PhD student profile, Valeria Deon

PhD Student: Valeria Deon

Tutor: Prof. Patrizia Riso, Prof. Marisa Porrini – DeFENS (Division of Human Nutrition)

Dean: Prof. Francesco Bonomi, DeFENS

Research area: Food Science and Nutrition

PhD title achieved on: 4^th April 2017

 

Research topic

 

 

Project Synopsis

Project title: Role of bioactive-rich diet on the modulation of risk factors for chronic-degenerative diseases: in-vivo and ex-vivo approaches

A personalised nutritional intervention is considered one of the most important strategy to prevent the onset of chronic degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases. My research aims to investigate, thorough both in-vivo and ex-vivo approaches, the effect of specific foods and/or food bioactives on risk factors for chronic degenerative diseases in at-risk groups of population.

The first part of the project focused on the development of dietary intervention studies in children with primary hyperlipidemia. In particular, we examined whether regular intake of hazelnuts or alpha-linolenic acid supplements could be effective in the management of cardiovascular related biomarkers (i.e. lipid profile and oxidative stress markers), over the 8-week intervention period.

Moreover, considering that chronic diseases are often associated to a compromised innate immune response, the objective of the second part of the research was devoted to evaluate the potential immunomodulatory properties of polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin D on ex-vivo immune cells.

 

Project keywords

food bioactives, human nutrition, chronic-degenerative diseases, hyperlipidemia

 

Contacts

Valeria Deon

Università degli Studi di Milano

Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS)

Division of Human Nutrition

Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy

Phone: +39 02 50316728; Fax: +39 02 50316721

E-mail: valeria.deon@unimi.it

 

Collaborations

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Watzl, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry of Nutrition, Max Rubner-Institut, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Prof. MD Ornella Guardamagna, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Italy.

 

Sponsor

Fellowship sponsor: Università degli Studi di Milano

 

Scientific Publications

Deon V, Del Bo’ C, Guaraldi F, Gargari G, Bosusco A, Simonetti P, Riso P, Guardamagna G (2016). Characterization of fatty acids composition of erythrocytes membrane, omega-3 index and serum lipid profile of children and adolescent with primary dyslipidemia. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. DOI: 10.1080/09637486.2016.1236076.

Del Bo’ C, Deon V, Porrini M, Campolo J, Parolini M, Riso P (2016). Intra and inter-day repeatability of peripheral arterial tonometry for the assessment of endothelial function in dietary intervention studies. Microcirculation. DOI: 10.1111/micc.12300.

Deon V, Del Bo’ C, Guaraldi F, Gargari G, Abello F, Belviso S, Porrini M, Riso P, Guardamagna G (2016). Hazelnut intake improves serum lipid profile and fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes in children and adolescents with primary hyperlipidemia: a randomized controlled trial. Submitted.

 

Scientific communication to congress

Deon V, Del Bo’ C, Lanti C, Porrini M, Campolo J, Klimis-Zacas D and Riso P (2014). A single portion of blueberries can affect peripheral arterial tone in young smokers with endothelial dysfunction: preliminary observations and perspectives. 35^th National Congress SINU (Italian Society of Human Nutrition), Rome, Italy, 20-21 October, 2014. ISBN 978-88-97843-14-6. Award for the best scientific oral presentation.

Deon V, Cagliero P, Del Bo’ C, Vendrame S, Porrini M, Riso P and Guardamagna O (2015). Role of a hazelnut intervention on markers of oxidative stress and lipid profile in children with primary dyslipidemia: preliminary observations. 13^th National Congress SIPREC (Italian Society for Cardiovascular Prevention), Naples, Italy, 12-14 March, 2015. Poster presentation.

Del Bo’ C, Deon V, Cagliero P, Vendrame S, Porrini M, Guardamagna O and Riso P (2015). Role of hazelnut consumption on DNA damage and lipid-related markers in children with primary dyslipidemia. Front. Genet. Conference Abstract: ICAW 2015 – 11th International Comet Assay Workshop. doi: 10.3389/conf.fgene.2015.01.00004. Oral presentation.

Del Bo’ C, Deon V, Lanti C, Porrini M, Campolo J, Klimis-Zacas D and Riso P. Effect of a single portion of blueberries on markers of vascular function and oxidative stress in young smokers: a randomized-controlled trial. 4^th International Conference on Foodomics, Cesena, Italy, 8-9 October, 2015. Poster presentation.

Deon V, Del Bo’ C, Cagliero P, Vendrame S, Porrini M, Guardamagna O and Riso P (2015). Effect of 8-week hazelnuts consumption on lipid profile, fatty acid composition of erythrocytes membrane and levels of DNA damage in children with primary dyslipidemia. 4th International Conference on Foodomics, Cesena, Italy, 8-9 October, 2015. ISBN 978-88-902152-7-8. Poster presentation.

Deon V, Del Bo’ C, Cagliero P, Vendrame S, Porrini M, Guardamagna O and Riso P (2015). Can hazelnut intake modulate oxidative stress and lipid-related markers in children with primary dyslipidemia? 12th European Nutrition Conference (FENS), Berlin, Germany, October 20-23, 2015: Abstracts Ann Nutr Metab 2015;67(1):1–601. DOI:10.1159/000440895. Poster presentation.

