Anna Bach-Faig, Directora
Professora Agregada
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
a/e: abachf@uoc.edu

Gemma Chiva-Blanch, Co-directora
Professora Agregada
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
a/e: gchivab@uoc.edu

Nadia San Onofre Bernat
Professora Lectora
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
a/e: nsan_onofre@uoc.edu

Sergi Fàbregues Feijóo
Professor Agregat
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
a/e: sfabreguesf@uoc.edu

Patricia Jurado González
Estudiant de Doctorat
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
a/e: pjuradogo@uoc.edu

Patricia Casas Agustench
Professora Agregada
University of Plymouth / Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
a/e: patricia.casas@plymouth.ac.uk; pcasasag@uoc.edu

Georgina Pujol-Busquets Guillén
Investigador postodoctoral
University of the Western Cape; Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
a/e: georgipbg@uoc.edu

Alba Pardo Fernández
Professora Agregada
TecnoCampus Mataró; Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
a/e: apardo@escs.tecnocampus.cat; apardofern@uoc.edu

Marta Ros Baró
Estudiant de Doctorat
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
a/e: mrosba@uoc.edu

Evelyn Milagros Beya Gonzalez
Estudiant de Doctorat
Centre d’atenció primària Eggolsheim; Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
a/e: evebeya@uoc.edu

Emili Ros
Investigador emèrit
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona- IDIBAPS
a/e: EROS@clinic.cat

Bárbara Pilar González Serrano
Estudiant Doctorat
Universidad Europea – Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
a/e: barbarapgs@uoc.edu

Emilio Ortega Martínez de Victoria
Consultor nivell 2- Cap de grup
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona- IDIBAPS
a/e: EORTEGA1@clinic.cat

Amanda Jiménez Pineda
Investigadora- Metge Especialista en Endocrinologia
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona- IDIBAPS
a/e:  AJIMENE1@clinic.cat

Mònica Rodríguez Barniol
Estudiant Doctorat
CAP Joanic – Beca IDIAPS – Jordi Gol; Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
a/e:  mrodriguezbarn@uoc.edu

José María Rodríguez Ramírez
Estudiant Doctorat
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
a/e:  jmrodriguezramirez@uoc.edu

Violeta Moizé Arcone
Investigadora DN
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
a/e: VMOIZE@clinic.cat

Sheila López Ruiz
Tècnic de Laboratori
IDIBAPS
a/e: shlopezr@recerca.clinic.cat

Adriana Pané
Investigadora- Metge Especialista en Endocrinologia
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
a/e: PANE@recerca.clinic.cat

Maria Pilar Giner
Estudiant Doctorat
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
a/e: mginerg@uoc.edu

Tatiana Pina Desfilis
Profesora Agregada
Universitat de València
a/e: tatiana.pina@uv.es

Alba Andreu Martí
Dietista-Nutricionista
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
a/e:  AANDREU@clinic.cat

Clara Viñals
Investigadora- Metge Especialista en Endocrinologia
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
a/e:  VINALS@clinic.cat

Actualització de Membres del Grup: abril 2025

El grup NUTRALiSS és un grup jove compost per professors, investigadors i professionals sanitaris. El nostre objectiu és abordar de manera integral la complexa interrelació entre la nutrició, l’alimentació, la salut i la sostenibilitat. La nostra recerca inclou tots els aspectes de la nutrició, des de la biologia molecular fins a la salut pública.

Ens dediquem a la recerca de biomarcadors per examinar l’impacte de la dieta i els factors d’estil de vida en el risc de malalties cròniques no transmissibles, especialment les cardiovasculars i metabòliques. Realitzem estudis d’intervenció nutricional relacionats amb la Dieta Mediterrània, novel foods sostenibles (com insectes) i aliments ultraprocessats, avaluant el seu impacte en el risc cardiovascular, el metabolisme i la microbiota. El grup té per objectius generals trobar biomarcadors de consum alimentari (àcids grassos) i biomarcadors biològics (tant circulants com genètics) capaços de quantificar el risc de malalties metabòliques com la diabetis tipus 2, millorar el pronòstic de la cirurgia bariàtrica en persones obeses, i predir el risc de malalties cardiovasculars aterogèniques.

