Edinburgh Napier University

  My main area of research interest is the role of exercise and ageing on vitamin D metabolism. Scotland is identified as a vitamin D deficient nation, with advancing age and low physical activity levels inversely linked to a sound vitamin D status. In addition, low vitamin D status has been associated with numerous health conditions, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and Crohn’s disease. In addition to the basic physiological and metabolic adaptations following exercise, Hannah aims to look at the effect that exercise has on systemic and intracellular vitamin D metabolites, specifically the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Ultimately, vitamin D alters the rate of protein synthesis, of which the proteins are involved in the etiology of health conditions, therefore another aim of the research will be to investigate alterations in gene expression. Her current studies include an evaluation of the vitamin D status and the determinants of older adults who reside in Scotland, and an investigation into the effects of resistance and endurance exercise on the vitamin D metabolic pathway in young and older adults. Although rapid progress is being made in the links between vitamin D and physical activity levels, we are still lacking in understanding of the effect exercise may have on the full vitamin D metabolic pathway and ultimately the prevention of health issues.