Research

Thesis title: "Association between serum erythritol, cardiometabolic risk factors, dietary habits and physical activity of young adults"

Thesis outline: Lean's research focuses on the association between serum erythritol, cardiometabolic risk factors, dietary habits and physical activity of young adults and is based on 3 empirical studies for investigations.

Erythritol as a metabolite is currently discussed as a possible predictor for cardiometabolic diseases, it is hypothesized that serum erythritol levels are affected by glucose metabolism during and after exercise, based on the fact that both, physical activity and glucose intake trigger the pentose-phosphate pathway which is directly linked to the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate into metabolites of glycolysis like erythritol.

Due to this background and hypotheses, Study I will examine the possible correlations between serum-erythritol-levels, lifestyle habits and common cardiometabolic risk factors as a cross-sectional study in collaboration with the federal ministry of defense and sport; Study II will focus on the impact of a controlled acute physical exercise and erythritol intake on glycolysis metabolites as a randomized controlled cross-over study; and Study III will focus on the effects of a controlled long-term exercise program during Austrian basic military training on blood erythritol levels and known risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases as a prospective cohort study.

Supervisors: Barbara Wessner, Karl-Heinz Wagner

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