UCC research: Researchers at UCC are seeking 60 overweight men and women between the ages of 20 and 40 years to follow a special seafood diet.
The study will start in January, and the diets will be designed so that participants lose 1-2lbs per week over eight weeks, which will be beneficial to their health.
Reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol levels may also be expected. Seafood fans will love these diets, which will include plenty of fruit and vegetables plus meat or fish (cod or salmon).
For people on the fish arm of the study, UCC will supply the cod or salmon to participants and all of the diets will be tailored to suit each volunteer.
The expert team of nutritionists working on the study will provide plenty of support to volunteers throughout the eight weeks.
On the background to the study, Dr Máiréad Kiely said: "There is some evidence that seafood consumption may play a significant role in weight management, and may help in the prevention of obesity among young adults.
"There is also evidence to suggest that regular seafood consumption may reduce the risk of conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis, as well as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and, more recently, osteoporosis."
Researchers led by Dr Kiely at the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, UCC, in collaboration with scientists from Iceland, Spain and Portugal, are carrying out the study to look at the role of fish in assisting with weight loss as part of a calorie-controlled diet.
The YOUNG study is part of the Integrated Project SEAFOODplus - see www.seafoodplus.org - which is the largest research project into the provision of health-promoting, safe seafood to consumers ever sponsored by the EU, as part of the 6th Framework Programme.
Researchers in nutrition at UCC are also investigating links between food and health. They are currently in the process of analysing data from the National Children's Food Survey in five to 12-year-olds, and several projects on the role of nutrition in the prevention of osteoporosis are in progress.
If you are interested in finding out more about the YOUNG study, or in participating, contact Dr Máiréad Kiely at (021) 4903394, Alice Lucey at (021) 4902310 or Dr George Paschos at (021) 4901314 or e-mail: a.lucey@ucc.ie