What determines how healthily we age? Why can the same diet affect different people in completely different ways? And could the health of future generations be influenced by a mother’s health even before a child is born? Researchers from more than a dozen countries addressed these questions during the international conference “Nutrigenomics for Lifelong Health”, held in Olsztyn.
From 2 to 4 September, scientists working in the fields of nutrigenomics, nutrition, metabolism and ageing presented the latest research findings on the impact of food and lifestyle on health and the ageing process.
“The conference focuses on one of the most exciting challenges in contemporary life sciences: understanding how nutrition interacts with our biology throughout the entire lifespan,” emphasised Prof. Mariusz Piskuła, Coordinator of the Welcome2 project.
For the InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the conference was not only an opportunity to present the latest research and exchange expertise, but also an important step towards strengthening the Institute’s international scientific position.
“The EU-funded Welcome2 project, Centre of Excellence in Nutrigenomics for Improved Health and Quality of Life, under which the conference was organised, is an important element in building and further developing scientific excellence at our Institute,” said Prof. Monika Kaczmarek, Director of the InLife Institute.
Diet, Health and Stress
Nutrigenomics investigates the relationships between nutrition, genes, metabolism and processes taking place in the body. Researchers seek to combine this knowledge with lifestyle factors and immune system function in order to better understand individual needs, predict disease risks at an earlier stage and, in the future, develop more personalised prevention strategies.
Nutrition affects much more than body weight and metabolism. Prof. Louise Dye from the University of Sheffield discussed the impact of diet on mental health and cognitive function, as well as the links between nutrition and stress.
Researchers are therefore increasingly examining diet as part of a broader lifestyle, seeking to better understand how nutrition and stress influence processes taking place in the body.
Health Begins Before Birth
Research presented in Olsztyn also demonstrated that environmental influences on health can extend back to the period before birth.
Dr Karolina Wołodko from the InLife Institute presented research on the effects of maternal obesity on very early embryonic development and its potential consequences for future offspring. This research contributes to the study of developmental programming, helping scientists better understand how environmental factors during the earliest stages of life may influence health later in life.
Prof. Lars-Oliver Klotz from Friedrich Schiller University Jena discussed the role of copper and selenium in processes related to the cellular stress response and ageing. His research highlights the complex relationships between nutrients, stress and the mechanisms of cellular ageing.
From Genes to Personalised Prevention
The conference demonstrated that nutrigenomics is now bringing together a wide range of disciplines – from molecular biology and genetics to data analysis, computational modelling and digital health technologies.
The development of personalised nutrition and new data-analysis methods may help researchers better predict how individual organisms respond to specific nutritional factors and develop more tailored prevention strategies.
Scientists from countries including Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Israel, Mexico and Poland travelled to Olsztyn to take part in the conference.
The event also provided an opportunity for early-career researchers to present their findings, exchange experiences and establish new scientific collaborations. The “Nutrigenomics for Lifelong Health” conference was organised by the InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences as part of the Welcome2 ERA Chair project, which aims to strengthen scientific excellence and international research collaboration in the fields of nutrition, health and ageing.
