by Brooke Bunch

The Diabetes Research seminars continue Wednesday when Nanette Steinle, M.D., discusses her surprising findings involving a study of plant sterols and their effects on an intestinal transporter. Steinle is an assistant professor of medicine and the clinical laboratory director for molecular biology, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, University of Maryland School of Medicine (Baltimore).

Her research sheds light on risks for cardiovascular disease.

The seminar, entitled “Phytosterols, genetics and risk for cardiovascular disease; studies of ABCG8 transporter G574R heterozygotes in the Old Order Amish,” focuses on the absorption of plant sterols, which are ingredients in a number of fat-based foods on the market, including margarine and salad dressings.

Plant sterols are substances found naturally in plants and wood pulps. They are similar in composition to cholesterol but are not made by the human body. Their function in the body is to reduce cholesterol by preventing its absorption in the intestines.

Steinle’s seminar is hosted by the Appalachian Rural Health Institute's Diabetes/Endocrine Center, which was founded by OU-COM and the College of Health and Human Services to further diabetes research, clinical training and care, and education.

The seminars provide a forum for Ohio University researchers to learn about each other’s work and, hopefully, open the door to more interdisciplinary and interdepartmental research collaborations, says Frank Schwartz, M.D., director of the center and OU-COM associate professor of endocrinology.

Steinle will discuss her study, which focused on a selected population looking at individuals with one copy of the gene rather than two.

“If you have two copies of the gene, you have premature cardiovascular disease,” she says. “So we wanted to know what happened if you just had one copy — if you were the carrier.”

Steinle says their findings were surprising.

“We anticipated it to be the other way,” she says. “We anticipated people with higher levels of plant sterols would have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. But it’s possible to have higher sterol levels and have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.”

Steinle will discuss her study as well as other studies involving mice as subjects. She will also talk about plant sterols in general, where they come from and their role in the human body.

“The way cholesterol and plant sterols are absorbed is not well understood,” she says. “I’m going to examine the current thinking.”

Steinle’s visit is highly anticipated.

“I understand she is an outstanding molecular biologist and clinician,” says Leonard Kohn, M.D., J.O. Watson, D.O., Endowed Research Chair and distinguished senior research scientist at the Edison Biotechnology Institute. “She is highly regarded by her peers.”

Steinle received her M.D. degree from the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo. She was an endocrinology fellow at the University of Maryland Medical System and is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is board certified in internal medicine and endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. Among her memberships and affiliation are the American College of Physicians, The Endocrine Society, the American Diabetes Association and the American Society for Nutritional Sciences. She has published in several journals, including the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Steinle will present on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 3 p.m. in 111 Grosvenor West.