assoc. prof. dr. Zala Jenko Pražnikar – phd topics

Ime in priimek: assoc. prof. Zala Jenko Pražnikar, PhD
Links:
ARRS 24263
E-Mail:
zala.praznikar@upr.si

Research facility:
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences
Opportunities to collaborate with Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies

Research field according to ARRS classification
Science: Medical sciences
Field: Metabolic and hormonal disorders

Summary of research topic and field
Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a form of intermittent fasting in which a longer daily fasting period is observed. Preliminary studies report that TRE improves cardiometabolic health in rodents and humans. Despite many positive effects of TRE on health indicators, we find mainly pilot clinical studies in the literature, and certain mechanisms of the effects of TRE are not fully understood. An open question also concerns the period of food intake – is it only important to limit food intake to 6-8 hours, or is it also important when food is ingested. As part of the research, we want to clarify the influence of TRE on the expression of certain genes and on the release of certain hormones. In particular, we will focus on genes related to the response to oxidative stress and inflammation, genes involved in the aging process (e.g., SIRT1), genes involved in autophagy (e.g., LC2A), and genes important in the regulation of circadian rhythms. Thus, the goal of the research will be to elucidate the mechanisms. An important goal is also to investigate the differences or/and similarities between early and late TRE.
The study will focus on overweight subjects who will participate in a 3-month randomized trial in which they will eat either between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm (early TRE) or between 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm (late TRE) or between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm (control group). Participants will have comparable energy intakes, only the diet will be distributed differently throughout the day. In all participants, many metabolic parameters will be monitored, we will analyze the expression of many genes from isolated lymphocytes, as well as various polymorphisms of individual genes and other biomarkers of interest (e.g., the gut microbial community).

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