Neil Shay, Ph.D
Education
1990 Ph.D Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida
1979 M.A. Physics/ Education, University of Massachusetts
1976 B.S. Zoology, University of Massachusetts
Research Interests
The focus of research in our lab is to better understand how dietary components interact with the digestive system and the cells of our bodies to influence metabolism. Of special interest is how dietary components can modulate disease states including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. We’re also interested in how dietary components may affect glycemic index, glycemic control, and insulin sensitivity and how glycemic load affects the progression of nutritionally-regulated disease states. Regarding food components, our laboratory had developed expertise in the determining how botanical compounds interact with nuclear receptors within cells which control metabolic processes related to lipid metabolism and drug turnover. We’re also interested in how botanicals, dietary supplements, dietary fatty acids and fiber interact with the GI system and cellular regulatory systems. Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees in our lab can expect to be exposed to wide array of research techniques ranging from the molecular and cellular level to physiological and disease studies involving either animal or human subjects.
Selected Publications
Li Y, Mezei O, Shay NF.
Human and murine hepatic sterol-12-alpha-hydroxylase and other xenobiotic metabolism mRNA are upregulated by soy isoflavones.
J Nutr. 2007 Jul;137(7):1705-12.
Davis J, Higginbotham A, O'Connor T, Moustaid-Moussa N, Tebbe A, Kim YC, Cho KW, Shay N, Adler S, Peterson R, Banz W.
Soy protein and isoflavones influence adiposity and development of metabolic syndrome in the obese male ZDF rat.
Ann Nutr Metab. 2007;51(1):42-52.
Mezei O, Li Y, Mullen E, Ross-Viola JS, Shay NF.
Dietary isoflavone supplementation modulates lipid metabolism via PPARalpha-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
Physiol Genomics. 2006 Jun 16;26(1):8-14.
Shay NF, Banz WJ.Regulation of gene transcription by botanicals: novel regulatory mechanisms.
Annu Rev Nutr. 2005;25:297-315.
Ricketts ML, Moore DD, Banz WJ, Mezei O, Shay NF.
Molecular mechanisms of action of the soy isoflavones includes activation of promiscuous nuclear receptors.
J Nutr Biochem. 2005 Jun;16(6):321-30. Review.
Contact Information
359 Food Science and Human Nutrition Building
P.O. BOX 110370
Newell Drive
University of Florida
Gainesville, Fl 32611-0370
Email:nshay@ufl.edu
