Unidad de Nutrición Humana (UNH)

Description

The Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition  (ICTAN) develops nutrition studies through the Human Nutrition Unit (UNH), which provides the necessary support for short and long-term nutritional studies with human volunteers.. These studies are carried out within the framework of research projects, as well as the collaboration agreements and contracts with hospitals and public and private entities. In this way, support is accomodated to the productive sector, both to companies in the agri-food sector, like to companies of ingredients and nutritional complements or the pharmaceutical sector in general.

Among the activities carried out by the UNH we highlight:

  • Advice on the procedures to follow for the application for acceptance by the Clinical Research Ethics Committees.
  • Support in the registration of studies in international databases (ClinicalTrials.gov).
  • Registration in the Registry of Personal Data Processing Activities of the CSIC.
  • Support in the study of anthropometry and body composition analysis.
  • Advice on lifestyle, nutritional and physical activity surveys.
  • Peripheral venous blood collection (by extraction or peripheral route).
  • Determination of clinical parameters: blood pressure, glycemia and ketone bodies control, pulse, oxygen saturation and temperature.

All studies carried out at UNH are previously approved by competent Clinical Research Ethics Committees and by the CSIC Ethics Committee.

Skills

The UNH aims to be an active part in the development of clinical trials in humans (healthy and patients) in the various research projects and contracts:

  • Evaluation of bioavailability and metabolism, as well as exposure markers of bioactive compounds in food.
  • Evaluation of the bioactivity of functional components in foods (phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, bioactive peptides, etc.).
  • Effect of foods, food ingredients or dietary supplements on physiological parameters of relevance in various pathologies: cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes mellitus, iron deficiency anemia, osteoporosis, allergy, immune disease, infectious processes, etc.
  • Lifestyle assessment.
  • Nutritional evaluation and benefit assessment.

Facilities

La Unidad de Nutrición Humana (UNH) cuenta con distintas áreas de trabajo, cada una de ellas empleadas para realizar las diferentes actividades con los voluntarios. En la sala de espera se recibe a los voluntarios. Posteriormente, se puede pasar a cualquiera de las dos salas polivalentes que tenemos, una dedicada a la obtención y / o recogida de muestras biológicas y la otra para medición de composición corporal y antropometría, ya que contamos con el equipo de análisis de composición corporal multifrecuencia y segmental. Se dispone de un laboratorio anexo para clasificar las muestras biológicas, que cuenta con una nevera / congelador para su correcto mantenimiento. Finalmente, contamos con un Laboratorio de Preparación de Muestras Biológicas (LPMB), equipado con autoclave, centrífuga y micro-centrífuga, liofilizador, dispersor, homogenizador, vortex, pHmetro, balanza analítica, campana de gases, campana de flujo laminar, campana de contención biológica Tipo II, y autoanalizador de bioquímica y hematología, para el correcto y seguro manejo de las muestras biológicas.

Personnel

Contact:

  • unh@ictan.csic.es

Equipment

Listado de aparatos con los que contamos:

TANITA BC-601

  • Tetrapolar electrical bioimpedance (8 fixed electrodes).
  • Medición de: mása osea (kg), masa muscular (kg), masa grasa (%), peso (kg), edad metabólica, índice grasa visceral, agua total (%), metabolismo basal, IMC.
  • Measurements in 5 body segments: right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg, trunk, and whole body.

BIOIMPEDANCIA InBody 770

  • NAWI and CE certifications.
  • Electrical bioimpedance, performing 30 impedance measurements using 6 different frequencies (1kHz, 5kHz, 50kHz, 250kHz, 500kHz, 1MHz).
  • Measurements in 5 body segments: right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg, trunk, and whole body.
  • Result reports: Adult, Body Water 1 and 2, Child.
  • Measurements: weight, total body water (TBW), intracellular water, extracellular water (and its relation to TBW), BMI, body fat percentage (BFP) compared to body weight, fat mass (kg), visceral fat area, basal metabolism, bone mineral content, body cell mass, fat-free mass index, and fat mass index.
  • Displays values of total/segmental Reactance (X) and Phase Angle (φ), as well as segmental impedance (Z) values.
  • Internal memory: 100,000 measurements.
  • Connectivity: WiFi and Bluetooth.
  • Touchscreen and color display.

PORTABLE PULSEOXIMETER OXYM4000

Compact finger pulse oximeter with long battery life for measuring pulse and blood oxygen levels (SpO2) with plethysmographic wave. Designed for use in adult patients or children over 4 years old.

  • SpO2: Range 35-100%; Resolution ±1%.
  • Pulse rate: Range 30-240 BPM; Resolution: ±1BPM.

GLUCOSE AND/OR KETONE BODY METER FREESTYLE OPTIUM NEO

Analyzes glucose and ketone bodies via fingertip puncture.

BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR iHEALTH

Automatic blood pressure (mm Hg) and heart rate monitor. Arrhythmia detector. Universal cuff (22-42 cm). Systolic range 60-260 mm Hg, diastolic range 40-199 mm Hg.

INFRARED THERMOMETER

Non-contact infrared, for greater safety and hygiene. Measurement distance between 1-5 cm.

COMBI REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER for biological samples and reagents.

HERAEUS MEGAFUGE 16 CENTRIFUGE

  • Maximum speed: 15,200 rpm / 25,830 g.
  • Temperature range: -10 ºC to +40 ºC.
  • Pre-cooling function with direct button.
  • Rotor with 4 adapters (4 of 15 ml and 4 of 50 ml).
  • Thermo Scientific Auto-Lock III rotor system (security lock system, rotor installation and exchange at the push of a button).
  • Thermo Scientific SMARTSpin technology, rotor management with acceleration and braking optimization, and reduction of residual imbalance for each rotor option.
CENTRÍFUGA HERAEUS MEGAFUGE 16

MINIVORTEX IKA LAB DANCER

Orbital shaker. Shaking stroke: 4.5 mm. Fixed speed: 2800 rpm. Small containers up to 30 mm in diameter (test tubes, centrifuge tubes, Eppendorf tubes).

METTLER TOLEDO ME203E PRECISION BALANCE

Maximum capacity: 220 g. Readability: 1 mg

TYPE II BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINET NU-543-400E

Operator and environment protection, with enhanced prevention of sample contamination. FlowGard electronic control system, Nitecare system for low consumption nighttime operation, patented HEPEX zero-leakage system. HEPA filters (99.995%) for both supply and exhaust. Automatic decontamination as recommended by EN12469.

STOMACHER -80 BIOMASTER

Fast and efficient sample homogenizer/mixer, providing a contamination-free process and preventing potential aerosol formation.

  • Capacities: 250 μL and 80 mL.
  • 3 selectable speeds: 230, 265, or 300 rpm.
  • 3 selectable times: 30, 60, 120 seconds, or continuous operation.
  • Automatic stop upon door opening.
  • Adjustable door to increase or decrease paddle gap, allowing user-adjusted mixing pressure, homogenizing samples without diluents.

PRISM R REFRIGERATED MICRO-CENTRIFUGE

  • Magnetic induction motor, maintenance-free, quiet (less than 56 dB).
  • Autoclavable aluminum rotor for 24 tubes of 1.5/2 ml.
  • Digital display and safety lock.
  • Programmable speed in “rpm” or “g”.
  • Speed: 500-13,500 rpm (100 rpm increments). Accelerates to 13,500 rpm in 15 seconds and brakes from 13,500 rpm to 0 rpm in 18 seconds.
  • Maximum centrifugal force (RCF): 17,135 g.
  • Temperature: -10 ºC to 40 ºC.

ULTRATURRAX T 10 basic IKA DISPERSER (Dispersing element S10N-10G)

  • Dispersing instrument for volumes from 0.5 to 100 ml (H2O).
  • Speeds: 8,000-30,000 rpm, enabling high circumferential speeds even with small rotor diameters.
  • Dispersing element S10N-10G is composed of PTFE and 316L stainless steel, sterilizable (max temp 180 ºC). Diameter: 10 mm.

PH70VIO PORTABLE PH METER

  • pH measurement range: -2.0 to 16.0.
  • Resolution: 0.1/0.01.
  • Accuracy: ±0.01 pH.
  • Redox resolution: 1 mV (0.1 mV ±200 mV).
  • Temperature: -10…110ºC.
  • GLP Software: DataLink.

MATACHANA 21ED PLUS AUTOCLAVE

  • Up to 22 liters.
  • Type B sterilization programs:
  • Vacuum test.
  • Bowie & Dick test.
  • Universal 134º (and ECO).
  • Universal 121º.
  • Special P 134º (and ECO).
  • Test program (B&D-Helix) verifies sterilization efficacy.

COOLVACUMM LYOMICRON FREEZE DRYER

  • Up to 6 kg capacity.
  • Final condenser temperature: -85º C.
  • 2 compressors.
  • Circular chamber with trays and 6 manifolds.
  • Defrost system with hot gas.
  • Vacuum control for cycle optimization.
  • Chamber/condenser isolation valve.
  • Gas discharge filter for vacuum pump.

A15 BIOSYSTEMS AUTOANALYZER

  • Clinical chemistry and turbidimetry analysis.
  • Determines analyte concentration from optical absorbance measurements.
  • Sample rotor (120 wells).
  • Maximum number of reagents: 30.
  • Maximum number of samples: 72.
  • Refrigerated/non-refrigerated racks.
  • Waste container: 3 liters.
  • System liquid container: 3 liters.
  • Wash solution container: 3 liters.
  • Suitable for tubes, cuvettes, and pediatric cuvettes.
  • 150 tests/hour.
  • Sample volume: 2-40 microliters.
AUTOANALIZADOR A15 BIOSYSTEMS