Our Research
Our nutrition practice is evidence based and our team keeps up-to-date with the latest in nutritional science. This means you get the best advice and recommendations to support your health.
Our Research Director Dr Ciara Wright PhD, has a number of projects and collaborations underway, including several recent publications in medical and science journals. She is also on the editorial board of the Nutritional Medicine Institute.
Sperm DNA Fragmentation: modifiable clinical, lifestyle
and nutritional factors in male infertility
C Wright, H Leeson, Reproductive BioMedicine Online (2014) 28, 684–703
Key messages:
- Recommendations are made to include a diet rich in antioxidants, such as zinc, selenium, vitamin C and E
- Analysis of previous clinical trials carried out to determine the best use of supplements and whether they are useful and safe
- Recommendations made for doctors, fertility consultants, healthcare providers and patients to test levels first before over-supplementing as this can also cause harm
Male and Sperm Factors that Maximize IVF Success
Chapter: Lifestyle Factors And Sperm Health
C Wright, Cambridge University Press (2020)
Key messages:
Nutrition has a major impact on male fertility and can change parameters such as morphology, motility and sperm count.
- The current scientific literature was analysed for evidence on how diet affects male fertility
- A fertility friendly diet is advised which is high in fruits, vegetables, fish, pulses, nuts, seeds and wholegrains
- Moderate exercise is beneficial, while disrupted sleep or shift work may have a negative effect
Magnesium in Pregnancy
C Wright, L Dalton, H Leeson and collaboration with Institute of Health Science students. Nutrition Reviews (2016) 74, 9: 549-557
Key messages:
- Magnesium plays an important role in healthy pregnancy, reducing risk factors for gestational diabetes, pre-term birth, preeclampsia, and small for gestational age or intrauterine growth restriction
- To provide evidence-based recommendations for women, healthcare practitioners and doctors including doses and testing using red cell magnesium instead of serum
Safety and Efficacy of Supplements in Pregnancy
C Wright collaboration with Ben Browne ND, Nutritional Medicine Institute. Nutrition Reviews (2020) 78, 10:813-826
Key messages:
- To provide evidence-based recommendations for women, healthcare practitioners and doctors
- A wide range of vitamins and minerals are examined giving the advantages and disadvantages to supplementing in pregnancy, including safety for mother and child
- Doses are examined to provide accurate and safe recommendations for pregnant women
Assessing Iodine Status in Front line Healthcare
C Wright, H Leeson, Journal of Nutrition and Medical Diet Care (2018) 4:028
Key messages:
- Urine iodine testing is suitable for iodine determination in patients when coupled with dietary analysis
- Iodine assessment is critical for thyroid health
- Case report of patient with subclinical hypothyroidism with iodine deficiency. Iodine levels were safely and cautiously restored, and the patient’s thyroid function normalised
Eradication of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) in Irritable Bowel Syndrome using herbal therapy; a case study
C Wright, H Leeson, collaboration with M Dooley, Gastrolife. International Journal of Functional Nutrition (2021) 2:5
Key messages:
- SIBO is underdiagnosed as a leading cause of IBS
- The breath test is the gold standard in diagnosis
- Case report of a patient positive for both methane and hydrogen SIBO, managed with a low FODMAP diet, treated with herbal antimicrobial. Negative breath test on repeat and successful resolution of IBS symptoms
Clinical trial/ pilot study in St James’ Hospital
12 week dietary intervention in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
C Wright – 2017
Collaboration with:
- St James Hospital: Prof S Norris, Hepatologist, Dr Sara Naimimohasses, Stephen Finn, Consultant Histopathologist, Dean Holden and Niall Conlon, Dept of Immunology, Peter Beddy Dept of Radiology
- University of Leeds: Prof B Moore and N Hancock, School of Food Science and Nutrition, C Bredin MSc DipNT, D NiFhloinn MSc DipNT
- Trinity College Dublin: A Monaghan, M Kennedy, J Gormley and P O’Gorman Department of Physiotherapy, and J O’Sullivan, M Dunne Trinity Translational Medicine Institute
- University of Surrey: K Hart
Publications
Development and relative validation of a short food frequency questionnaire for assessing dietary intakes of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients European Journal of Nutrition (2020) 59:571–580 Open access here
A 12-week multi-component dietary intervention improves markers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Irish patients in tertiary care. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2020;79(OCE2):E505 Open access here
Differential Effects of Dietary versus Exercise Intervention on Intrahepatic MAIT Cells and Histological Features of NAFLD. Nutrients. 2022 14(11):2198 Open access here
Key messages:
- Healthy 12 week approach with Nutritionist supervision achieves weight loss and abdominal fat loss
- Diet higher in wholefoods, oily fish and fibre reduces inflammatory markers in the liver and reduces damage associated with fatty liver
Treatment of Long Covid with Enoxaparin
C Wright, collaboration with Prof Doug, Kell University of Liverpool, Prof Resia Prestorius Stellenbosch University, Prof David Putrino Mount Sinai. Long COVID special issue, Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal (2025) 36(1):70-73
Key messages:
- Long covid is a vascular disease and clotting, or microclotting, may play a role in many of the symptom
- Treatment with nattokinase is common but did not work for this patient
- Enoxaparin is an anti-coagulant which also has anti-viral and anti-inflammatory action
- Treatment with enoxaparin greatly improved this patients function and quality of life
Clinical Trial
Lactate levels in Post-Exertional Malaise: observational study
C Wright, collaboration with Dr Todd Davenport, University of the Pacific, Prof David Putrino Mount Sinai et al
Key messages:
- Elevated lactate is a marker of dysfunctional metabolism
- Patients with PEM (Long Covid, ME/CFS, vaccine injured) had elevated lactate levels at rest
- Lactate levels increased after eating and after exertion
- At-home testing may help to include more severe patients who cannot access healthcare and may be used to monitor interventions to improve metabolism
International Conferences
Presentations at International Conferences
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Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Modifiable Nutritional and Lifestyle Factors – C Wright World Congress on Controversies in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility (COGI) 2015
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Nutrition To Support Assisted Conception – C Wright Upper Egypt Assisted Reproductive Conference 2017
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Thyroid and Whole Body Health - C Wright BANT and NMI conference 2020
Slides 1_Dr-Ciara-Wright_Thyroid-and-Whole-Body-Health-compressed.pdf (nmi.health)
Video for purchase Event Summary BANT 2020 | Nutritional Medicine Institute (nmi.health)
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SIBO: Nutritional and Herbal Anti-microbial Treatment - C Wright IHCAN conference 2022
Podcasts
Podcast
2020 Positive Health Podcast
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Sperm health and DNA fragmentation, testing nutrient levels, fertility diet, immune related infertility
Listen here Dr Ciara Wright, PhD: Fertility, Female Health and Personalised Nutrition | Listen Notes