Scientists exploring why eating fish is good for heart and gut health are looking for volunteers to help them unlock more of its nutritional secrets.
Codenamed FAM-OUS because it compares fish and meat-based diets, the Aberdeen University study hopes to underline the benefit of eating more of our local catch.
And the lucky participants will have a 14-week menu selected for them by the Rowett Institute’s dieticians, with regular monitoring of the relative changes to their health.
The £750,000 project is funded by the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and will delve deeper than previous research in the area.
It is specifically aimed at providing strong scientific backing for the heart health benefits of eating fish, following studies showing an increase in some people’s blood levels of a metabolite - trimethylamine N-oxide, known as TMAO – after eating fish.
The latest project comes shortly after the Rowett published Scottish Government-funded research showing many vital nutrients are “lost” because the UK exports so much of the fish caught by our fleets.
That report concluded fresh efforts are urgently needed to increase the quantity of fish we eat as a country, which falls significantly short of the recommended intake.
Rowett Institute director Jules Griffin, who is one of the lead researchers for the FAMOUS study, said the work would help highlight the value of one of the north east of Scotland’s most celebrated assets – and said he was delighted with some of the dishes set to be served up to volunteers, including a curry and fish cakes.
“This region produces some of the best fish and seafood in the world and yet many of us eat a rather limited range, perhaps just fish and chips on a Friday,” he said.
“We are not just missing out on some great tasting food, but fish is an important source of vitamin D and polyunsaturated fats, protecting us from serious diseases including cardiovascular disease.
“The FAMOUS study sets out to examine the health benefits of a fish-based diet, going further than traditional studies to investigate how fish modifies the microbial community in our guts to promote health.
“Using the Rowett’s world-class Human Intervention Studies unit, we will better define these health benefits to promote the consumption of the great fish and seafood we have in the area.
“I will also see if I’m allowed to share some of the wonderful recipes the team have created for the study – the fish curry is a personal favourite and the fish cakes are excellent too!”
The team is looking for healthy, overweight (BMI 25-29.9) 30–65-year-old meat eaters with elevated blood lipids, sugar, or blood pressure but not on medication or with any history of heart disease or other inflammatory diseases and not on medication for cholesterol or lipaemia or taking any dietary supplements.
Taking part will involve following different diet plans over set periods and having heart health and gut microbiome changes monitored and assessed.
To apply or find out more, please contact Frank Thies (f.thies@abdn.ac.uk) or Morven Cruikshank (morven.cruickshank@abdn.ac.uk) or visit the Rowett website: FAMOUS Study | The Rowett Institute | The University of Aberdeen