Dr Jeannine Baumgartner
Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences
Biography
Dr Jeannine Baumgartner is a Lecturer in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London, and an Extraordinary Associate Professor at the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition of the North-West University (NWU) in South Africa. She holds an MSc in Food Science and Nutrition from ETH Zurich, Switzerland, where she also obtained a PhD in Human Nutrition. Her PhD research was a collaboration with the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition of NWU, which she later joined as a Postdoctoral Fellow, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor before returning to ETH Zurich as a Senior Scientist (2018-11 to 2022-03).
By following the paradigm that early life is a critical window for setting the health trajectory of an individual and potentially future generations, her past and current research is dedicated to studying the role of micronutrient and omega-3 fatty acid nutrition in the development and functioning of the brain, bones, immune system, and the gut microbiome in rodent models and human intervention and observational studies. She further investigates aspects of safety and efficacy of iron intervention strategies in vulnerable groups, such as infants, and children living with HIV.
Other interests include the role of nutrition in mental health, specifically perinatal depression and paediatric major depressive disorders. Jeannine Baumgartner serves on the Board of Directors of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL). She has published over 55 peer-reviewed articles and has previously served on the editorial board of the British Journal of Nutrition. She has further supervised several MSc and PhD students in South Africa and Switzerland.
Research
HIV, metabolism and diet
HIV infection leads to a chronic low-grade inflammatory state, even in those where the virus is effectively controlled by antiretrovirals.
Maternal and child nutrition
Women and children have unique nutritional requirements. Emerging evidence highlights that nutrition during early life, especially the period from conception until the first two years of life, plays an important role in setting the health trajectory of an individual and even future generations.
Fats and fatty acids
Understanding of the role of dietary fats and fatty acids in human health is constantly evolving. Our department has a longstanding interest in the effects of manipulating dietary fat composition on cardiometabolic disease risk factors
Bioaccesibility & bioavailability of nutrients and bioactives
Iron deficiency (ID) and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) are global problems that affect more than 2 billion people accounting for 0.8 million deaths annually worldwide. Consequently, sustainable food-based approaches are being advocated to increase the intake of foods with high iron content and bioavailability.
Mental health and diet
This research group aims to explroes the (1) mechanisms of food compounds, nutrients, foods, and whole diets on mental health and illness, and (2) the clinical efficacy and effectiveness of such nutritional interventions.
Mineral nutrition and metabolism
Since trace elements are involved in virtually all biological processes, biometals research is relevant and can be applied across the areas of biomedical and health research.
Research
HIV, metabolism and diet
HIV infection leads to a chronic low-grade inflammatory state, even in those where the virus is effectively controlled by antiretrovirals.
Maternal and child nutrition
Women and children have unique nutritional requirements. Emerging evidence highlights that nutrition during early life, especially the period from conception until the first two years of life, plays an important role in setting the health trajectory of an individual and even future generations.
Fats and fatty acids
Understanding of the role of dietary fats and fatty acids in human health is constantly evolving. Our department has a longstanding interest in the effects of manipulating dietary fat composition on cardiometabolic disease risk factors
Bioaccesibility & bioavailability of nutrients and bioactives
Iron deficiency (ID) and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) are global problems that affect more than 2 billion people accounting for 0.8 million deaths annually worldwide. Consequently, sustainable food-based approaches are being advocated to increase the intake of foods with high iron content and bioavailability.
Mental health and diet
This research group aims to explroes the (1) mechanisms of food compounds, nutrients, foods, and whole diets on mental health and illness, and (2) the clinical efficacy and effectiveness of such nutritional interventions.
Mineral nutrition and metabolism
Since trace elements are involved in virtually all biological processes, biometals research is relevant and can be applied across the areas of biomedical and health research.