Teagasc Investigating Functional Foods

Functional food is a phrase that is much mentioned but often misunderstood and even misused. In tonight's programme of the new television science series 'The Investigators', Professor Liam Donnelly, head of Food Research in Teagasc outlines what the term functional food really means and some of the projects that Irish researchers are involved in.

The programme, to be aired tonight, Thursday, 13 December, profiles the work of Dr. Catherine Stanton of the Teagasc Moorepark Food Research centre and her research into Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) -enriched cheese and the health benefits shown to be associated with CLAs such as anti-Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), anti-cancer and reduced heart disease properties. Her original trials showed excellent results but she has now discovered that we may have the ability to produce these CLAs in the human gut.

Most people are familiar with the concept of good and bad bacteria in the human gut, but research is increasingly showing just how powerful those good bacteria can be when isolated and grown in large numbers. Scientists like Dr. Catherine Stanton are searching for health-promoting bacteria, which could help to counter many extremely painful and debilitating diseases.

Also in tonight's programme, Professor Eamonn Quigley of UCC explains his research into gut bacteria and how he identified a bifido-bacterium which exerts benefits to IBS sufferers. Professor Colin Hill discovered a bacteria in the human gut called 'UCC118', which is capable of killing listeria, a bacteria which can be fatal to unborn children.

'The Investigators' is a seven-part series of science programmes highlighting the frontline work being undertaken by Irish researchers to confront some global problems.

An earlier episode on climate change featured Dr. Padraig O'Kiely from the Teagasc Research centre in Grange. Dr. O'Kiely is investigating ways to decrease methane emissions from the agriculture sector by examining alternative diets for cattle designed to cut methane output.

The Investigators science series was produced by New Decade Films and is broadcast on RTE1 television on Thursday evenings at 10.45 pm. Teagasc is one of seven state agencies involved in the sponsorship of this series. The others are: Sustainable Energy Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency, The Health Research Board, Forfás, Science Foundation Ireland and the Higher Education Authority.