Profile

Dr Nicola Lowe

Reader in Nutritional Science

School of Sport, Tourism and The Outdoors

Darwin Building, Room 106

+44 (0) 1772 893599

NMLowe@uclan.ac.uk

Dr Nicola Lowe is a Reader in Nutritional Science and Co-Director of the International Institute of Nutritional Sciences and Food Safety Studies. Her research interests include micronutrient requirements, with a particular interest in Zinc requirements and metabolism. She is also leading research activities  addressing  issues around malnutrition in North West Pakistan.

Dr Nicola Lowe is a Reader in Nutritional Science and Co-Director of the International Institute of Nutritional Science and Food Safety Studies at the University of Central Lancashire.

After graduating from the University of Liverpool with a PhD in trace mineral metabolism, Nicola spent 4 years as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of California, Berkeley where she conducted research examining the homeostatic response to dietary zinc depletion.

Nicola's primary research interest is trace mineral metabolism. She is currently leading a review of dietary zinc requirements within the European Commission funded “Eurreca” Network of Excellence. This network is designed to harmonise the approach to setting European micronutrient recommendations (including iron, zinc, folate and Vitamin B12).

Nicola is also the Research Director and a trustee for the Abaseen Foundation. This Lancashire based charity is working alongside community members in Nahaqi, a rural village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formally North West Frontier Province), to improve education and health care provision.

In 2010, Nicola and her research team won The Times Higher Education’s International Collaboration of the Year Award for their work to improve the nutrition and health status of communities in Pakistan and around the area of Blackburn, UK.

Qualifications

Post graduate certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, University of Central Lancashire, 2005

PhD. Nutritional Biochemistry. Liverpool University, 1991

BSc. Biochemistry and Applied Zoology. University College of North Wales, Bangor, 1987

Membership of Professional and Learned Bodies

Member of The Nutrition Society (since 1988)

Registered Nutritionist as approved by the Nutrition Society  (since 2001)

Member of the Zinc-UK group (since 2009) http://zinc-uk.org/

Teaching

Nicola is Research Degrees Tutor for the Division, and contributes to undergraduate teaching on the following Programmes:

Exercise Nutrition and Health BSc (Hons)

Human Nutrition BSc (Hons)

Personal Fitness Training BSc (Hons)

Sport Science BSc (Hons) 

Research

Current Research

1) Micronutrient requirements

Current projects in this theme:

i) EURRECA.  Network of Excellence. April 2007 – 2012. Funded under the European Commission Framework 6.

Harmonising nutrient recommendations across Europe with special focus on vulnerable groups and consumer understanding.

The network´s objectives are:

• Standardised definitions, methodologies and markers to assess intake, status and requirements with particular attention to all the vulnerable population groups in the Call.

• Quality frameworks for all the above, and a system for their regular review.

• EU-wide data on micronutrient status to identify micronutrients of concern in vulnerable population groups.

• Nutrient recommendations harmonised across Europe.

• The inclusion of a consumer perspective at all stages to influence and ensure the development of relevant and useful nutrient recommendations.

• Effective two-way communication, knowledge and technology transfer, and training involving all stakeholders including consumers, researchers, health professionals, teachers, consumer organisations, media, SMEs and industry. This primary activity will be a foundation for a sustained European Nutrition Network.

• Innovation from SMEs in diverse fields such as computer software and laboratory assays.

ii) Evaluation of macro and micronutrient intake and nutritional status of children in low socio-economic communities Pakistan and Peru, with reference to zinc and cognitive function.

Chronic malnutrition is of crisis proportions among children in Peru. Suboptimal zinc status in this population is associated with inadequate consumption of calories and by deficient consumption of high quality foods of animal origin (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy product) that are important sources of micronutrients, including iron, zinc, and  vitamin B12 . Zinc is highly important in the normal growth and development of children as it plays a key role in cellular integrity and numerous biological functions. There is a paucity of data regarding the relationship between zinc and cognitive function in humans. Animal trials have shown a positive effect of zinc supplementation on functions such as learning, knowledge retention, attention, play and functional activity. The limited evidence from human studies, linking zinc deficiency to children’s cognitive and motor functioning suggests a relationship among the most vulnerable children but lacks a clear consensus, highlighting the need for additional research .

The purpose of this study is  to conduct an assessment of the cognitive function in these children to see if the supplements given during pregnancy have had an impact on their growth, motor and cognitive skills.

The outcome of this research will contribute to the much needed information regarding nutrition and cognitive function, with particular reference to zinc.

iii) The relationship between Vitamin D status and immune function.

Due to the presence of vitamin D receptors on all activated cells of the immune system vitamin D is now recognised as an important modulator of the immune function.  The aim of this research is to examine vitamin D status and its relationship with immune function in South Asian and Caucasian men and women.

iiii) Health inequalities among South Asian women: nutrition and pregnancy outcome. 

