Human Health & Nutrition

The role of a balanced diet in promoting human health is being increasingly recognised. Statistical and mathematical models have a pivotal role in enabling the interpretation of experimental and observational studies.

Research in the area of human health and nutrition must encompass a wide range of issues, from the quality of food available via the science of nutrition to the behaviour of individuals. Complex interactions abound, and the variation in observed processes can be large. Statistical and mathematical models have a pivotal role in enabling the interpretation of experimental and observational studies.

a colourful bowl of salad, nuts and grains

Below we present some examples of our work under the human health & nutrition application area. Further details can be obtained from the contact named at the end of each example.

 

image of GWH

Graham Horgan is Principal Consultant in Human Health & Nutrition

 

Lead contributors to this application area:

water droplet with circular arrows

Read more about our work on COVID-19 in Wastewater

 

Related content

covid model

Modelling Covid-19

Understanding how different age groups have mixed during the Covid-19 pandemic

Case Study
salad plate

Modelling the ‘good bacteria’ in our gut

How does the microbial community in your gut respond to changes in diet and to the pro-biotics (e.g. live yoghurts) and pre-biotics that are marketed to us daily?

Case Study
pH tolerance

Maintaining phenotypic diversity in a mechanistic model of gut bacteria

Maintaining diversity within reource-based mathematical models is a classic challenge due to the rule of competitive exclusion which states that two species can't co-exist if they occupy the same niche...

Case Study
close-up of a salad
12 October, 2022
Modelling Gut Microbiota: Royal Society Blog Post

Dr Helen Kettle on her new paper modelling the human gut microbiota.

News
Bi-plot obtained from OPLS-DA.

Classifying tumour biopsies

Scientists from the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health have developed a targeted in-house multiplex gene array to measure expression of 21 markers (genes) known to be involved in the development of colorectal cancer.

Case Study
a field of green crops with trees in the background

Modelling the impact of folic acid fortification of flour on risk of neural tube defects

Modelling to predict the effect on folate intakes under various scenarios in which flour fortification might be implemented, in order to protect against the development of neural tube defects (NTDs) such as Spina Bifida during pregnancy.

Case Study
a bowl of food including rice, onions, tomatoes, peppers, beans and a lime

Consumer Preferences of Food Properties

Improving food and drink products by identifying those characteristics that appeal to consumers.

Case Study
food

Meeting health and environmental targets with minimum dietary change

We have investigated the amount of change that is needed by different individuals in order for each to meet the nutritional recommendations, and what the impact might be of including a target on the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) associated with the revised diets.

Case Study
person on a hill with green fields behind

Environmental quality and emotional well-being

Participation in outdoor physical activities is believed to provide both physical and mental health benefits. Researchers are particularly interested in the way the different environmental and emotional factors involved in walks interrelate.

Case Study