Dr Wendy Hall
Diabetes & Nutritional Sciences Division
School of Medicine
King's College London
4.108 Franklin-Wilkins Building
150 Stamford Street
London SE1 9NH
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7848 4197
Fax: +44 (0)20 7848 4185
Email: wendy.hall@kcl.ac.uk
Biography
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Lecturer in Nutrition, King's College London 2005 - present
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Post doc, University of Reading, 2003 - 2005
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Post doc, University of Surrey, 2001 - 2003
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PhD Nutrition, University of Surrey, 2001
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MSc Nutrition, King’s College London, 1996
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BA Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge University, 1995
Current Research Interests
I am interested in investigating the chronic and acute mechanisms that determine the overall impact of dietary factors on cardiovascular risk. My research interests focus on two main aspects: 1) the effects of different fatty acids/dietary fats on vascular function and blood pressure, and 2) potential modulation of postprandial metabolism and vascular function by dietary polyphenols. Randomised, controlled dietary intervention trials are conducted to explore these research areas. The overall aim of my research is to enable a deeper understanding of how a healthy diet may be optimised to instigate a number of small health benefits that may provide significant protection against the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in the long term.
Specific research interests
Long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vascular function:
Long chain n-3 PUFAs, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found mainly in oily fish, have long been implicated in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The relative separate effects of EPA and DHA on cardiovascular risk factors are unknown, and the optimal intake level for improvement of blood pressure and arterial function is also unclear. The impact of EPA and DHA on endothelial function, arterial stiffness, microvascular function, ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate variability and platelet activation are being investigated.
The effects of different dietary fats/fatty acids on postprandial vascular function and lipaemia:
Our studies have instigated new insights into the changes that occur in the vasculature following high fat meals containing different amounts of saturated, monounsaturated, and n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and how this relates to postprandial lipoprotein metabolism and markers of oxidative stress.
Effects of flavonoids on vascular function:
Diets high in fruit and vegetables are associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk. This may be partly attributable to an improvement in endothelial function, and the role of flavonoids and isoflavonoids in enhancing nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation is an ongoing research interest.
Postprandial effects of dietary polyphenolics:
Postprandial lipaemic and glycaemic responses are clinically important risk factors for metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. There is some suggestion that certain polyphenols may inhibit absorption of dietary fat and carbohydrate. However, the question of whether fruit/vegetable extracts or whole polyphenol-rich foods can modulate lipaemia and glycaemia in human beings is as yet unanswered. Dietary intervention studies will contribute to current knowledge in this research area.
Publications
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Rontoyanni VG, Hall WL, Pombo-Rodrigues S, Appleton A, Chung R, Sanders TAB: A comparison of the changes in cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance during exercise following high fat meals containing DHA or EPA. Br J Nutr in press
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Sanders TA, Hall WL, Maniou Z, Lewis F, Seed PT, Chowienczyk PJ: Effect of low doses of long-chain n-3 PUFAs on endothelial function and arterial stiffness: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2011;94:973-980.
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Keheyan G, Dunn LA, Hall WL: Acute effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on vascular function and blood pressure. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 2011;66:209-211.
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Cottin SC, Sanders TA, Hall WL: The differential effects of EPA and DHA on cardiovascular risk factors. Proc Nutr Soc 2011;70:215-231.
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Hall WL: Dietary saturated and unsaturated fats as determinants of blood pressure and vascular function. Nutr Res Rev 2009;22:18-38.
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Hooper L, Kroon PA, Rimm EB, Cohn JS, Harvey I, Le Cornu KA, Ryder JJ, Hall WL, Cassidy A: Flavonoids, flavonoid-rich foods, and cardiovascular risk: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;88:38-50.
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Hall WL, Sanders KA, Sanders TA, Chowienczyk PJ: A high-fat meal enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid reduces postprandial arterial stiffness measured by digital volume pulse analysis in healthy men. J Nutr 2008;138:287-291.
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Hall WL, Formanuik NL, Harnpanich D, Cheung M, Talbot D, Chowienczyk PJ, Sanders TA: A meal enriched with soy isoflavones increases nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in healthy postmenopausal women. J Nutr 2008;138:1288-1292.
All Publications