A més, desenvolupem i avaluem estratègies de nutrició de precisió per a la promoció de la salut al llarg de la vida, amb un especial èmfasi en la Dieta Mediterrània. Analitzem l’evolució dels patrons alimentaris i la seva relació amb els reptes actuals de salut pública. També avaluem l’impacte dels diferents patrons alimentaris en la salut humana i ambiental, identificant factors clau per a la sostenibilitat dels sistemes alimentaris. Estudiem nous productes alimentaris sostenibles i la seva acceptabilitat pels consumidors, així com la gestió eficient dels aliments per reduir el malbaratament.

El nostre grup és expert en metodologies mixtes per estudiar la relació entre alimentació, nutrició i salut, així com la transformació dels sistemes alimentaris cap a una major sostenibilitat alimentària. Utilitzem aproximacions quantitatives, qualitatives i mixtes per analitzar dades i elaborar informes basats en l’evidència científica, amb l’objectiu de millorar la salut pública i la sostenibilitat alimentària. Dissenyem i avaluem intervencions per a la promoció de la salut i d’hàbits alimentaris saludables i sostenibles en el marc de la nutrició comunitària, aplicant tècniques de codisseny i disseny participatiu. A més, analitzem les polítiques públiques en matèria de nutrició, alimentació i sostenibilitat, influint polítiques basades en l’evidència científica a través de col·laboracions i informes d’impacte.

Ens dediquem a la formació de nous investigadors i investigadores, oferint oportunitats de formació pràctica en projectes de recerca. Tota la investigació del grup està enfocada a millorar la predicció del risc, el monitoratge dels estils de vida i la qualitat de vida, contribuint així a la salut humana i planetària.

Línia de Recerca: Impacte de la dieta en biomarcadors de salut cardiovascular i metabòlica
Investigador principal: Gemma Chiva-Blanch
Co-investigador: Patricia Casas Agustench

Línia de Recerca: Alimentació i Salut pública al llarg de la vida
Investigador principal: Anna Bach-Faig
Co-investigador: Nadia San Onofre Bernat

Línia de Recerca: Efectes cardiometabòlics del consum de novel foods
Investigador principal: Gemma Chiva-Blanch
Co-investigador: Anna Bach-Faig

Línia de Recerca: Efectes de diferents patrons alimentaris (Dieta Mediterrània, dieta baixa en carbohidrats, etc.) en la salut
Investigador principal: Georgina Pujol-Busquets Guillén
Co-investigador: Anna Bach-Faig

Línia de Recerca: Malbaratament alimentari
Investigador principal: Nadia San Onofre
Co-investigador: Tatiana Pina Desfilis

Línia de Recerca: Sostenibilitat dels sistemes alimentaris
Investigador principal: Anna Bach-Faig
Co-investigador: Nadia San Onofre Bernat

Línia de Recerca: Intervencions en nutrició comunitària
Investigador principal: Nadia San Onofre Bernat
Co-investigador: Anna Bach-Faig

Línia de Recerca: Anàlisi de polítiques públiques
Investigador principal: Anna Bach-Faig
Co-investigador: Sergi Fàbregues

Línia de Recerca: Comportaments saludables en Universitaris
Investigador principal: Alba Pardo Fernandez
Co-investigador: Anna Bach-Faig

Línia de Recerca: Acceptabilitat i percepcions alimentàries
Investigador principal: Sergi Fàbregues

Oliver-Pons C, Sala-Vila A, Cofán M, Serra-Mir M, Roth I, Valls-Pedret C, Domènech M, Ortega E, Rajaram S, Sabaté J, Ros E, Chiva-Blanch G.
Effects of walnut consumption for 2 years on older adults’ bone health in the Walnuts and Healthy Aging (WAHA) trial.
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2024 Aug;72(8):2471-2482.
doi: 10.1111/jgs.19007.
PMID: 38818857.

