Abstract:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved short (~18-24 nucleotides) non-coding RNA molecules important in the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. miRNAs are also secreted in diverse biological fluids, transferred to recipient cells, and thereby exerting influence as cell to cell mediators of tissue-specific gene expression. This has led to an increasing research focus on the role of circulatory miRNAs as blood-borne biomarkers of physiological and pathological changes. There are, however, significant knowledge gaps with respect to the responses and role of circulatory miRNAs to dietary interventions, particularly in the context of gaining greater insights into the effective dietary management of an ageing population and in those at risk of metabolic disease. This thesis, therefore, aimed to understand further how different dietary interventions modulated the circulatory miRNAome, to identify possible mechanisms of action and to further examine circulatory miRNAs in the context of metabolic disease risk and response to dietary intervention.