This is a specific piece of research within the already established “Born in Bradford” project that was launched in 2005. Bradford is the fifth largest metropolitan district in the UK. 20% of the population of 500,000 people are of South Asian origin – from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh - and this will rise to 28% by 2011. Over 50% of the 6,000 babies born each year in Bradford are to parents of South Asian origin. The population is the eighth most deprived health community in the UK with high levels of morbidity and a standardised mortality rate which is 6% above the UK average. The overall aim of Born in Bradford is to investigate determinants of childhood and adult disease in a diverse ethnic population and develop a focused and innovative research centre to improve the health of it's population and add to global knowledge. This research is designed to undertake a detailed analysis of the nutrient intake of women during pregnancy and it's impact on pregnancy outcome. The awareness of the government lead “ 5 a day” programme, and Fe and folate supplement use will also be evaluated.

2) Nutrition Support in NW Pakistan

Current projects within this theme:

i) An ethnographic exploration and an evaluation of the potential of the Jirga for community engagement in research in North West Pakistan. Funded by the Wellcome Trust. 2011-2013.

The Jirga is a Pukhtun term for a decision making assembly of male elders. It constitutes a traditional means of communication, discussion and debate that operates primarily in the border tribal regions in North West Pakistan and Afghanistan. 

The primary objective of this project is to generate understanding about the mechanisms of the Jirga system as a culturally embedded route for community engagement and explore its potential for community engagement in research. The research will take place in North West Pakistan, a region where the proposers have established relationships and a growing programme of research activities. This project will utilise qualitative and quantitative research methods to a) generate understanding about the model; b) evaluate its applicability to engagement in research and c) explore the degree of transferability of the certain functions of the model to other contexts. In a context of poverty and considerable health and social care needs, there are sizeable challenges attached to engaging people in a research agenda. Our proposed approach is unique, in that it seeks to capitalise on a local culturally embedded means of community engagement to introduce research in a community.

ii) Nutrition support  for mothers and children in Baghbanan, Kyber Pakhtunkhawa, Pakistan

Our initial investigations, based on mid upper arm circumference and weight for age, suggest that 16% of the children are moderately malnourished, 69.4% severely malnourished and only 14 % are healthy. Anaemia and worm infestations are also prevalent. We are therefore undertaking an assessment of the general nutrition and health care needs of the community to inform future development of community nutrition support.

Publications

Full Peer reviewed papers.

Monique Lhussier, Fiona Dykes, Sonia Ali Bagash,  Mukhtiar Zaman, Nicola Lowe.   Implementation and evaluation of a health promotion initiative in north Pakistan: a realist framework.  Health Promotion International. 2011. In Press

Nicola Lowe, Qudsia Bano, Sonia Ali Bangash, Basma Ellahi and Mukhtiar Zaman.  Dietary calcium intake, vitamin D status and bone health in post-menopausal women in Rural Pakistan. (2011). Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition 29(5) 465-470

Fiona Dykes, Monique Lhussier, Sonia Bangash, Mukhtiar Zaman,  Nicola Lowe.  Exploring and optimising maternal and infant nutrition in North West Pakistan. Midwifery. In Press. 2011

Victoria Moran, Nicola Lowe, Fiona Dykes. Zinc requirements in pregnancy and Lactation. (2010) Journal of Maternal and Infant Nutrition 6(suppl 2) 39-54 

Nicola M Lowe ,Soma R Mitra, Peter C Foster, Issak Bhojani, John F McCann.  Biochemical markers of bone turnover in Postmenopausal South Asian and Caucasian Women. (2010) ). British Journal of Nutrition 103 1706-1710 

Nicola M Lowe, Katalin Fekete and Tamás Decsi .  Methods of   assessment of zinc status in humans: a systematic review. (2009) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 89(suppl):1S-12S

Stella Lucia Volpe, Nicola M. Lowe, Leslie R. Woodhouse, Janet C. King.  Effect of maximal exercise on the short-term kinetics of zinc metabolism in sedentary males (2006). British Journal of Sports Medicine. Volume: 41(3) 156-161

Nicola M. Lowe, Leslie R. Woodhouse, Barbara Sutherland, David M. Shames, Betty J. Burri, Steven A. Abrams,  Judith R. Turnlund,  Malcolm J. Jackson  and Janet C. King.  Kinetic parameters and plasma zinc concentration correlate well with net loss and gain of zinc from the men (2004). Journal of Nutrition. 134:2178-2181

N.M.Lowe, C.A.Hart, J.R.Arthur and M.J.Jackson.  Correction of marginal selenium status improves poliovirus handling by improving immune function (2004). 