Del Bo’ C, Deon V, Porrini M, Campolo J and Riso P (2015). Repeatability of arterial function by EndoPAT2000: a potential tool for studying vasoreactivity of bioactive-rich foods. 12th European Nutrition Conference (FENS), Berlin, Germany, October 20-23, 2015: Abstracts Ann Nutr Metab 2015;67(1):1–601. DOI:10.1159/000440895. Poster presentation.

Deon V, Del Bo’ C, Cagliero P, Vendrame S, Porrini M, Riso P and Guardamagna O (2015). Effect of hazelnut consumption on lipid profile, fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes and oxidative stress markers in children with primary dyslipidemia. 29^th National Congress SISA (Italian Atherosclerosis Society), Bologna, Italy, 22-24 November, 2015. Giornale Italiano dell’Arteriosclerosi 2015;6(4):66-120. Poster presentation.

Deon V, Del Bo’ C, Cagliero P, Vendrame S, Porrini M, Guardamagna O and Riso P (2015). Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) consumption improves lipid profile and markers of oxidative stress in children with primary dyslipidemia. 36^th National Congress SINU (Italian Society of Human Nutrition), Florence, Italy, 2-4 December, 2015. ISBN 978-88-9743-26-9. Poster presentation.

Del Bo’ C, Deon V, Lanti C, Porrini M, Campolo J, Klimis-Zacas D and Riso P (2015). Effect of a single portion of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) on markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in young smokers. 36^th National Congress SINU (Italian Society of Human Nutrition), Florence, Italy, 2-4 December, 2015. ISBN 978-88-9743-26-9. Poster presentation.

Deon V, Del Bo’ C, Cagliero P, Vendrame S, Porrini M, Riso P and Guardamagna O (2016). Hazelnut-enriched diet improves lipid profile, fatty acid composition of erythrocytes membrane and markers of oxidative stress in children with primary dyslipidemia: a randomized control trial. 84^th EAS (European Atherosclerosis Society) Congress, Innsbruck, Austria, 29 May-1 June 2016. Poster Presentation.

Deon V. Effect of bioactive-rich diet on risk factors for chronic-degerative diseases in “at risk” groups of population. 21th Workshop on the Developments in the Italian PhD Research on Food Science Technology and Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, 14-16th September 2016. Oral presentation.

Deon V, Del Bo’ C, Guaraldi F, Bosusco A, Simonetti P, Porrini M, Guardamagna O and Riso P (2016). Effect of alpha-linolenic acid supplementation on serum lipid profile and fatty acid composition of erythrocyte phospholipids in children and adolescents with primary hyperlipidemia: preliminary observations. 37^th National Congress SINU (Italian Society of Human Nutrition), Bologna, Italy, 30 Novembre-2 December, 2016. Poster presentation.

 

Others

Education

2013. Title of Professional Biologist. University of Milan, Italy.

2011-2013. MSc in Biology Applied to Nutritional Sciences. University of Milan, Italy. Final grade: 110/110 cum laude.

2012. Exchange student in Nutrition and Dietetics. University of Surrey, Guildford (UK).

2007-2011. BSc in Biological Sciences. University of Milan, Italy.

 

Research activity abroad

May – October 2015. Max Rubner-Institut, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry of Nutrition, Karlsruhe, Germany. Project: “Investigation of the potential immunomodulatory effects of LC-PUFA and Vitamin D3 on innate immune responses”, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Bernhard Watzl.

 

Awards

October 2014. Young Researchers Award for the best scientific paper presented at the National Meeting of Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU), Rome, Italy, 20-21 October 2014.

May 2016. Young Investigator Fellowship. European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Congress, Innsbruck, Austria, 29 May-1 June 2016.

 

Training courses

October 2016. Workshop on “Risk Assessment and Communication in Food Safety and Nutrition”. Department of Food Science, University of Parma, Italy.

September 2016. XXI workshop on “Developments in the Italian PhD Research on Food Science, Technology and Biotechnology”. University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Italy.

July 2016. NuGO course in “Personalised Nutrition: from scientific discovery to Interventions”. Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

June 2016. SINU workshop on “La fibra alimentare e l’energia della dieta”. University of Milan, Italy.

April 2016. Course in “Statistics for Nutrition Research”. The Nutrition Society, University of Westminster, London, UK.

November 2014. Workshop on “Writing to communicate science: a practical workshop”. Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.

November 2014. Course in “Strumenti di sorveglianza nutrizionale: luci e ombre”. University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

April 2014. EXPO School of Agriculture and Nutrition. EXPO Milano 2015 & Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, Milan, Italy.

October 2012. International Forum on Food and Nutrition. Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition. Bocconi University, Milan, Italy.

October 2012. European Innovation and Science Research Forum, Trieste, Italy.

 

Membership

Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU)

European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS)

Italian Atherosclerosis Society (SISA)

Italian Society for Cardiovascular Prevention (SIPREC)