Liggins Institute
Clinical endocrinology
We are investigating how nutrition in early life alters the risk of children and young people developing obesity, diabetes, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and how these effects are mediated by hormones.
Our research falls into three broad areas, each focused on particular periods during the lifespan.
Conception through to adolescence
We want to know how altered nutrition at discrete stages during this time impacts on adult health and what are the mechanisms that mediate these effects. This knowledge will give us the ability to manipulate nutrition (for example, the balance of micronutrients) to improve the health of at-risk individuals and reduce their chances of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and stroke in later life.
We are investigating the long term effects of the early life nutritional environments experienced by children who were
- conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF)
- conceived through ovulation induction
- born small for gestational age (SGA)
- born preterm
- twins
- born post-term
- born to older mothers
Our studies aim to discover the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms that drive these changes so we can develop targeted interventions to prevent or minimise any adverse effects on their health in later life. In addition we are examining some of these effects in animal models.
Adolescence
We are conducting studies on the assessment of cardiovascular function in adolescents with obesity and diabetes mellitus and interventions to prevent and reduce obesity.
Adulthood
We are designing robust trials to examine the impact of micronutrients on metabolism, body composition and cardiovascular status in adults. In addition we are investigating the mechanisms through which these micronutrients affect metabolism.
Top
Associates within the Liggins Institute
Dr Mark Vickers
Prof Peter Gluckman
Prof Michael Heymann
Dr Steve Hodgkinson
Associates at other organisations
Dr John Peek and Dr Richard Fisher, Fertility Associates, Auckland
Professor Chong Yap Seng, National University of Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Clinical Science
Epigenetic regulation of key metabolic genes in preterm babies
We have shown that children born preterm have an abnormality in the way the hormone insulin regulates glucose metabolism. This condition, known as insulin resistance is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The incidence of preterm birth is increasing rapidly and its association with chronic adult conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases poses a significant public health concern world wide.
In the early neonatal period preterm babies experience a nutritional environment that is different from that of babies born at term. This may make them more vulnerable to metabolic changes which lead to diabetes and related adult diseases. We want to see if we can prevent this occurring by manipulating their early nutrition. We are collaborating with Professor Chong Yap Seng at the National University of Singapore in a study that will follow preterm and term infants over the first six months of their lives. We shall measure the activity of genes that control the action of insulin and the deposition of body fat to determine whether there are differences between the two groups of children.
Altered conception and in vitro fertilisation (IVF)
We have found that IVF offspring are different from normally conceived children. IVF children are taller, slimmer and have a healthier blood fat profile. We are investigating factors related to altered conception and older maternal age which may affect the development and long term health of children through a range of clinical studies that include:
- pharmacologic induction of ovulation
- the impact of older maternal age
- the impact of early embryo development on long term growth and metabolism
- how a mother’s diet affects the success of her becoming pregnant through IVF
- epigenetic changes in genes that regulate growth and metabolism in IVF offspring.
Diabetes and obesity
We are investigating ways to improve the health of children and teenagers who are at risk of obesity and diabetes. Our studies aim to determine
- the effects of micronutrients (dietary fibre and anti-oxidants) on the development of insulin resistance in at-risk teenagers and middle aged adults
- the effect of exercise on heart function and the success of exercise as a means of improving heart function in diabetic and obese teenagers
- the value of exercise during pregnancy as a means of reducing obesity and improving metabolism and cardiovascular function in mothers and infants.
Traumatic brain injury
We are assessing changes in the production of pituitary hormones that regulate growth, puberty, water balance and response to stress following head injury during infancy.
