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Investigating the developmental origins of the metabolic syndrome.
Dr. Benyshek in his labDr. Daniel Benyshek has been investigating the developmental origins of the metabolic syndrome (that includes obesity and diabetes) in Native American and other high prevalence populations since arriving at the UNLV Department of Anthropology and Ethnic Studies in 2001. His current research projects focus on modeling the obesity and diabetes epidemic among the highest prevalence human populations (where as much as a quarter or more of the adult population is diabetic) in experimental animals. The work of Dr. Benyshek and other researchers has shown that a major factor in the origins of the metabolic syndrome, and its transmission from one generation to the next, is the diet of the mother during pregnancy.

This animal research, along with corroborating observationally-based medical studies with humans, is challenging previously held notions about the genetic predisposition of Native Americans and other populations around the globe with the highest prevalence of diabetes and obesity (the "thrifty genotype hypothesis"), and is suggesting new avenues for future community-based prevention programs.
A fat rat with diabetesIn one current research project, Dr. Benyshek and graduate student Julie Kachinski are investigating the possible anti-diabetic, protective effects for the offspring of mothers that consume a prenatal diet rich in some nutrients found in traditional Native Alaskan diets.