Editor’s note: WRALTechWire Insider Allan Maurer provides an in-depth update about the latest action at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis. In Part Two of his exclusive report, Maurer examines the wealth of nutrition research taking place on the grounds of a former textile mill. (Part One provides an overall update of the campus.)

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Scientists at the 350-acre North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis, working collaboratively with major research universities, companies such as General Mills and Dole Foods, and even start-ups, are delving deeply into a topic we all care deeply about: food.

In some of their more interesting work – which is relative because most of it is interesting – they found:

  • Eating a banana delivers the energy equivalent of an energy drink that cost millions to develop commercially.
  • A compound in dried ginger may have anti-cancer effects.
  • A line of broccoli with enhanced levels of lutein, an antioxidant associated with lowering risks for cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in America.
  • Brassinosteriods, a natural steroid found in high concentrations in the Brassica genus that includes cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, reversed muscle loss by 20 to 30 percent in a rat model.
  • A polyphenol from red peanut skins reduced fat in the blood in animal models.

They’re also looking for ways to use whole grains to ward off disease, including specific compounds in bran that can prevent colon cancer and developing even healthier oats for General Mills, maker of Cheerios.

They’re exploring the potential of zinc to treat alcohol-induced fatty liver disease.

The NC Strawberry Project, part of the wide-ranging work at the NC State University Plants for Human Health Institute, NC MarketReady, and Johnson and Whales University at NCRC conducted sensory analysis of 16 strawberry breeding lines. They scored traits such as appearance, shape, color, flesh texture, firmness and flavor using panels of consumers, chefs, and farmers. The feedback provided data aimed at breeding a better NC strawberry with a longer growing season and able to grow in more regions to increase the crops economic impact in the state.

Dr. Allan Brown at the Plants for Human Health Institute also is leading a team sequencing the blueberry genome.

David Nieman, PH.D, director of the Appalachian State U niversity (ASU) Human Performance Laboratory, studies exercise immunology and sports nutrition, obesity, aging and nutritional assessment. he Human Performance Laboratory investigates the influence of plant molecules called flavonoids on age-related loss of muscle mass, exercise-induced changes in immune function, oxidative stress and inflammation.

They work with amateur athletes, corporations, food companies, and community participants to understand the positive effects of exercise on the body and how human nutrition affects performance.

His work has attracted considerable amounts of grant money and companies approach “They come here searching for validation of their product claims,” explains Lynne Safrit, president of the North American Commercial Division of Castle and Cooke, developer of the NCRC.

In still other research, NCRC studies involved chia seed consumption and omega 3 bio availability, the effects of fruit and vegetable juice on inflammation and oxidative stress, and the health benefits of vitamin D from portabella mushroom powder.

Editor’s note: Allan Maurer has been a science reporter for national magazines such as OMNI and Science Digest and covered biotechnology for numerous publications for the last 15 years.