From Omega-3s to the Gut Microbiome: Research with Dr. Zhang
Guodong Zhang, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition and a Nutritionist in Agricultural and Environmental Science at UC Davis. He earned his Ph.D. in Food Science from University of Wisconsin-Madison, before completing three years of postdoctoral research at UC Davis where he began his extensive work in the field of fatty acid metabolism. After working as a professor for either years at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and almost two years at the National University of Singapore, he returned to Davis in 2023 to teach and conduct research in his lab.
Zhang Research Lab
Dr. Zhang's lab is focused on eicosanoid biology, a field centered on fatty acid metabolism. Every day, people consume many types of dietary fatty acids like omega-6 commonly found in vegetable oils and omega-3 found in fish. Despite widespread public discourse around the supposed health effects of these fats, the current scientific data remains inconsistent.
The overarching goal of his research is to answer the question of who will most likely respond to dietary fatty acids with specific health outcomes. His lab's current focus is to understand the molecular mechanisms behind the health outcomes that can be associated with fatty acid intake through basic research. In the long term, his lab hopes to develop biomarkers to support precision nutrition and personalized healthcare. Achieving this goal will require more complex human research and integration.
One pathway Dr. Zhang and his team have been studying the metabolism of linoleic acid catalyzed by cytochrome p450 monooxygenases. The metabolites that are produced through this pathway have been linked to inflammation and colon cancer however there is still a lack of understanding of the fundamental molecular mechanisms behind this.
The current hypothesis is that people who have higher expression of this enzyme will be more sensitive to adverse health effects from a diet high in linoleic acid. In the future, Dr. Zhang, hopes that genetic data and gut microbiome data could help identify individuals who are susceptible to negative health outcomes, allowing for personalized nutritional recommendations.
His Surprising Findings
Dr. Zhang has worked in eicosanoid biology for many years as a result he has witnessed major shifts in scientific understanding throughout his career.
When he first entered the field, scientists largely believed that fatty acids were almost entirely metabolized to form eicosanoids through host pathways. Today researchers recognize that the gut microbiome plays a major role in fatty acid metabolism.
One of Dr. Zhang's most surprising findings also involved the gut microbiome. In a past project, his team studied triclosan, a commonly used antimicrobial ingredient, in a mouse model. Their research found that it had a significant negative effect on the gut microbiota, promoting colon inflammation and cancer.
This finding led to a major publication in the Science Translational Medicine and a year later, Colgate removed triclosan from their toothpaste.
Dr. Zhang notes that triclosan is still a very stable and commonly used compound meaning exposure is still widespread. He believes more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of exposure and hopes biotechnology solutions may eventually help remove the compound from the environment if its risks become more clearly established.
His Appreciation for UC Davis
Dr. Zhang believes the collaborative environment at UC Davis plays a major role in the success of his research.
He emphasizes that UC Davis has a very strong scientific community in lipid research and gut microbiota research across many departments. According to Dr. Zhang, many current studies underway are possible due to the collaboration and expertise at UC Davis.