Natural Products and Digestive Health

Dr. Jess Reed is Professor of Animal Nutrition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received a PhD from Cornell in 1983. His 25 years of research has focused on the effects of phytochemicals in foods and forages on human and animal health and nutrition, including 6 years at the International Livestock Center for Africa where he studied the phytochemistry of tropical legume forages. Starting in 1996, he began researching the effects of flavonoids in foods on human health, including cardiovascular disease, urinary tract infections and cancer. Reed has over 90 research publications in his field and a successful research program funded through competitive grants from NIH and USDA along with collaborative projects with the food and nutritional supplements industry. Dr. Reed also maintains an active outreach program in agricultural development with project experience in 20 countries. Christian G. Krueger is cofounder and chief executive officer of Complete Phytochemical Solutions LLC , an independent, third-party consulting and testing botanical ingredient company, and also director of operations and research program manager at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Krueger developed chemistry instrumentation and other analytical tools capable of creating ingredient "fingerprints," beginning with cranberry polyphenols. Michael Polewski, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Research Specialist in microbiology/cell culture/small animal translational research.

Effect of oligomeric polyphenols on functional morphology of gut barrier function(goblet cells & panneth cells). Polyphenol modulation of innate immune system (Muc-2, IL-4, IL-13, sPLA2). Effects of polyphenols on adaptive immune system (sIgA & PIgR). Enterohepatic circulation and metabolism of monomeric polyphenols. Effects of simplified diets (high fat/hi sugar) on aspects of gut barrier function. Role of natural products in modulation of dysbiosis (prebiotic and probiotic). Tannin modulation of macrophage activation.