Nutrition, Heart Disease and Diabetes from edX

Learn about the role of nutrition in relation to diseases of the circulatory system and diabetes, which are major causes of death worldwide. You'll learn about the etiology of heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, stroke, other forms of cardiovascular diseases and how often these occur worldwide. You will learn about biological modifiable risk factors, such as blood pressure, blood cholesterol and obesity, and how they impact these diseases in a different way. After completing this course you will also have gained adeeper insight in underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, such as insulin resistance, and the role of (epi)genetic factors.

Dieticians and doctors often get questions from their patients on what they can do to improve their health. In this course,part of the Professional Certificate Program Nutrition and Disease, you will learn about the interaction between nutrients, diets and cardiometabolic disease (heart disease and diabetes).

For whom?

The MOOC Nutrition and Disease: Nutrition, Heart Disease and Diabetes is especially valuable for professionals (in training) from various disciplines related to nutrition and health, e.g. nutritionists, epidemiologists, public health workers, physicians, health care professionals, health policy makers, nutrition educators, biologists, and food scientists.

This course, is part of theNutrition and Disease Professional Certificate Program of Wageningen University & Research. Did you already complete Nutrition and Cancer? That is the other course in this Professional Certificate Program.

What you'll learn

Understand the role of dietary factors in the occurrence, progression and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases
Understand the biological processes that contribute to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic disorders
Guidelines for primary prevention
The role of epigenetics and genetic factors
The interaction between nutrients, diets and cardiometabolic disease

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the role of dietary factors in the occurrence, progression and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases
Understand the biological processes that contribute to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic disorders
Guidelines for primary prevention

The role of epigenetics and genetic factors
The interaction between nutrients, diets and cardiometabolic disease

Understand the role of dietary factors in the occurrence, progression and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases
Understand the biological processes that contribute to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic disorders
Guidelines for primary prevention
The role of epigenetics and genetic factors
The interaction between nutrients, diets and cardiometabolic disease

Syllabus

Module 1 – Cardiometabolic Disease Risk In this module you will be introduced to the different types of cardiometabolic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Furthermore both biological and environmental risk factors for these diseases such as age, blood pressure and physical exercise will be presented.

Module 2 – Role of diet – Prevention of Cardiometabolic Disease The role of macronutrient and food intake in relation to cardiometabolic disease prevention will be presented in this module. You will gain knowledge about the importance and development of dietary guidelines for the prevention of disease.

Module 3 – Pathophysiology of Cardiometabolic Disease Learn about the pathophysiology and processes that contribute to the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Amongst others, insulin resistance, adipose tissue, inflammation, blood lipids and ischemia and reperfusion injury will be discussed.

Module 4 – Molecular Aspects In this module you will learn about genetic and epigenetic practices in relation to nutrition and cardiometabolic diseases including EWAS, GWAS, diet-gene interactions, DNA methylation and Mendelian Randomisation.

Module 5 – Nutritional Strategies to Reduce Cardiometabolic Diseases This final module describes some directions for reducing the burden of cardiometabolic diseases. Several dietary patterns, the focus of future scientific research and actions of different stakeholders are discussed.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Fits audience of students in training for dietetics and nutrition

Fits audience of students in training for epidemiology

Offers comprehensive study of science and math

Takes creative approach to established topic

Taught by renowned professors Marianne Geleijnse, Leanne Küpers, and Marco Mensink

Provides primary prevention guidelines

Examines epigenetics and genetics in relation to cardiometabolic diseases

Career center

Learners who complete Nutrition, Heart Disease and Diabetes will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Diabetes Educator

A Diabetes Educator helps people with diabetes manage their condition and live healthy lives.

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Nutrition Scientist

Nutrition Scientists, also known as Nutritionists, study the relationship between diet and health, and use this knowledge to develop dietary guidelines for individuals and groups.

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Cardiologist

A Cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

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Endocrinologist

An Endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the endocrine system, which includes the glands that produce hormones.

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Public Health Researcher

A Public Health Researcher designs, conducts, analyzes, and disseminates health research to advance knowledge of health-related issues and improve health outcomes.

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Epidemiologist

An Epidemiologist researches the causes of disease and other health problems in populations and communities, and contribute to the design, implementation, analysis, and interpretation of studies to investigate the causes of disease and other health problems in populations.

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Clinical Research Coordinator

A Clinical Research Coordinator's job is to manage all aspects of a clinical research project, from study design and budgeting to data collection and analysis.

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Registered Dietitian

A Registered Dietitian's role is to advise individuals and groups on how to maintain a healthy diet. Helping clients manage existing health conditions is a common part of the job, including helping to manage diabetes. This course may be useful in providing an understanding of the causes, prevention, and dietary implications of diabetes.

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Health Educator

The main role of a Health Educator is to help people make healthy choices in order to improve their health. They create educational programs and materials, teach classes, and counsel individuals and groups on health topics.

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Health Policy Analyst

A Health Policy Analyst develops and analyzes health policy to improve the health of the population.

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Dietetic Technician

Dietetic Technicians provide food and nutrition services under the supervision of a Registered Dietitian or other qualified professional.

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Physician Assistant

A Physician Assistant's role is to provide medical care to patients under the supervision of a physician, including diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications, and performing procedures.

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Food Scientist

A Food Scientist applies scientific principles to develop new food products and improve existing ones.

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Pharmacist

A Pharmacist's job is to dispense medications and offer advice on their use.

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Nurse

A Nurse provides care to patients in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings.

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