Mingyan Xiang

Dr Mingyan Xiang received the Bachelor’s degree in Medicine at Harbin Medical University in China and worked as a paediatrician in Beijing Paediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, China.

During 1996–99, Dr Xiang worked as a guest scientist in the Department of Clinical Chemistry, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, under the support of the Wenner-Gren Centre Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden.

Dr Xiang joined the University of Greenwich School of Science in 1999 for a PhD in biochemistry and received the PhD award in 2003. She is working with the Biomedical and Drug Discovery and Nutrition Research Groups.

Dr Xiang is a member of International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids.

Responsibilities within the university

Course participation – undergraduate

Public Health Nutrition
Specialised Topics in Human Nutrition

Course participation – postgraduate

Case Studies in Nutritional Biochemistry

Research

Dr Xiang has been involved in a variety of research projects in human nutrition, biochemistry, immunology, molecular biology and related areas. She has been playing a leading role in establishing collaborations between their research group and other leading universities in Sweden (e.g., Karolinska Institute) and China (e.g., Peking University).

Current research projects include:

• Fatty acids in inflammatory disorders in particular Crohn's disease
• Investigation of the role of fatty acids in the pathogenesis and treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis and other related disorders and their effects on immune function
• Effect of obesity and weight loss on the immune function
• Diet and gene expression with emphasis on fatty acid metabolism in different human populations
• Effect of fatty acids and antioxidants on immune cell functions, inflammation and human diseases.

Selected publications

Xiang, M. et al. (2010) Decreased monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and relationship with 15-deoxy-D12,14-prostaglandin J2 in gamma-linolenic acid supplemented healthy subjects. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 69, E325.

Xiao, H., Xiang, M., Harbige, L.S., and Ai, A. (2010) Relation between visfatin as a novel adipokine and AMP-activated protein kinase in obesity. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 69, E324.

Xiang, M. et al. Effect of high-dose creatine supplementation on endogenous creatine synthesis during exercise. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 69, E321.

Xiang, M. et al. Borage (Borago officinalis) oil supplementation in relation to monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 expression in healthy subjects. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 67, E44.

Xiang, M., Harbige, L.S., and Zetterström, R. (2008) Breast-milk levels of long-chain PUFA in Kazakhstan and Sweden. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 67, E79.

Xiang, M. et al. (2008) Time-course study of high-dose creatine supplementation for endogenous creatine synthesis. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 67, E80.

Xiang, M. et al. (2008) PUFA in the pathogenesis and treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 67, E21.

Xiang, M., Harbige, L.S., and Zetterström, R. (2007) Breast milk levels of zinc and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and growth of healthy Chinese infants. Acta Paediatr., 96(3), pp. 387–90.

Xiang, M. et al. (2006) Diet and gene expression: Delta-5 and delta-6-desaturases in healthy Chinese and European subjects. Ann. Nutr. Metab., 50(6): pp. 492–8.

Xiang, M., Harbige, L.S., and Zetterström, R. (2005) Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in Chinese and Swedish mothers: Diet, breast milk and infant growth. Acta Paediatr., 94(11), pp. 1543–9.

Xiang, M. et al. (2000) Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk and brain growth during early infancy. Acta Paediatr., 89(2), pp. 142–7.

Xiang, M., and Zetterström, R. (1999) Relation between polyunsaturated fatty acids and growth. Acta Pædiatr., Supp 430, pp. 78–82.

Xiang, M., Lei, S., Li, T., and Zetterström, R. (1999) Composition of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in human milk and growth of young infants in rural areas of northern China. Acta Pædiatr., 88(2), pp. 126–31.

Xiang, M. et al. (1996) Zinc absorption and intestinal losses of endogenous zinc in young Chinese women with marginal zinc intakes. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 63, pp. 348–53.