Antioxidants

Mission

The Antioxidants Research Laboratory conducts basic and clinical studies on the biochemical basis for the role of antioxidant nutrients and their dietary requirements in health promotion and disease prevention during the aging process via their modulation of oxidative stress status and inflammation.

Lab Objectives

1. Identify and quantify the phytochemical content of: blueberries, cranberries, and grapes; almonds, pistachios, and walnuts; cocoa-based foods; and whole grains and contribute to future updates of the USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods.

2. Determine the bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and bioactivity of flavonoids and other phytochemicals from antioxidant-rich foods using in vitro experiments, animal models, and human studies.

3. Investigate the effect of age on quercetin bioavailability and metabolism due to changes in phase II enzyme activity.

4. Test whether exposure of rat dams to a ?Western? diet during pregnancy and lactation will increase obese phenotypes in their pups and whether dietary flavonoids, particularly isoflavones, will decrease the obese phenotype.

Staff

Jeffrey B. Blumberg, Ph.D., Laboratory Director
Senior Scientist and Professor, Nutrition Science and Policy
Research focus: food content, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics of polyphenols and their impact on biomarkers of chronic disease risk

Chung-Yen (Oliver) Chen, Ph.D.
Scientist III
Research focus: molecular mechanisms of antioxidant action; effect of flavonoids on fetal origins of adult disease; polyphenol metabolism in the microbiome

Diane McKay, Ph.D.
Scientist III and Assistant Professor, Nutrition Science and Policy
Research focus: human studies of antioxidant-rich foods and beverages on metabolic and clinical outcomes

Naoto Hashimoto, PhD
Visiting Scientist, NARO Kyushu Okinawa Agricultural Research Center
Research focus: phase 2 biotransformation of flavonoids

Alison Kamil, M.S.
Graduate Student
Research focus: bioavailability/pharmacokinetics of nanoparticulate phytochemicals

Kenneth Racicot, M.S.
Graduate Student
Research focus: bioavailability/pharmacokinetics of nanoparticulate phytochemicals

Carly Zampariello, MS, Senior Research Assistant

Kendra French, BS , Research Technician

Jo Obelsky, Administrative Assistant

For contact information, please click on the scientist's webpage or visit the Tufts University online directory at http://whitepages.tufts.edu/.

Learn More

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Volunteer for a current research study:
Cranberry Phytochemical Research Study
The purpose of this study is to investigate how well the phytochemicals present in a cranberry beverage are absorbed into your body, and whether they can lower certain risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Participants will be asked to consume one 15.2 ounce bottle of a beverage (cranberry beverage or placebo beverage with no cranberry) daily for 8 weeks, and have blood and urine samples collected.