Guðrún V. Skúladóttir
Research professor at Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland
Gudrun obtained a cand. mag. degree in Natural Sciences (Biology and Chemistry) in 1973, a cand. real. degree in Biochemistry 1977, and a doctor philos degree (Thesis: n-3 and n-6 Fatty Acids in Plasma and Heart Membrane Associated with Cardiovascular Disease) 1997 from the University of Oslo, Norway. Gudrun became a Research Associate 1977 at the National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, a Research Associate 1978-1994, a Research Scientist 1994-1999, and a Research Professor from 1999 at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland. She is a member of the International Society for the study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL) and the Lipidforum (Nordic Forum for Lipid Research and Technology).
Research: Gudrun is interested in marine omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) intake associated with health and disease. Ongoing projects: 1. Inflammation and development of atrial fibrillation following open heart surgery. Animal studies have shown that omega-3 LC-PUFA have a favorable effect on electrical disturbances in atrial muscle cells. The effects of these fatty acids on atrial fibrillation following open heart surgery have been conflicting. The aim of the study, initiated in 2007, is to investigate the association between these fatty acids and inflammatory mediators and development of atrial fibrillation following open heart surgery at Landspitali – University of Iceland. 2. Omega-3 LC-PUFA in the diet of pregnant and non-pregnant women of reproductive age is important, since the status of these fatty acids in the first trimester is associated with the outcome of pregnancy. Optimal outcome of pregnancy has been related to improved health of the offspring later in life. In an earlier study, initiated in 1999, the nutrition and lifestyle of pregnant women and pregnancy outcome was investigated. The aim of the ongoing study is to investigate the impact of prenatal nutrition on health and development of the children from the previous study.
Coworkers:
1. Olafur S. Indriðason MD, David O. Arnar MD, Runolfur Palsson MD and Bjarni Torfason MD, Landspitali – University of Iceland
2. Laufey Steingrimsdottir nutritionist, Anna S. Olafsdottir nutritionist, and Thorhallur I. Halldorsson nutritionist, University of Iceland.
3. Kristin Skogstrand pharmacologist and David M. Hougaard pharmacologist, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Publications: PubMed