Background: Nutritional strategies to maintain bone health in aging individuals are of great interest. Given the beneficial nutrient composition of walnuts, rich in alpha-linolenic (the vegetable n-3 fatty acid) and polyphenols, their regular consumption might be a dietary option to reduce age-related bone loss. We determined whether daily walnut consumption improves bone mineral density (BMD) and circulating biomarkers of bone turnover. Methods: The Walnuts and Healthy Aging study (WAHA) is a two-center, parallel, randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of a diet enriched with walnuts at ≈15% energy compared with a control diet for 2 years on age-related health outcomes in healthy men and women aged 63-79 years. Changes in BMD were a prespecified secondary outcome only at the Barcelona node of the trial, where 352 participants were randomized. Retention rate was 92.6%. Primary endpoints were 2-year changes in BMD at the spine and the nondominant femoral neck, determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Secondary endpoints were 2-year changes in bone turnover biomarkers (adrenocorticotropic hormone, Dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor-1, osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin, osteopontin, sclerostin, parathyroid hormone, and fibroblast growth factor-23), which were quantified in 211 randomly selected participants. Results: The walnut diet versus the control diet had no effect on 2-year changes in BMD at the spine (0.15% vs. 0.35%, p = 0.632) and femoral neck (-0.90% vs. -0.70%, p = 0.653), or on bone turnover biomarkers. Results were similar in participants treated or not with bone resorption inhibitors or those with or without osteoporosis/osteopenia at inclusion. Conclusions: Compared with the usual diet, a diet enriched with walnuts at 15% of energy for 2 years failed to improve BMD or circulating markers of bone metabolism in healthy older people. Keywords: bone mineral density and turnover biomarkers; nutrition; randomized controlled trial; walnuts.

Bach-Faig A, Wickramasinghe K, Panadero N, Fàbregues S, Rippin H, Halloran A, Fresán U, Pattison M, Breda J.
Consensus-building around the conceptualisation and implementation of sustainable healthy diets: a foundation for policymakers.
BMC Public Health. 2022 Aug 4;22(1):1480.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13756-y.
PMID: 35927688.

Background: Healthy and sustainable diets need to be adopted to reduce the negative impact of food consumption on human and planetary health. Food systems account for a third of greenhouse gas emissions. “Dietary Patterns for Health and Sustainability” is a World Health Organization (WHO) project that aims to build consensus among international food, health, and sustainability experts and policymakers on how to conceptualise healthy and sustainable diets and on the actions and policies that could be implemented in the WHO European Region to promote these diets. Methods: A qualitative study among European food, health, and sustainability experts and policymakers to elicit their views on multiple dimensions of food sustainability and health was carried out using a three-phase process, including semi-structured interviews, a Nominal Group Technique, and focus groups during a participatory WHO workshop held in Copenhagen. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the three data sources. Results: The workshop resulted in a shared understanding of the interconnected components of sustainable healthy eating habits. As a result of this understanding, a variety of potential solutions were identified, including actions across different policy domains, tools, strategic guidelines, needs, and pathways for sustainable healthy diets. The pathways included the need for a multi-stakeholder approach, as well as the simultaneous execution of an aligned and coherent mix of policies at the local and national levels. Conclusions: The prioritised actions should be aimed at helping government policymakers promote sustainable healthy diets and make decisions on improving dietary patterns for citizens’ health and wellbeing in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the European Region. Keywords: Diet; Environment; Food; Food Policy; Planetary Health; Qualitative Research; Sustainability.

González-Campins C, Soler LF, Guasch-Niubó O, San Onofre N, Aguilar Martínez A, Martínez-García A, Manera M, Salvador G, Bach-Faig A.
Nutritional Quality of the Mid-Afternoon Snack of Schooled Children between the Ages of 3 and 12 Years in Three Areas in Spain.
Nutrients. 2024 Jun 19;16(12):1944.
doi: 10.3390/nu16121944.
PMID: 38931302.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the nutritional quality of mid-afternoon snacks for schooled children aged 3 to 12 years in three areas of Catalonia (Spain).Methods: A descriptive observational study collected information on habits and the mid-afternoon snack of 782 schooled children aged 3 to 12 years in three cities, Barcelona, Girona, and Lleida, located in Catalonia (Spain). The children’s families voluntarily agreed to complete an online questionnaire that collected information about demographic data and snacking habits in the afternoon, as well as a record of mid-afternoon snack intake over three school days.Results: A total of 2163 mid-afternoon snacks were analyzed from a sample of 764 families with 3 to 12 year-old children. Sandwiches emerged as the most prevalent choice, accounting for 41.89%, followed by pastries at 23.86%, fruit at 14.38%, and a combination of fruit and pastries at 6.29%. Of the mid-afternoon snacks recorded, 22.19% were healthy, 20.90% were quite healthy, 12.85% were quite unhealthy, and 44.06% were unhealthy.Conclusions: The nutritional quality of mid-afternoon snacks for a large majority of schooled children should be improved. It is essential to develop food education programs to improve the quality of this intake from early childhood and to consider it as an opportunity to adjust the daily dietary requirements of Spanish children. Keywords: dietary adequacy; dietary habits; family caregiver; feeding behavior; healthy diet; snacks.

