University of Missouri-Columbia
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University of Missouri-Columbia
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Nutritional Epidemiology
at the MURR Center
You are what you eat! Nutritional Epidemiology,
in its simplest manifestation, is the study of diet and disease.
In the real world however, a diverse spectrum of variables is
introduced into this study as a result of occupation and lifestyle.
In other words—you are what you eat, what you do, and
how you live! Risk factors for many serious diseases
are invariably linked—sometimes quite subtly—to these choices.For nearly three decades, life scientists at MURR have studied minerals and trace elements that are required for good human health. Why is an element required? What does it do? How much is needed, and how much is too much? How can the status of a required element be accurately measured and safely altered if necessary? These are among the questions for which we try to find answers. Why undertake this type of nutritional research at a research reactor? With its beryllium and graphite-reflected core and a flux of 6 x 1014 n/(cm2 sec), MURR is a bountiful source of neutrons. These neutrons are very sensitive probes that interact with individual elements in biologic monitors to both confirm their presence and quantify their content. Hence, a biologic monitor reflects what you eat, and neutrons can identify and quantify elemental nutrients! Our knowledge of dietary requirements is considerable, but far from complete. For example, we know that in addition to carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, approximately another 20 of the 92 naturally occurring elements are required in varying amounts for good health. However, for all of these there are gaps in our knowledge concerning their detailed biological roles and the parameters that mediate those roles. Selenium is a good example. |
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