Research

Thesis title: Hop compounds as modulator of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and infections

Thesis outline: The aim of the project is to determine if hop compounds such as Xanthohumol and iso-alpha acids at “nutritional” doses, as used in the production of alcohol-free and alcoholic beer, affect the development of NAFLD and if so, to determine molecular mechanisms involved. The number of people worldwide with metabolic diseases is at a high level and is still increasing. That also means that they suffer from severe health impairments, when getting bacterial and viral infections. Compounds that have a positive effect on the immune response, like hop compounds, need to be studied and considered. The aim of my thesis is to investigate to what extent the oral intake of iso-alpha-acids and xanthohumol can influence the bacterial and viral stimulation of blood immune cells and whether the expression as well as the release of pro-inflammatory messenger substances is altered by their intake.

Funding: University Assistant (predoctoral)

Supervisor: Ina Bergheim

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