Pujol-Busquets G, Smith J, Fàbregues S, Bach-Faig A, Larmuth K.
Mixed methods evaluation of a low-carbohydrate high-fat nutrition education program for women from underserved communities in South Africa.
Appetite. 2025 Jan 1;204:107725.
doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107725.
PMID: 39447647.

Abstract: South Africa faces a dual burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and communicable diseases, exacerbated by the high consumption of processed foods. The Eat Better South Africa (EBSA) program implements community-based low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) interventions to address these issues. This study evaluated the impact of EBSA’s 6-week program on the metabolic health and well-being of 32 women from underserved communities. It assessed outcomes before, immediately after, and six months post-intervention (n = 21). Quantitative findings showed significant improvements in key health markers. After six months, participants experienced an average weight loss of 5.6 kg (+- 5.5), a BMI reduction of 2 kg/m2, and a waist circumference decrease of 6.6 cm. Blood pressure dropped by 10.7 mmHg on average, and fasting glucose levels decreased significantly. Reductions were also observed in triglycerides and HbA1c, indicating better glycemic control. Liver function markers (GGT, ALT) and inflammation markers (CRP) improved as well. Qualitative analysis highlighted several key themes: participants were motivated by a desire to improve their health and lose weight but faced challenges such as social pressures, community violence, and scepticism about the diet’s affordability and sustainability. Despite these barriers, positive experiences like increased energy and better hunger control were reported. Participants expressed the need for ongoing support to maintain these changes, both from the program and from their community. These findings suggest that LCHF diets can effectively manage metabolic conditions, but long-term adherence is challenged by socio-economic factors. The study highlights the importance of community-based interventions and highlights the need for further research to develop sustainable health strategies in low-income settings. Keywords: Low-carb; Low-socioeconomic; Metabolic health; Mixed methods; Nutrition education; South Africa; Thematic analysis.

Bujosa F, Herreras Z, Catalán M, Pinyol M, Lamuela-Raventos RM, Martínez-Huélamo M, Gilabert R, Jiménez A, Ortega E, Chiva-Blanch G.
Total carotene plasma concentrations are inversely associated with atherosclerotic plaque burden: A post-hoc analysis of the DIABIMCAP cohort.
Clin Nutr. 2023 Jul;42(7):1168-1174.
doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2023.05.005.
PMID: 37230851.

Background and aims: Atherosclerosis is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the first cause of death worldwide. Chronic low-grade inflammation and a sustained oxidative milieu are causatively related to atherosclerosis onset and progression, and therefore, dietary patterns rich in bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities might likely contribute to revert or slowing the progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to analyse the association between fruit and vegetables intake, quantitatively measured through carotene plasma concentrations, and atherosclerotic burden, as a surrogate biomarker of CVD, in free-living subjects from the DIABIMCAP cohort study. Methods: The 204 participants of the DIABIMCAP Study cohort (Carotid Atherosclerosis in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic Individuals, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01898572), were included in this cross-sectional study. Total, α-, and β-carotenes were quantified by HPLC-MS/MS. Lipoprotein analysis in serum was performed by 2D- 1H NMR- DOSY, and atherosclerosis and intima media thickness (IMT) were measured through standardized bilateral carotid artery ultrasound imaging. Results: Subjects with atherosclerosis (n = 134) had lower levels of large HDL particles than subjects without atherosclerosis. Positive associations were found between α-carotene and both large and medium HDL particles, and inverse associations were found between β- and total carotene, and VLDL and its medium/small particles. Subjects with atherosclerosis presented significantly lower plasma concentrations of total carotene compared with subjects without atherosclerosis. Plasma concentrations of carotene decreased as the number of atherosclerotic plaques increased, although after multivariate adjustment, the inverse association between β- and total carotene with plaque burden remained significant only in women. Conclusions: A diet rich in fruit and vegetables results in higher plasmatic carotene concentrations, which are associated with a lesser atherosclerotic plaque burden. Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Carotenes; Fruit and vegetables; Intima media thickness; Mediterranean diet; Plaque burden.

Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
https://recerca.uoc.edu/grupos/77655/detalle