Nutrition & Metabolism Associated Diseases @KU Leuven

"Neen, uw stoelgang blijft niet blauw": knalblauwe muffin brengt verteringstijd Vlaming in kaart | VRT NWS: nieuws Hoe vlot uw stoelgang? Het antwoord op die hamvraag proberen onderzoekers van de KU Leuven voor eens en altijd te weten te komen. Het middel: een knalblauwe muffin. "Wees gerust, hij is niet radioacti...

#Proud of our students.
Our students managed to make publicity for one of our ongoing research studies on the #national radio (@VRT - Radio 2 - Vlaams Brabant)
www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20...

De nutteloze proteïnehype: “Iemand die drie keer per week gaat joggen, heeft geen nood aan extra eiwitten” Het aantal proteïneproducten in de supermarkt blijft uitbreiden. Consumentenbonden spreken van een nutteloze hype: “De gemiddelde Belg heeft geen nood aan extra eiwitten.”

#Protein intake higher or lower and what about all the #marketing behind it?
How do you explain these publications to the public?
Our team did an effort in the national newspaper (#NieuwsBlad_BE): www.nieuwsblad.be/binnenland/d...

“Als je die stof eet, ga je niet per definitie kanker krijgen”: bewaarmiddelen in voeding verhogen risico op kanker en diabetes, maar moeten we ze nu vermijden? Nitrieten, nitraten, sorbaten en sulfieten: het zijn bewaarmiddelen die je weleens binnenkrijgt via voeding. En ze vergroten blijkbaar ook je risico op kanker en diabetes type 2, volgens een grootscha...

#FoodAdditives & #diabetes & #cancer. Recent publications in @bmj.com and @natureportfolio.nature.com link the food components with specific diseases.
How do you explain these publications to the public?
Our team did an effort in the national newspaper (#HLN_BE): www.hln.be/gezondheid/a...

Can the 13C-octanoic acid breath test accurately measure gastric emptying after sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass? A proof-of concept analysis Bariatric surgery alters gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology, complicating functional assessments such as gastric emptying. The 13C-octanoic acid …

New #pub from our team
To optimise the dietary pattern of people who underwent metabolic bariatric surgery, our proof-of-concept study shows that 13C-octanoic acid breath test has potential as a valid, non-invasive method for assessing gastric emptying.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Iedereen aan de extra proteïne? “Iemand die drie keer per week gaat joggen, heeft geen nood aan extra eiwitten” Het aantal proteïneproducten in de supermarkt blijft uitbreiden. Consumentenbonden spreken van een nutteloze hype: “De gemiddelde Belg heeft geen nood aan extra eiwitten.”

Do we need more #protein? Or is it more a marketing"thing"?
Our team provide some thoughts in a Belgian Newspaper (#destandaard)
www.standaard.be/binnenland/i...

Bestel pils in plaats van trappist, en vier andere haalbare voornemens voor 2026 Een goed voornemen hoeft geen pijn te doen. Met kleine veranderingen in het dagelijkse leven kunnen we grote winst boeken voor onze gezondheid en het milieu. “Met quick wins die je volhoudt, kom je al een heel eind ver.”

Newyear resolutions. Our team provides some advice as well in different Belgian newspapers/
standaard.be/inspiratie/h...
#DeStandaard, #HetNieuwsblad

Invitation for "Meet the Jury"-seminar
Muscle Health in Obesity: Diagnosis, Nutrition, and Clinical Consequences
#PhD #GabrielEksteen.
Date & Time: 22 Jan 2026, 15:00–16:30
Location: Aula ON5, Gasthuisberg Campus, Leuven, Belgium (in-person)
Speakers:
Prof. Violeta Moizé & Prof. Christelle Guillet

Our #GITTPop study is recruiting!
We are seeking for 1,000 participants to help us understand gastrointestinal transit time (GITT).
Eat a blue muffin, report your blue stool and get info about your GITT, body composition, glucose & lipids.
tinyurl.com/54uhbexn

Harnessing traditional knowledge and experiences on food consumption in Uganda: a mixed-methods study exploring indigenous fruits and vegetables with potential cardiometabolic benefits Introduction Mitigating the ongoing nutrition transition and associated risks in sub-Saharan Africa may require cost-effective and community-based approaches. Thanks to their wealth of bioactive const...

To increase the consumption of indigenuous fruit and vegetables ( #IFV) in #Uganda, #TonnyKiyimba applied a mixed-method study to identify #IFV with i) high cardio-metabolic potential ( #Polyphenol content) and ii) a longlasting cultural embedded history.
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...

Action of our #clinical & #research team. #SnackMasters is a combi of:
- #Snackkar at the ward
- kitchen facilities for parents to prepare meals
- #themedays to learn on how to prepare tasteful meals
- Development of #PersonalisedNutrition (in line with www.bjmo.be/journal-arti...).

UZ Leuven lanceert snackkar voor kinderen met kanker: "Kinderen weer plezier geven tijdens het eten"  | VRT NWS: nieuws UZ Leuven start met een nieuw voedingsproject om kinderen met kanker meer keuzevrijheid en plezier te geven tijdens het eten. Het ziekenhuis lanceert een kleurrijke snackkar waar de kinderen dagelijks...

Our #UZLeuven team in the Belgian media about our #SnackMasters project.
#SnackMasters focus on the importance of nutrition during cancer treatment for children.
#SnackMasters is a nice example of #collab between our #UZLeuven & #KU_Leuven team.
www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20...

Did you register for #YONAS (www.yonas.be) already?
Not? Oh I know why, you miss a published scientific protocol.
Well here it is: doi.org/10.1186/s129...
I hope that we convince you that we use a real scientific approach.
#Thx #KULeuven for funding.

