc., have been studied, as well as the existence of genetic polymorphisms that condition the levels of cardiovascular risk markers in adolescent populations.
We have also collaborated with Professor Ordovás’ team at Tufts University in Boston on a project (National Institute of Health, R1; HL54776) in which we studied the modification of CVD risk parameters in response to diet and the presence of genetic polymorphisms.
Nutrition and diet in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases
Since 1979, the team has been investigating the possible role of fat and other dietary components (salt, fibre, protein, minerals, etc.) on lipoprotein metabolism and their influence on the subsequent development of CVD. Our research extends from neonates to the elderly. Thus, our team has participated and continues to participate in different studies “Área de Toledo” and “La Serena” in neonatal populations, “Fuerzas Armadas” in healthy adults, “AVENA” in the adolescent population, “Lerma” in peri-menopause women, etc., relating nutritional and anthropometric aspects with cardiovascular risk factors, obtaining very novel results for the international bibliography. Currently, this group has initiated studies in the search for early hormonal and lipoprotein markers of metabolic syndrome (MS) and is also interested in gene-diet interactions in cardiovascular disease (CVD). The leading role of genetic load in these degenerative diseases is accepted (Bouchard, 2011; Ordovás, 2011), and our group (Gesteiro et al., 2011) found differences at birth in markers of insulin sensitivity associated with different polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein (Apo) A-5 gene (a candidate gene to explain lipoprotein alterations). Therefore, we believe it is essential to study the influence of the genetic interaction between neonate*mother of certain candidate genes on lipoprotein markers and insulin resistance/sensitivity in neonates in order to predict the prevalence of MS in the population. Publications: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Francisco_Sanchez-Muniz
Functional Foods in Health: Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics
Our group has been conducting research following my collaboration in the Framing Study (Gene-diet interaction in elderly from the Framingham Study consuming Mediterranean or typical American diets, National Institute of Health (USA) in this novel field. My training in the field of “gene-diet” interaction took place under the tutelage of Prof. Ordovas and Prof. Schaefer, who are internationally renowned in the field of nutrition, genetics, and cardiovascular diseases. I was the researcher responsible for two projects studying the role of some candidate genes on the effects of phytosterols on lipoprotein metabolism in different population groups. With this work, this new line of research, in which my team is currently participating in different projects that analyse the potential benefits of the inclusion of functional meat products in the diet (“Red Consolider Ingenio” 2010-16), on cardiovascular risk markers, and the influence of “candidate gene” mutations on these effects, with the aim of promoting the development of “Personalised Nutrition”. Publications: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Francisco_Sanchez-Muniz
