Project details
Cardiometabolic diseases are a major global public health burden, with diet recognised as a key modulator of risk. Cardiometabolic disease risk factors, including obesity, elevated blood cholesterol levels, hypertension, and vascular dysfunction, are also a major determinant of age-related cognitive decline and dementia risk. Bioactive dairy components have the potential to influence cardiometabolic disease and dementia risk.

Cow’s milk contains unique, bioactive components called ‘complex milk lipids’ (i.e., milk phospholipids and sphingolipids) which can be substantially reduced by food processing techniques. Emerging human studies have reported a beneficial role of complex milk lipids in the regulation of blood cholesterol levels, including LDL-cholesterol concentrations. The potential impact of milk lipid supplementation on novel risk markers related to cardiometabolic health and cognitive function represents an important knowledge gap.

Our PhD project therefore aims to enhance understanding of the cardiometabolic and cognitive health benefits of milk lipid bioactives in middle-to-older-aged adult populations at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. The project will include a series of randomised controlled dietary intervention trials, with cardiometabolic and cognitive biomarkers. The successful applicant will be trained to carry out randomised controlled trials with blood collection and non-invasive vascular function techniques and will gain experience in dietary and accelerometer-based activity assessment. The project will be based within the East Midland’s National Centre of Sport and Exercise Medicine on the Loughborough University campus.

Recommended reading:

Bruno RS, et al. Cardiometabolic health benefits of dairy-milk polar lipids. Nutr Rev. 2021;79(S2):16-35. doi: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34879146/
Schverer M, et al. Dietary phospholipids: Role in cognitive processes across the lifespan. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020;111:183-193. doi: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31945391/

You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it