Use and User Experience of a Preconception Lifestyle App for Couples Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization: Mixed Methods Study Background: Mobile apps are a promising way to improve healthy lifestyle behavior among people with infertility. However, sufficient engagement with mobile health apps is crucial to influence health o...

New work form our team with a focus on #mHealth.

As #TessyBoedt wrote: This paper highlights that for mobile health interventions to make a true impact, we must move beyond “does it work?” to also ask “will people use it and why (or why not)?”

humanfactors.jmir.org/2025/1/e65815

REMEMBER #YONAS (www.yonas.be)?
Data collection is on the go.
#YONAS study is waiting for you
Register at info@yonas.be

From Suboptimal to Supersaturation: Selenium Status After Bariatric Surgery Is Modulated by Supplementation Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS) is a proven treatment for obesity but increases risk of nutrient deficiencies. Guidelines recommend vitamin and …

Relevancy of #selenium after #BariatricSurgery? #Selenium is linked with #SarcopeniaWe looked at the effect of supplementation. A surprising result, namely potential risk of oversupplementation.
Funding: @AGePOP_H2020
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Another study? #yes
For our validation study of a new #dietaryassessment method.
Why would you participate?
You will gain insights in your dietary pattern, glucose profile, and feedback from our experts.
Interested? yonas.be

We are looking for people with #lymphoedema. Interesed to participate in our #study? Have a look and contact us👇 (funded by @fwovlaanderen.bsky.social, #collab between
@kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social, @uzleuven.bsky.social & @universiteitgent.bsky.social)

Outcome of a FODMAP restriction diet with subsequent blinded reintroduction in functional dyspepsia/postprandial distress syndrome Background Recent studies have shown increased duodenal mucosal permeability as a possible key player in the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia (FD). Adverse reaction to nutrients is an important...

#FODMAP usefull for everybody?
My colleagues of #TARGID_KULEUVEN continued their work on the use of #FODMAP related dietary interventions by using #FODMAP powders to challenge patients with functional dyspepsia/postprandial distress syndrome
Interested? gut.bmj.com/content/earl...

Solving the lack of #micronutrients & #protein by introducing #HouseCrickets (Acheta domesticus) is a potential solution but what is the effect on the physico-chemical & sensory characteristics?
#TomBbosa affiliated to our group provides an answer.
www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14...

#foodemulsifiers added to #muffins was the way forward to explore the effect of #foodadditives on #guthealth

Colleagues #JudithWellens & #JoaoPGSabino took the lead in this very interesting research.

Interested? Have a look
cghjournal.org/article/S154...
Funding: #FWOVlaanderen

#foodliteracy in practice.
Belgium knows low #fruit & #vegetable intake (@sciensano.be report)

Therefore our #clinical team developed workshops on #HealthyLunch for the @uzleuven.bsky.social staff.
Workshop combi of #knowledge #skills #selfefficacy #traditions

Sarcopenia, Muscle Mass and Protein Intake in Adults Older Than 65 Years After Earlier Bariatric Surgery Background Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a proven treatment for obesity. Yet weight loss is accompanied by loss of muscle which may predispose to sarcopenia. The prevalence of low muscle ...

Older adults with previous MBS were not more likely to develop sarcopenia than older adults following non-surgical treatment.
Work of #GabriëlEksteen - #proud

#Thanks Consortium: #AGePOP_H2020
#Thanks Funding: #Horizon_2020 #MSCActions
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

#Scholarship opportunity #MountainsOfTheMoonUniversity via our #VLIRUOS funded project #Bijuma
Please distribute.

Factcheck: vis kan mogelijk een rol spelen in de sociale ontwikkeling ‘Kinderen die regelmatig vis eten, zouden mogelijk socialer en vriendelijker kunnen zijn dan hun leeftijdsgenoten’

Is there a role for fish in the development of social behaviour? Our team explains the potential role in @knack.be #Factchecker
www.knack.be/factcheck/fa...

Weight loss trends are all over social media, but do they actually work? Let’s break down the most viral “tips” to find out. #weightloss #tiktok TikTok video by Euronews

@euronews.com invited us to give an explanation about #oatzempic in the context of #weightloss.
A new experience for our team as the interview was for @euronews.com #tiktokchannel
www.tiktok.com/@euronews.tv...

#NewPub about the use of house crickets to fortify maize and millet flower. Another way of using indigenous foods to diversity the African diet (@Healthy4A)/
Work of #TomBbosa (funded by #VLIRUOS).
Study is published in #AppliedFoodResearch
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

‘Dietitian Week’, the central theme is ‘evidence-based working’.
Evidence-based in a society that is overwhelmed by information. How to provide advice?
We, with the communication team of @uzleuven.bsky.social, teamed up with @eufic.bsky.social to create a leaflet.

Zeven op de tien volwassenen hebben straks overgewicht: “Veel mensen weten niet meer wat gezond eten is” Tegen 2050 zal 70 procent van de volwassen Belgen overgewicht of obesitas hebben. “Voedingsdriehoeken en nutriscores zijn niet genoeg om ons eetgedrag te veranderen”, zegt voedingsdeskundige Christophe Matthys.

This week #WorldObesityDay2025 took place, in the context of the alarming figures of increasing prevalence, our team was invited (@DeStandaard) to give some background about potential reasons.
www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20250...

#600years @kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social

What an intensive weekend but so fantastic weekend, we had the opportunity to welcome > 1000 people to our #healthpass.

Our #LeadingLady @maaikedekreek.bsky.social took care of us and the many volunteers A BIG THANK YOU to all #volunteers.

Today preparing for #600year
@kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social festivities.
Our team contributes a lot to the #HealthPass. Our leading lady #MaaikeDeKreek takes care of almost everything. #Thx Maaike but as well to all other team members (and students).