Laila Meija

Work experience

Education and training

Achievements

Publications

Meija L., Havensone G., Lejnieks A. Postprandial Glycaemic and Insulinaemic Responses after Consumption of Activated Wheat and Triticale Grain Flake. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. Article Number: 6594896   Published: 2019

Havensone, G., Meija, L., Balode, L., Stūrīte, I., & Lejnieks, A. Glycaemic Profile and Insulin Response after Consuming Triticale Flakes. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences. De Gruyter Open, 2017: 434-439

Krams I.,Kecko S.,Inashkina I., Trakimas G.,  Krams R.,Elferts D.,Vrublevska J.,Jõers P.,Rantala M.J., Luoto S., Contreras‐Garduño J., Jankevica L., Meija L., Krama T. Food quality affects the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes upon simulated parasite attack in the larvae of greater wax moth. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 2017, 165.2-3: 129-137

Meija L, Krams I, Cauce V, Samaletdin A, Söderholm P, Meija R, Lārmane L, Lejnieks A, Lietuvietis V, Adlercreutz H. Alkylresorcinol metabolites in urine and plasma as potential biomarkers of rye and wheat fiber consumption in prostate cancer patients and controls. Nutr Cancer. 2015;67(2):258-65

Zute S., Šterna V., Meija L. Investigations of the State Stende Cereal Breeding Institute on the suitability of local varieties of cereals for the production of healthy food in Latvia. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B, 2015; 69 (4): 697-699

Krams I, Kecko S, Kangassalo K, Moore FR, Jankevics E, Inashkina I, Krama T, Lietuvietis V, Meija L, Rantala MJ. Effects of food quality on trade-offs among growth, immunity and survival in the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella. Insect Sci. 2015 Mar;22(3):431-9

Skrinda I, Krama T, Kecko S, Moore FR, Kaasik A, Meija L, Lietuvietis V, Rantala MJ, Krams I. Body height, immunity, facial and vocal attractiveness in young men. Naturwissenschaften. 2014 Dec;101(12):1017-25

Krams IA, Skrinda I, Kecko S, Moore FR, Krama T, Kaasik A, Meija L, Lietuvietis V, Rantala MJ. Body height affects the strength of immune response in young men, but not young women. Sci Rep. 2014, 4:6223

Meija L., Soderholm P., Samaletdin A., Ignace G., Siksna I, Joffe R, Lejnieks A, Lietuvietis V, Krams I, Adlercreutz H. Dietary intake and major sources of plant lignans in Latvian men and women. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2013b; 64(5): 535-543

Meija L ., Samaletdin A., Koskela A., Lejnieks A., Lietuvietis V, Adlercreutz H. Alkylresorcinols in Latvian and Finnish breads. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2013a; 64(1): 117-121

Bobere N., Podjava A., Meija L., Jakobsone I. Determination of alkylresorcinols by HPLC-UV in cereals breed in Latvia. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences, 2013; 67 (4/5): 389-393

Meija L., Ignace G., Cauce V., Siksna I., Joffe, N. Bobere, V. Lietuvietis, A. Lejnieks, P. Söderholm,  Adlercreutz. H. Consumption of the Whole-Grain Rye Bread and Progression of Prostate Cancer. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences, 2013; 67(4/5): 448-451

Proper maternal nutrition during pregnancy planning and pregnancy: a healthy start in life (2017)

Recommendations for health care professionals – the experience from Latvia. These recommendations were prepared within the Biennial Collaborative Agreement between the Ministry of Health of Latvia and the WHO Regional Office for Europe (2016–2017) on the basis of the recommendations of the WHO Regional. Office for Europe in 2016 for good maternal nutrition.

http://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/latvia/publications/pr…

Chapter “Nutrition during pregnancy and lactation” in book “Obstetric” (Dzemdniecība, profesores Daces Rezebergas redakcijā (2016). Rīga, Medicīnas apgāds. 6.nodaļa. Meija L., Balode L. Uzturs grūtniecības un laktācijas laikā, 105. -130.lpp.)

