My primary research area is LC-MS (hplc-mass spectrometry) based metabolomics. Metabolomics is a technique where metabolites in biological samples, e.g. plasma or urine samples, are analyzed. Metabolites are the intermediates and products of metabolism. Metabolomics is an explorative technique; you measure hundreds or thousands of metabolites at the same time without having determined which compounds you are looking for. In this way, the method can reveal unknown effects than otherwise wouldn’t have been found because they were not expected.

LC-MS based metabolomics is used for analyses of samples collected from our animal models. We are working with pigs fistulated in various places in the gastrointestinal tract and pigs with permanent catheters in arteries or veins (e.g. the portal vein). This gives us the opportunity to collect digesta or
blood samples on various time points after feeding. Furthermore, we are working with intact pigs, rats and mink.

Investigation of the digestion and metabolism of carbohydrates and their effect on the uptake of nutrients is one of the most important research areas. Using LC-MS based metabolomics we look for differences in the metabolic pathways when feeding with different types or amounts of dietary fiber and we aim to elucidate whether such changes have health effects.

Fatty liver is the focus area in my research in mink. We have investigated the effect of different choline levels in the feed and use LC-MS based metabolomics to find biomarker for fatty liver.

My secondary research area is digestive physiology. I’m investigating the effect of weaning and/or feed composition (primarily the carbohydrate fraction) on digestive enzyme activity and intestinal morphology in pigs and mink.