ADDIS ABABA - September 25, 2024 (EPHI/NIPN) – The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) organized a hybrid seminar here last Tuesday, 24 September 2024, on the “In vitro GI models for assessing the health impact of foods and innovative gluten-free food product development”.
Opening the hybrid seminar, Dr. Masresha Tessema, Director of the Nutrition, Environmental Health, and Non-Communicable Disease Research Directorate (NEHNCDRD) of the EPHI, said that the hybrid discussion “is of paramount importance as we are the sole contributor” of some indigenous food crops such as teff for the world. He emphasized the relevance of the topic and stated that researchers in attendance at the seminar would get a lot from the presentation.
One of the presenters, Dr. Elena Penas, a researcher at the Institute of Food Science, Technology, and Nutrition (ICTAN), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain, Madrid, has given a detailed update about the innovative development of gluten-free foods for celiac disease.
Celiac is reportedly an autoimmune disorder caused by taking gluten-containing grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. The worldwide prevalence of celiac disease is less than 1 percent. The speaker explained the technological approaches to tackle celiac disease. The alternative reportedly taken as a remedy for celiac disease is a lifelong adherence to a strict gluten-free diet or applying a novel approach to food preparation.
The second speaker, Dr. Cristina Martinez-Villaluenga, a researcher at the Institute of Food Science, Technology, and Nutrition (ICTAN), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain, Madrid, deliberated on in vitro GI models for the health potential of foods. According to her, the in vitro GI Model has made several developments to mimic the gastric system, from static to semi-dynamic and currently to dynamic GI model. The methods will help to characterize the bio-accessibility of different nutrients and bioactive components.
The participants forwarded questions and comments, which opened further discussion during the event.
Dr. Endale Amare, Head of the Nutrition and Food Science Division, at the Nutrition, Environmental Health, and Non-communicable Disease Research Directorate (EHNCDRD), acted as the moderator of the hybrid seminar, which was sponsored by the National Information Platform for Nutrition (NIPN-Ethiopia).
Over 50 participants from the research community were involved in the hybrid seminar held at the National Training Center of EPHI. (EPHI)
