UCARE: Undergraduate Creative Activities & Research Experiences

 

UCARE Research Products

Date of this Version

Spring 4-2016

Document Type

Poster

Citation

UCARE Poster session, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Research Fair, April 2016, Lincoln, NE.

Comments

Copyright © 2016 Chris Lindeman & Jennifer R. Wood.

Abstract

The CDC estimates that more than one-third of U.S. adults (approximately 78.6 million) are obese. Despite national efforts to combat this with diet and exercise, the number of obese adults and children continues to climb. It is critical to emphasize that obesity can lead to lifelong, chronic complications and health risks including hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.

Diet and obesity also have important impacts on the reproductive health of female including the ability to become pregnant (fertility) and risk for complications during pregnancy. Furthermore, for women who do become pregnant, obesity can affect the development of the embryo and fetus, with studies showing impaired physiological function of important organ systems (e.g. cardiovascular, metabolic organs, and brain) in the otherwise viable offspring.

The objectives of this study included:

•Determining if consumption of dietary exosomes, which contain miRNAs that can regulate gene expression in target tissues, regulates the activation and growth of ovarian follicles. •Developing tools to identify changes in skeletal muscle development in offspring from obese compared to lean mothers.

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