C.S.Broome, F.McArdle, J.A.M.Kyle, F.Andrews,  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: 80(1):154-62

NMLowe. M Araya, KHBrown. Assessment of the trace element stats of individuals and populations: the example of zinc (2003).  C. Hotz,  Journal of Nutrition. 133(5 Suppl 1):1563S-8S

NM Lowe, WD Fraser, MJ Jackson. Is there a therapeutic role for zinc and copper in Osteoporosis? (2002).  Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 61, 181-185

N.M.Lowe, L.R.Woodhouse, B.Sutherland, S.A.Abrams, J.R.Turnlund, M.J.Jackson. Effect of Acute zinc depletion on zinc homeostasis and plasma zinc kinetics in men. (2001). J.C.King, D.M.Shames, American  Journal of  Clinical  Nutrition 74:116-24

David M. Shames, Leslie R. Woodhouse,  Nicola M. Lowe and Janet C. King. Accuracy of Simple Techniques for Estimating Fractional Zinc Absorption in Humans (2001). Journal of Nutrition. 131:1854-1861

N.M.Lowe, L.R.Woodhouse, J.S.Matel, J.C.King.  Comparison of estimates of zinc absorption in humans by using 4 stable isotopic tracer methods and compartmental analysis (2000). American  Journal of  Clinical  Nutrition 71 (2): 523-529

M.D. Van Loan, B Sutherland, N.M.Lowe, J.R.Turnlund, J.C.King. The effects of zinc depletion on peak force and total work of knee and shoulder extensor and flexor muscles (1999).  International Journal of Sport Nutrition.  9(2): 125-135

N.M.Lowe, L. R Woodhouse, J.Wee, J.C.King. Short term zinc kinetics in pregnant rats fed marginal zinc diets (1999).  Journal of  Nutrition.  129: 1020-1025

N.M. Lowe, L.R. Woodhouse, J. C. King. Short term zinc kinetics in healthy women following a breakfast meal  (1998).    British Journal of Nutrition 80, 363-370

N.M. Lowe, L.R. Woodhouse,  J.S. Matel, C.Cobelli, D.M. Shames, J.C. King. A compartmental model of zinc metabolism in healthy women, using oral and intravenous stable isotopes (1997). American  Journal of  Clinical  Nutrition 65:1810-9

L. Klenerman, N.M.Lowe, I. Miller, P.R. Fryer,  C.J. Green, M.J. Jackson. Dantrolene sodium protects against experimental ischaemia and reperfusion damage to skeletal muscle (1995). Acta Orthop. Scand. 66(4), 347-351

N.M. Lowe, E.J. Hall, R.S. Anderson, R.M. Batt, M.J. Jackson. A stable isotope study of zinc kinetics in Irish setters with gluten sensitive enteropathy (1995).  British Journal of Nutrition 75, 69-76 (IF 2.71)

N.M Lowe, A. Green, J.M. Rhodes, M.G. Lombard, R. Jalan and M.J. Jackson Studies of human zinc kinetics using the stable isotope 70Zn (1993).  Clinical Science 84, 113-117

M.J. Jackson and N.M. Lowe. Physiological role of Zinc (1992). Food Chemistry vol 43 pp 233-238

N.M Lowe, I Bremner and M.J. Jackson. Plasma 65Zn kinetics in the rat (1991). British Journal of Nutrition  65, 445-455

Books and Book Chapters

Books

Lowe NM and Woodhouse LR. Zinc stable isotope methods for studying Zinc metabolism: A Practical Guide. Commissioned by the International Atomic Energy Agency.  Peer reviewed and accepted for publication. 2010. 

Editor
Nicola Lowe and Malcolm Jackson Advances in isotope methods for the analysis of trace elements in man. Edited by Nicola Lowe and Malcolm Jackson CRC Press, New York, 2000.

Chapters
Nicola M Lowe and Leslie R Woodhouse. In press "In vivo trace metal metabolism: zinc" Volume 5 of the Encyclopedia of Mass Spectrometry, to be published by Elsevier 2010.

Nicola M Lowe .Calcium, Dairy Foods and Weight Loss. Chapter 6 in Dairy Nutrition and Health. The Dairy Council, 2007.

N M Lowe and C S Broome Evaluation of Trace Mineral Status and Bioavailablity Using Stable Isotopes (Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Molybdenum). Chapter 5 in Stable Isotopes in Human Nutrition.  Edited by SAAbrams and WW Wong CABI Publishing, Oxon,  UK., 2003

N.M. Lowe and M.J. Jackson.Kinetic studies of whole-body trace element metabolism. Chapter 5 in Advances in isotope methods for the analysis of trace elements in man. Edited by Nicola Lowe and Malcolm Jackson CRC Press, New York, 2000.

M.J.Jackson and N.M. Lowe.  Use of isotopes in the assessment of zinc status.  Chapter 7 in Advances in isotope methods for the analysis of trace elements in man. Edited by Nicola Lowe and Malcolm Jackson CRC Press, New York, 2000.

C.I.A.Jack, N.M. Lowe and  M.J.Jackson.  Stable-isotope studies in the Elderly. Chapter 12 in Advances in isotope methods for the analysis of trace elements in man. Edited by Nicola Lowe and Malcolm Jackson CRC Press, New York, 2000.

Abstracts and conference proceedings: Over 40

Other

Nicola is serving on Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development (BOND) panel, which is made up of world renowned researchers who will gather information to support nutrition related health research worldwide.

The panel was set up after the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institutes of Health in the USA came together to identify six nutrients; Vitamin A, Iron, Zinc, Folate, Vitamin B12 and Iodine that pose a particular public health problem on a global scale.