Jamie Rogers

Gut Bacteria may be Linked to Obesity in Peri- and Post-menopausal Women

Kelly Hansen — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 19:57:14 +0000

Gut Bacteria may be Linked to Obesity in Peri- and Post-menopausal Women Kelly Hansen Tue, 08/13/2024 - 15:57

Cara Frankenfeld studies the connection between gut bacteria and obesity.

Extra pounds on peri- and post-menopausal women may be connected to gut bacteria living in the intestinal tract, according to a recently released study co-authored by a ��ӽ紫ý alumna and professor.

“Gut bacteria profiles are incredibly complicated and very diverse across people,” said Cara Frankenfeld, a global and community health professor at ��ӽ紫ý.

Women whose gut microbial communities can’t turn daidzein, a compound found in soy, into something called O-desmethylangolensin are more likely to be overweight, according to a study published in Maturitas.

Daidzein has been of some interest to scientists for a while because it is structurally similar to estrogen and can possibly elicit weak estrogen-like responses in peri- and post-menopausal women who tend to have lower estrogen levels, Frankenfeld said.

There are subsets of the population who don’t produce certain compounds, in this case, ODMA.

“We can tell something about people’s gut bacteria based on the presence or absence of these compounds,” she said.

The idea is that certain gut bacteria profiles are associated with certain health outcomes. Peri- and post-menopausal women who have a profile that can’t produce ODMA are in a group that’s more obese, Frankenfeld said.

The cross-sectional study examined 137 peri-menopausal and 218 post-menopausal women who consumed at least three servings of soy per week. They were identified as ODMA producers or nonproducers through urine samples.

Studies have examined other age groups, but the results vary, Frankenfeld said, so it may be an age group or a hormonal status-specific condition.

It could be that producers of ODMA may be more at risk for other conditions, she said, but researchers aren’t yet able to make recommendations to women who may fall within this group.

“We wouldn’t want people to try and become producers [of ODMA],” Frankenfeld said.

Scientists do know there is an obesity–gut bacteria relationship, she said, but more research is needed to fully understand whether and how gut bacteria influence obesity, or whether it is vice versa, or both.

Topics

College of Public Health

Mason Opens Hydroponic Greenhouse in Push Toward Improved Sustainability

Colleen Rich — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 12:14:57 +0000

Mason Opens Hydroponic Greenhouse in Push Toward Improved Sustainability Colleen Rich Fri, 04/08/2022 - 08:14

Greenhouse Coordinator Doni Ward provides tours at the President’s Park Hydroponic Greenhouse. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services

Visitors to ��ӽ紫ý’s hydroponic greenhouse on Tuesday were treated much like visitors to a hospital during flu season, as they were asked to apply hand sanitizer before coming into contact with the plants.

��ӽ紫ý students, staff and faculty got their first looks at the newly renovated greenhouse that’s part of the school’s push toward improved sustainability.

The precaution is for a good reason, says Doni Ward, greenhouse coordinator.

The plants are harvested for food consumption at Ike’s, the nearby dining facility, so the utmost care is taken to keep them germ-free.

In an agreement between Mason’s Office of Sustainability and Mason Dining, the greenhouse will provide some 200 pounds of food to Ike’s and for catered university events, in exchange for funding of a part-time greenhouse staff position.

Dishes created with produce grown at the Presidents Park hydroponic greenhouse are served at a celebration of the greenhouse opening. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services

Before its rebirth as a food producer, the greenhouse in Presidents Park, near Taylor Hall, was used for three years to grow plants for biology and ecology experiments conducted by classes in the College of Science, which moved to a newer greenhouse atop Exploratory Hall.

During the renovation project, steps were taken to install equipment that would closely mimic naturally occurring conditions outside, Ward says.

A natural gas-powered heater kicks in if conditions become too cold in the greenhouse, while a wet wall cooling system is used along with fans to cool things down and keep air moving through the space. Plants do not thrive in stagnant air, she says.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Presidents Park Greenhouse. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services

The greenhouse is special in that it is hydroponic. Instead of soil, it grows plants inside Rockwool, a sponge-like material that allows nutrient-rich water to reach the plants. Water is constantly recirculated for two weeks, after which all new water is pumped in, she says.

Special grow lamps emit only red and blue light because only light from that end of color spectrum is absorbed by plants. The lighting is eco-friendly in that it only costs a few cents a day to run and lasts for 10 to 12 years, Ward says.

Mason environmental science major Maryam Sedaghatpour was one of the first to tour the greenhouse on Tuesday and says she’s excited that it uses a soiless medium to grow plants.

“It’s a great way to grow food locally,” she says. “I love the idea of having food grown at [Mason] for students to eat.”

Topics

Sustainability

Faculty and Staff News

campus dining

Theater professor focused on mentoring as he ends his 25-year tenure at Mason

Melanie Balog — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 09:27:09 +0000

Theater professor focused on mentoring as he ends his 25-year tenure at Mason Melanie Balog Tue, 10/24/2017 - 05:27

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Faculty and Staff News

Mason student finds a place for swimming passion in his rehab science studies

Melanie Balog — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 10:07:31 +0000

Mason student finds a place for swimming passion in his rehab science studies Melanie Balog Tue, 10/10/2017 - 06:07

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Students

Center for History and New Media wins international award for website examining 17th-century court case

Melanie Balog — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 18:31:25 +0000

Center for History and New Media wins international award for website examining 17th-century court case Melanie Balog Fri, 09/29/2017 - 14:31

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��ӽ紫ý

Mason senior completes Journey of Hope for disability awareness

Melanie Balog — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 09:09:00 +0000

Mason senior completes Journey of Hope for disability awareness Melanie Balog Thu, 09/14/2017 - 05:09

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Students

Mason extends Thanksgiving and winter holiday breaks, adds flex time in 2018

Melanie Balog — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 13:32:05 +0000

Mason extends Thanksgiving and winter holiday breaks, adds flex time in 2018 Melanie Balog Wed, 09/13/2017 - 09:32

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Faculty and Staff News

University Scholar who organized medical camp in India joins Mason's class of 2021

Damian Cristodero — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 15:00:00 +0000

University Scholar who organized medical camp in India joins Mason's class of 2021 Damian Cristodero Thu, 09/07/2017 - 11:00

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Students

Mason Talent Temps program addresses staffing needs, creates career paths

Melanie Balog — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 09:05:28 +0000

Mason Talent Temps program addresses staffing needs, creates career paths Melanie Balog Thu, 09/07/2017 - 05:05

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Faculty and Staff News

Study: Brains of women with bulimia different than those of women without the condition

Melanie Balog — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 20:47:01 +0000

Study: Brains of women with bulimia different than those of women without the condition Melanie Balog Fri, 09/01/2017 - 16:47