Marco Mensink

Dr Mensink received his MSc in Health Sciences, specialization movement sciences, in 1995, and his medical degree (MD) in 1998 from Maastricht University. He completed his PhD in 2003 at the same university, within the project: "Relevance of genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes". Main research question was: "Can lifestyle favourably affect the natural history in subjects at high risk for type 2 diabetes (IGT)?", with special attention for the role of skeletal muscle fatty acid metabolism. After a post-doc period in the group of Prof Patrick Schrauwen, he moved in 2008 to Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition, chair Nutrition and Health headed by Prof Frans Kok. Since 2015 the chair is led by Prof Edith Feskens and renamed ‘Nutrition and Health over the lifecourse’. Dr Mensink is responsible for the research theme ‘Nutrition, Physical activity and Sports’ and involved in the Division-wide research theme ‘Metabolic Health’

Field of research is ‘Nutrition, Energy metabolism & Health’, in particular how nutrition and physical activity can regulate energy metabolism and affect health and performance. In the research line Nutrition and the metabolic syndrome, the focus is on dietary protein. How well are proteins and amino acids digested and utilised, and what is their role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. Within the research line Nutrition, Physical activity and Sports, the goal is to understand how nutritional status is linked to exercise and training adaptation.