The CBQF/LAE Research Seminar “Dairy Lipids as Biomarkers of Health” with Javier Fontecha, from Institute of Food Science Research (CIAL, CSIC), Autonomous University of Madrid, will take place on February 1st, at 2:30 pm, in Arménio Miranda Auditorium, in the Biotechnology Building.
Presentation summary
Polar lipids (PL), widely distributed in all tissues, play an important role in metabolism due to their structural function, as cell signaling molecules, or to generate precursors. Dietary intake of polar lipids is frequently associated with the prevention and amelioration of cardiovascular disease, liver disease, immune responses, and cognitive disorders. Although PL are widely found in foods, milk and dairy products have significant amounts (0.2-1 g PL /100 g fat) and, unlike vegetable lecithins, contain a variety of phospho- and sphingolipids such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol, and sphingomyelin. Our group pioneered the development and evaluation of a milk-fat globule membrane (MFGM)-enriched dietary supplement for the prevention of age-related mild cognitive impairment through preclinical studies in aged rats and adults over 65 years of age. This dietary supplement exhibited high bioavailability as determined by lipidomic analysis and behavioral changes related to emotional memory. The results suggest that the intake of a dietary supplement rich in MFGM, in combination with a balanced diet and physical activity, can be considered a non-pharmacological preventive and therapeutic intervention for mild cognitive impairment in the elderly. However, these studies are a first step for future work where the dosage of intake and its effects on behavior need to be determined.
Short biographical note
Javier Fontecha
PhD in Biochemistry, is a permanent Scientific Researcher at the Institute of Food Science Research (CIAL, CSIC) at the Autonomous University of Madrid. He is currently the head of the Food Lipid Biomarkers and Health Group.
His research focuses on understanding the role of food lipids, especially those with high biological activity such as Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), Omega-3 fatty acids, and phospho- and sphingolipids (from MFGM), in relation to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, improvement of cognitive development of infants, and age-related mild cognitive impairment. In recent years, his group has introduced the concept of “biomarker of health”. Over the last decade, they have initiated pioneering research on MFGM, optimizing protocols to improve the isolation of MFGM-enriched fractions, investigating key components such as characteristic polar lipids and other highly bioactive molecules such as cerebrosides and gangliosides, and developing high-resolution chromatographic procedures for the quantification and identification of these components. He is also conducting in vitro and in vivo dietary interventions in close collaboration with other groups and hospitals. The research impact of his group has garnered attention, leading to the development of several projects and R&D+i contracts and patents.
