Volunteer for our Nutrition Studies

food preparation

Welcome to the Human Nutrition Unit based at the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen. Here, we run a variety of human nutrition studies for which volunteers are needed.

The HNU was established in 1986 to provide a metabolic research facility to study the relationship between diet and health in humans. The facilities in the Unit enable both residential and out-patient studies to be conducted here. Find out more about the studies currently being conducted in the Unit and how to participate. To learn more about what happens here, watch our movie. You can also read our volunteers newsletter.

Sylvia Stephen (HNU Manager)

Current Studies....

Spoons with pulsesAlternative Proteins Study: Eating protein rich plants could be a sustainable and healthy choice for partial replacement in meat based diets only..... more

class study smlBerry Study: Overweight Men, Overweight post-menopausal Women or Type-2 diabetics who control their diabetes through diet alone.... more

Oats growingOats, heart and gut health study:How do oats benefit health...more

Fish Dish logoFISH DISH: Farmed Salmon Study...more

Lady with snacksSatin Study: Satiety Study...more

Eating breakfastBreakfast Study: Impact of eating breakfast...more

Looking in fridgeFull4health Study: Hunger and food choices study...more

Shopping trolleyHABIT Study: Habitual food choice study...more

Soft FruitSoft Fruit Study:Volunteers required for soft fruit study.... more

brain study smlBrain Response Study: Healthy, obese men required.... more

reality study smlReality Study: Volunteers needed aged 18-65 years to help test a web tool to measure diet and physical activity more

HNU Frequently Asked Questions

What information will I get about my diet and health?

  • On most studies you will get an accurate measurement of your height and weight and therefore your Body Mass Index.
  • Resting Metabolic Rate: measures how many calories you will require to maintain your current weight.
  • DEXA scan - measures your bone density
  • BodPod - measures the amount of fat in your body.
  • Skinfold thickness; also measures the amount of fat in your body.
  • Blood pressure measurement
  • Cholesterol levels
  • Blood glucose levels
  • Record of your food intake in a diary from which we can analyse the amount of protein, fat and carbohydrate consumed over 7 days.

Will I have to stay in the Unit?
Most of our studies are conducted in people who are not residential , but some of our studies will require you to stay in the unit. It depends on the type of study being undertaken. You will be advised of this at the outset.

Please Note: Although we are a nutrition research unit we are unable to provide advice on diet to individuals not currently participating in any of the studies. If you are concerned about your diet, please consult your GP.