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The Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre (BPNRC) is located in purpose-built, state-of-the-art laboratories at Northumbria University in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne. The full-time staff include senior academics, post-doctoral researchers, research assistants and PhD students. The research centre has an international reputation for high-quality research investigating the effects of dietary, nutritional and functional food interventions on brain function and physical performance in humans. Over the last decade our research has focused on elucidating the central nervous system and physical effects of a wide range of interventions including: Vitamins and minerals Omega-3 fatty acids Herbal extracts Polyphenols Caffeine and other phytochemicals Dietary nitrate Metabolic substrates Dairy products Meals This research has almost exclusively taken the form of controlled trials. These trials are conducted to rigorous, auditable Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards, and involve assessments of the cognitive or psychological effects of the interventions, often with concomitant investigations of global mechanisms such as cerebral blood ow, gluco-regulatory parameters, or hormonal effects. These studies are often informed by laboratory work assessing in vitro analytes and mechanisms of action. Naturally, given its applied nature, this research is ideally suited to help pharmaceutical, food and drink companies develop healthy or functional foods and supplements, or substantiate health claims on their current products. Our centre houses state-of-the-art testing facilities geared towards the high demands required to conduct fully auditable human intervention research.
www.nutrition-neuroscience.org
www.nutrition-neuroscience.org
www.nutrition-neuroscience.org
EEG
Electroencephalography (EEG) uses electrodes placed on the scalp to record the electrical activity produced by the ring of neurons within the brain. This technique can give us a ne grain insight into the timing of activity-related events within the brain as well as a measure of overall localised activity.
www.nutrition-neuroscience.org
Metabolism
Energy expenditure is a key outcome in physical performance studies and we can ascertain this from exhaled breath using indirect calorimetry. We can also measure a raft of metabolic analytes, including glycaemic and insulin response, and cholesterol and triglyceride measurements.
www.nutrition-neuroscience.org
Physical Performance
Nutritional interventions before, during and after exercise can have a signicant impact on physical performance. We utilise a range of specialised equipment and protocols to assess the effects of meals, snacks, supplements and drinks on performance in both elite and recreational athletes. All physical performance requires some cognitive aspect. Combining the expertise available within the research centre means we are well equipped to investigate the effects of nutritional interventions on both cognitive and physical parameters. In our dedicated exercise laboratories we have the facilities to assess exercise performance using running (treadmill) and cycle paradigms. We have also developed sports-specic laboratory-based protocols for a number of sports including golf and squash and utilise established intermittent exercise protocols so that nutritional products can be tested for a range of different sporting activities. Work within the unit also focuses on the effects of nutritional interventions on muscle damage following exercise and improving immune function. We have the facilities to conduct acute short-term and long-term intervention studies to investigate the uptake and bioavailability of food products, ingredients and supplements using techniques and state-of-the-art instrumental analysis. High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometers (HPLC-MS) is used for the determination and quantication of micronutrients and small molecular weight bio-molecules.
www.nutrition-neuroscience.org