In September 2021, the UK government and devolved administrations announced the decision to introduce mandatory fortification of UK non-wholemeal flour with folic acid, the synthetic form of the vitamin folate (also known as vitamin B9). Folate is necessary for DNA synthesis and replication required for normal cell development and growth. The main dietary sources of […]

In this article originally published in The Conversation, Dr Marinka Steur and Professor Nita Forouhi discuss new research indicating that the heart disease risk associated with saturated fats depends on the foods it is found in. Heart disease is a major cause of death worldwide – responsible for some 9 million deaths a year. But […]

In a study undertaken in more than 10,000 individuals, and published today in Nature Communications, scientists have shown that integrating information derived from different technologies to measure proteins can identify otherwise hidden links between proteins and human health and disease. The international research team led by scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit […]

Scientists have discovered how a receptor in the brain, called MC3R, detects the nutritional state of the body and regulates the timing of puberty and rate of growth in children and increases in lean muscle mass. These findings, published today in the journal Nature, may explain how humans have been growing taller and reaching sexual […]

The 2021 issue of epigram, our newsletter for everyone who is interested in the work of the MRC Epidemiology Unit, is out now! Read it online here. In this issue we look at: New genetic technologies and techniques to analyse data from large and diverse populations that point the way to new approaches to treatment […]

Hundreds of connections between different human diseases have been uncovered through their shared origin in our genome by an international research team led by Unit scientists, challenging the categorisation of diseases by organ, symptoms, or clinical speciality. A new study published in Science today generated data on thousands of proteins circulating in our blood and […]

Public Health England (PHE) have published the report Integration of physical activity promotion within primary and secondary care settings: Rapid evidence review and lessons from practice case studies.  The report, which was led by researchers at the MRC Epidemiology Unit, examined the factors that influence successful integration of physical activity into UK healthcare settings for […]

Young adults aged 18 to 24 are at the highest risk of becoming overweight or developing obesity in the next decade of their life compared to adults in any other age group, and obesity prevention policies should target this group, finds a new study co-led by researchers at the MRC Epidemiology Unit and University College […]