Chapter “Rye” in book “Whole Grains and Their Bioactives: Composition and Health”,  The publisher John Wiley & Sons with Co-Editors Taylor C. Wallace and Jodee Johnson, in press.

Projects

2017 - Present. Quality of diet in pregnant women in Latvia. Institute of Public Health. Riga Stradins University. Leader of researcher.

2015 – 2016. Innovative approach to hull-less spring cereals and triticale use from human health perspective. Norwegian Financial Mechanism  2009-2014. Principal investigator (Leader of RSU work package).

2015. Establishment of new scientific group for multisector research of local breeding serial evaluation considering it`s nutritional parameters and use for prevention of inflammatory bowel diseases.  The European Social Fund project No. 2013/0072/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/13/APIA/VIAA/032. Researcher.

2011 -2013. Assessment of potential of local origin whole-grain species and obtaining of species to be used for acquisition of specific diet. Nr. DP/2.1.1.0/10/APIA/VIAA/083 ERAF; 2010. Leading researcher.

Honours and awards

2017. Acknowledgement of Latvian Academy of Sciences for  achievements in applied science in project “Innovative approach to hull-less spring cereals and triticale use from human health perspective”

Conferences and presentations

Speaker:

Riga, Latvia, Latvia Impact of eating disorders on Reproduction” , 9th Alice and Albert days of European society of Gynecology”, 2018

Jelgava, Latvia” Glycemic and insulin response after consumption different grain flakes” , Foodbalt -2017

Granada, Spain, “Use of traditional and nontraditional whole grains in health promotion in Latvia”, XVII International Congress of Dietetics, 2016

Riga, Latvia, “Research on the  potential protective effects of whole grains in Latvia”, 2nd International conference Nutrition and Health, 2016

Dubai, UAE, “Glycemic and insulin response after germinated rye flakes”, conference “Clinical Nutrition”, 2016

Riga, Latvia “Research of potential health benefits of whole grain components in Latvia”, 6th Global Summit on Medical and Aromatic Plants, 2016

Riga, Latvia “How can whole grains work in Latvia” conference “ Society health welfare”, 2016

Riga, Latvia “Traditional and non-traditional whole grains in Latvia as potential anti-obesogens’’, 8th World congress on Diabetes & Obesity, 2015

Riga, Latvia “Whole-grain rye bread and prostate cancer progression, 1nd International conference Nutrition and Health, 2012

Rome, Italy, “Dietary fiber intake and food sources in aged man and women in Latvia”, 5th International Dietary Fibre Conference, 2012

Memberships, profesional associations

2016 – Present. President of LASPEN (The Latvian society for clinical nutrition and metabolism)

Latvian Association of Internists

Latvian society of Endocrinology

Gastroenterology Society of Latvia

Academic Activities

Development of curriculum and leading

Study courses:

Practical aspects of nutritional therapy

Nutrition for health in different life stages, functional food

Residency program: Dietology

Academic Supervision

Sixteen Master thesis: K. Ozola, A. Šitova, G. Zīberga, S. Jākobsone, I. Pole, K. Kiploka, N. Zasimuka, L. Indrane, S. Buivice Buivide, A. Osokina, N. Luksa, Z. Melluma, J. Rozīte Viškinte, M. Kaplane, K.Klaramunta Antila, A.Kvasova.

Two PhD thesis are co-supervised now: G. Havensone and A. Zauers

Speaker in ESPEN (European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism) Baltic Course in Clinical Nutrition in Riga Tallin, Vilnius (2013. -2018.g.). Topics: “Nutritional screening and assessment”, “Malnutrition”, “Hospital Diet and Oral Nutritional Supplements”.

Other information

Expert of Latvian Academy of Sciences.

Reviewed manuscripts in journals: Nutrition and Cancer: An International Journal; Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry; Journal of the American College of Nutrition;  Nutrition Journal; Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

Associate Editor in journal: Clinical Nutrition ESPEN.

Review on the national guidelines on Maternal Nutrition of Uzbekistan as a temporary adviser of the World Health Organisation.

Member of Nutritional board, Ministry of Health.

Participation in activities of Latvian government, process of legislation regarding nutrition issues, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture.