Dietary Fructose as a Risk Factor for Gulf War Illness: Exercise Challenge
Top of Page
Skip main navigation
Toggle navigation
Search NSU
Go!
Apply Now / Request Info
Giving
Alumni
Select A College
Nova Southeastern University
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education
College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
College of Dental Medicine
College of Engineering and Computing
College of Medical Sciences
College of Optometry
College of Pharmacy
College of Psychology
Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine
Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences
Farquhar Honors College
H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography
Mailman Segal Center for Human Development
Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing
Shepard Broad College of Law
University School
Undergraduate
Academic Programs
Explore all of the academic opportunities that NSU has to offer undergraduate students.
Student Life
Learn why the years you spend at NSU will be some of the best you will ever have. Go Sharks!
Admissions
Discover exactly what you need and when to be admitted to NSU.
Financial Aid
Search for scholarships and learn about the financial aid process.
Dual Admission
Honors College
Experiential Education
Tuition and Costs
International Affairs
Veterans
SharkLink
Student Portal
Graduate & Professional
Master's
Over 60 degrees in fields like business, education, counseling, and healthcare.
Doctoral
Terminal degrees in areas including oceanography, computer and information sciences, and pharmacy.
Professional
Programs in high demand fields such as medicine, dentistry, law, and psychology.
Certificate
Receive a graduate level certificate to enhance your skills.
Continuing Education
Financial Aid
Career Development
Regional Campuses
International Affairs
Veterans
SharkLink
Student Portal
Academics
Colleges, Schools & Centers
See a full list of NSU's colleges and schools.
Degree & Programs
Discover the large variety of academic programs offered at NSU.
JK-12 College Prep
NSU's University School is right on our main campus.
Early Childhood Education
The Mailman Segal Center provides programs for early childhood, parenting, and autism.
Institutes
Distance Education
Regional Campuses
Experiential Education
Registrar's Office
Student Life
Sharks Athletics
17 men's and women's NCAA Division II teams.
Living on Campus
On campus housing options for undergraduate and graduate students.
Clubs and Organizations
Make new friends and become a part of NSU's social life.
Performing and Visual Arts
Arts and culture on campus including theatre, music, and art.
Campus Housing
Off-Campus Housing
Campus Rec
South Florida Living
Research
Areas of Research
Explore some of the innovative research being conducted at NSU.
Translational Research and Economic Development
Information on basic, applied, and clinical research at NSU, as well as technology transfer.
Libraries
Serving Broward County residents as well as NSU students, faculty and staff members.
Center for Collaborative Research
NSU's innovative research hub is home to cutting-edge core facilities and world-renowned researchers.
NSU Cell Therapy Institute
Core Services & Equipment
HPD Research
Undergraduate Research
Community
Community Outreach
Committed to community service through a variety of programs.
Health Care Centers
Over 20 health care centers and services for the community.
Libraries
Serving Broward County residents as well as NSU students, faculty and staff members.
NSU Art Museum
Provides arts curriculum and the best in visual arts exhibits and educational programs to South Florida.
Miniaci Performing Arts Center
Don Taft University Center
Lifelong Learning Institute
About NSU
President Hanbury
Get to know NSU's President.
Vision, Mission and Core Values
Learn more about NSU's plan for the future.
NSU History
Learn more about NSU's 50 year history.
Locations and Directions
Get directions to NSU's main campus and off campus locations.
Resources
Accreditations
Visit Campus
Virtual Tour
Newsroom
Board of Trustees
Contact Us
Apply Now / Request Info
Academic Affairs
Skip secondary navigation
Menu
Home
Committees, Councils, and Boards
Office of Academic Quality, Assessment and Accreditation
Overview
Assessment
SACSCOC Accreditation
Academic Program Review
General Education
Faculty Policy Manual
NSU Scholarly Journals
Professional Journals
Professional Memberships
Academic Policies and Procedures
Provost's Research and Scholarship Award
Overview and Link to Application
Past Winners
President's Faculty Research and Development Grant
About the Grant
Application Review Process
Contact Us
NSU Home
Academic Affairs
President's Faculty Research and Development Grant
Winners 2017-2018
Dietary Fructose as a Risk Factor for Gulf War Illness: Exercise Challenge
Grant Winners
Jacqueline Freire Machi, Ph.D. – College of Osteopathic Medicine
Mariana Morris, Ph.D. – College of Osteopathic Medicine
Mary Ann Fletcher, Ph.D. – College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nancy Klimas, M.D. – College of Osteopathic Medicine
Luis M. Salgueiro, Ph.D. – College of Osteopathic Medicine
Rodrigo Schmidt, M.S. – College of Osteopathic Medicine
Christopher Elkins, B.S. – College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dean
Elaine Wallace, D.O., M.S., M.S., M.S. – College of Osteopathic Medicine
Abstract
Gulf War illnesses (GWI), is a chronic disorder affecting returning military veterans and civilian workers of the 1990–91 Gulf War. A wide range of acute and chronic symptoms have been linked to it, including fatigue, muscle pain, cognitive problems, rashes and autonomic imbalance. Most studies of GWI have focused on pesticide exposure. However, this does not take into consideration of environmental factors. Recent studies sugges
t that a high intake of refined carbohydrates such as found in soft drinks and juice, as well as processed food may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and exacerbate the GWI scenario. The literature documents that the GWI population has chronic multi symptom illness, which may include metabolic syndrome (MS). W
e propose to use an organophosphate Diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) to develop an animal model of GWI this will be coupled with a high fructose diet to develop MS and exacerbate the GWI characteristic. Aerobic exercise training has been recommended as an important adjuvant therapy for the prevention and treatment of different disorders such as metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction. The aim of this proposal is to use a GWI +MS mouse model to study metabolic/cardiovascular and neuro-inflammatory profiles as well to test the effects of chronic aerobic exercise as a possible treatment. Indeed, our preliminary results in mice suggest that low doses of DFP was able to cause reduction in cardiac output (CO), Ejection Fraction (EF), Fractional Shortening (FS) and a generalized dilation. The development of models to study the pathophysiology of GWI will help in developing of effective therapies for human, which may lead to improvement quality life of the affected population. In the study mice will be evaluated at baseline, one week after toxin/fructose exposure (GWI + MS) followed by the exercise protocol. Studies will use transthoracic echocardiography (ECHO) to access cardiac function and autonomic balance. Metabolism
will be assessed by calorimetry (O2 consumption and CO2 production). Immunological markers will be measured in blood and tissue. Obesity will be evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Tissue histologic/morphometric analysis will be performed to evaluate tissue damage. Exercise will be performed with a wheel running setup along with measures of O2 consumption. Studies will document the idea that an overload in fructose will lean to a decrement in cardiac and metabolic function. On the other hand, the exercise model will have the opposite effect and improvement in function. This study can have relevance to human condition in which chemical toxins are often coupled with the sugar-laden diet.
Return to top of page