Santoro Nicola
SCIENTIFIC-DISCIPLINARY SECTOR (SSD)
06/G1 Pediatrics
RESEARCH TOPICS:
My research currently focuses on the mechanisms underlying pediatric obesity, type 2 diabetes and non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children and adolescents and particularly on how the interaction between genetic variants and environment may lead to the development of the complications of childhood obesity, namely fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. I am now exploring a personalized dietetic approach in the care of fatty liver and insulin resistance based on a targeted genotype. There is, in fact, a compelling need to conduct studies focused on children and adolescents, both to understand disease etiology and, related to the personalized/precision medicine theme, in order to better tailor prevention and treatment approaches to these age groups. Additionally, as we learn that human metabolism is influenced by the composition of the gut microbiota, I have begun to study the role of gut flora and how it can interact with genetic background with respect to the development of childhood obesity and fatty liver.
KEYWORDS
OBESITY, DIABETES, HEPATIC STEATOSIS
OrcID
CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
- Genetics of pediatric NAFLD and type 2 diabetes
- Role of gut microbiota in the development of NAFLD and Metabolic Syndrome in obese children and adolescents
- Interventions to restore insulin sensitivity and revert NAFLD in obese children