Dr. Lindsay Robinson

I can link my current research interests in nutrition and metabolism to two key events that occurred during my fourth year of undergraduate studies at Acadia University. The first was taking an elective introductory nutrition course and the second was my laboratory-based honours biology research project. These actions revealed my love for both nutritional sciences and research. Combining these interests led me to the University of Alberta where I did my Ph.D. focused on nutrition, immunology, and cancer. Following this, I came to the University of Guelph where I held an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship to study carbohydrate metabolism in insulin resistant states, such as obesity and diabetes. It was this work that led to my current research program focused on understanding the roles and regulation of cytokines secreted from adipose tissue (‘adipokines’) in obesity-related chronic diseases. I’m particularly interested in diet and exercise regulation of adipokines and their roles in communication among key metabolic tissues in health and chronic diseases.

My laboratory is currently funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) as well as an infrastructure grant from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation.

B.Sc. - Acadia University
Ph.D. - University of Alberta

The general focus of my research program is the integration of diet and exercise in mediating metabolic processes in health and chronic disease.
I am interested in understanding the physiological roles and regulation of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle-derived cytokines in mediating metabolic processes in the body. I am particularly interested in the mechanisms by which dietary factors and/or exercise modulate various cytokines and inflammatory mediators implicated in insulin resistance, a key characteristic of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Current Research Projects

• Regulation of adipose tissue-derived cytokines in integrative metabolism
• Effect of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in the presence and absence of LPS on adipocyte secretory factors and underlying mechanisms
• Effect of dietary fatty acids on pro-inflammatory markers in an in vitro murine adipocyte macrophage co-culture model

Liddle DM, Lin X, Cox LC, Ward EM, Ansari R, Wright AJ, Robinson LE. Daily Apple Consumption Reduces Plasma and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell–Secreted Inflammatory Biomarkers in Adults with Overweight and Obesity: A 6-Week Randomized, Controlled, Parallel-Arm Trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2021

Liddle DM, Hutchinson AL, Monk JM, DeBoer AA, Ma DWL, Robinson LE. Dietary Long-Chain n-3 PUFAs Mitigate CD4+ T Cell/Adipocyte Inflammatory Interactions in Co-Culture Models of Obese Adipose Tissue. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2020

Tishinsky JM, De Boer AA, Dyck DJ, Robinson LE. Modulation of Visceral Fat Adipokine Secretion by Dietary Fatty Acids and Ensuring Changes in Skeletal Muscle Inflammation. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 2014; 39(1):28-37.

De Boer AA, Monk JM, Robinson LE. Docosahexaenoic Acid Decreases Pro-Inflammatory Mediators in an in Vitro Murine Adipocyte Macrophage Co-Culture Model. PLoS One. 2014; 9(1):e85037.

Robinson LE and Mazurak VC. N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Relationship to Inflammation in Healthy Adults and Adults Exhibiting Features of Metabolic Syndrome. Lipids. 2013; 48(4):319-32.

Tishinsky JM, Robinson LE, Dyck DJ. Insulin Sensitizing Effects of Adiponectin. Invited Review for Biochimie Special Issue. 2012; 94(10):2131-6.

Tishinsky JM, Gulli R, Mullen K, Dyck DJ, Robinson LE. Fish Oil Prevents High Saturated Fat Diet-Induced Impairments in Adiponectin and Insulin Response in Rodent Skeletal Muscle. Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol. 2012; 302(5):R598-605.

Beaudoin MS, Robinson LE, Graham TE. An Oral Lipid Challenge and Acute Intake of Caffeinated Coffee Additively Decrease Glucose Tolerance in Healthy Men. J. Nutr. 2011; 141(4):574-81.

Ooi TC, Robinson L, Graham T, Kolovou GD, Mikhailidis DP, Lairon D. Proposing a "Lipemic Index" as a Nutritional and Research Tool. Curr. Vasc. Pharmacol. 2011; 9(3):313-7.

Matheson KM, Cutting JE, Mazurak VC, Robinson LE, Buchholz AC. n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Increase Thermic Effect of Food in Men with Metabolic Syndrome. Can. J. Diet Pract. Res. 2011; 72(4):201-4.

Tishinsky JM, Ma DWL, Robinson LE. Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Rosiglitazone Increase Adiponectin in an Additive and PPARγ-Dependent Manner in Human Adipocytes. Obesity. 2011; 19(2):262-8.

Oster R, Tishinsky J, Yuan Z, Robinson LE. Docosahexaenoic Acid Up-Regulates Adiponectin and PPAR-Gamma in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 2010; 35(6):783-9.

Mullen K, Tishinsky JM , Robinson LE, Dyck DJ. Skeletal Muscle Inflammation is Not Responsible for the Rapid Impairment in Adiponectin Response with High Fat Feeding in Rats. Am. J. Physiol. - Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol. 2010; 299:R500-8.

Montegaard CF, Tulk HMF , Lauritzen L, Tholstrup T, Robinson LE. Acute Ingestion of Long-Chain (n-3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Decreases Fibrinolysis in Men with Metabolic Syndrome. J. Nutr. 2010; 140:38-43.

• NUTR*4210 Nutrition, Exercise and Energy Metabolism
• HHNS*6700 Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism I

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