Gulsen Meral

Prof. Dr. Gulsen Meral

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

11Years (2016-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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15 August 2024 in Cureus
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GMGulsen Meral
Gulsen Meral
EAElif S. Aslan
Elif S. Aslan
NBNeval Burkay
Neval Burkay
EAEsma Gökcen Alper Acar
Esma Gökcen Alper Acar
MKMustafa Fevzi Karagöz
Mustafa Fevzi Karagöz
MAMuhammed Yunus Alp
Muhammed Yunus Alp
Background: Nutrigenetics explores how genetic variations influence an individual's responses to nutrients, enabling personalized nutrition. As dietary supplements gain popularity, understanding genetic factors in their metabolism and effectiveness is crucial for optimal health outcomes. This study examines the role of genetic differences in the metabolism and effects of nutraceuticals, underscoring the significance of personalized nutrition within precision health. It aims to reveal how individual genetic profiles influence responses to dietary supplements, highlighting the value of nutrigenetics in optimizing health interventions. The study explores how genetic variations affect the absorption and effects of nutraceuticals, focusing on personalized supplement choices based on nutrigenetics. Methods: Sixteen patients from an Epigenetic Coaching clinic who were using supplements such as quercetin, curcumin, green tea, and sulforaphane and reporting side effects were studied. Their clinical outcomes were analyzed in relation to their supplement choices and genetic backgrounds. The study involved five women and 11 men, including eight with autism and others with conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) disease and joint pain. Results: In the study, it was observed that removing sulforaphane and sulfur-rich supplements from the diet of five patients reduced agitation. Removing sulforaphane and sulfur-rich supplements from the diet of four patients reduced clinical symptoms. Green tea caused discomfort in two patients. Responses to quercetin showed clinical differences in two patients. Anxiety and hyperactivity increased in three patients who took curcumin. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of considering individual genetic profiles when recommending dietary supplements. The findings suggest that personalized nutrition, guided by nutrigenetic insights, can enhance the efficacy and safety of nutraceutical interventions. Tailoring supplement choices based on genetic information can lead to better health outcomes and reduced adverse effects, emphasizing the need for integrating genetic testing into nutritional planning and healthcare practices.

27 August 2021 in Family Practice
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
VTVerda Tunaligil
Verda Tunaligil
GMGulsen Meral
Gulsen Meral
MDMustafa Resat Dabak
Mustafa Resat Dabak
MCMehmet Canbulat
Mehmet Canbulat
SDSıddıka Semahat Demir
Sıddıka Semahat Demir
Pandemics threaten lives and economies. This article addresses the global threat of the anticipated overlap of COVID-19 with seasonal-influenza. Scientific evidence based on simulation methodology is presented to reveal the impact of a dual outbreak, with scenarios intended for propagation analysis. This article aims at researchers, clinicians of family medicine, general practice and policy-makers worldwide. The implications for the clinical practice of primary health care are discussed. Current research is an effort to explore new directions in epidemiology and health services delivery. Projections consisted of machine learning, dynamic modelling algorithms and whole simulations. Input data consisted of global indicators of infectious diseases. Four simulations were run for ‘20% versus 60% flu-vaccinated populations’ and ‘10 versus 20 personal contacts’. Outputs consisted of numerical values and mathematical graphs. Outputs consisted of numbers for ‘never infected’, ‘vaccinated’, ‘infected/recovered’, ‘symptomatic/asymptomatic’ and ‘deceased’ individuals. Peaks, percentages, R0, durations are reported. The best-case scenario was one with a higher flu-vaccination rate and fewer contacts. The reverse generated the worst outcomes, likely to disrupt the provision of vital community services. Both measures were proven effective; however, results demonstrated that ‘increasing flu-vaccination rates’ is a more powerful strategy than ‘limiting social contacts’. Results support two affordable preventive measures: (i) to globally increase influenza-vaccination rates, (ii) to limit the number of personal contacts during outbreaks. The authors endorse changing practices and research incentives towards multidisciplinary collaborations. The urgency of the situation is a call for international health policy to promote interdisciplinary modern technologies in public health engineering.

1 April 2016 in Studies on Ethno-Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
GMGulsen Meral
Gulsen Meral
AGAysegul Guven
Aysegul Guven
AUAysegul Uslu
Aysegul Uslu
GCGamze Can
Gamze Can
AYAli Unsal Yozgatli
Ali Unsal Yozgatli
FAFaruk Akcay
Faruk Akcay
Researchers have determined the prevalence of deficiency and insufficiency of vitamin D levels in a sample of Turkish children, adolescents and adults. This study retrospectively reviewed the record of a total of 803 children, adolescents and adults aged between 0 and 89 years. This study was conducted with 596 females (74.2%) and 207 males (25.8%). Subjects’ ages ranged from 0 to 89. Vitamin D values ranged from 3 ng/mL to 222.9 ng/mL with a mean value of 21.0 ±20.7. Vitamin D values were below 10 ng/mL in 28.5 per cent (n=229), between 10 to 24 ng/mL in 43 percent (n=345), between 24.1 to 80 ng/mL in 26.7 percent (n=214) and more than 80 ng/mL in 1.9 percent (n=15) of subjects. Hypovitaminosis D prevalence as to age, gender and seasons showed a similar parallel rate with the literature.

28 May 2024 in Cureus
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GMGulsen Meral
Gulsen Meral
EAElif S Aslan
Elif S Aslan
VTVerda Tunaligil
Verda Tunaligil
NBNeval Burkay
Neval Burkay
EAEsma Gökcen Alper Acar
Esma Gökcen Alper Acar
MAMuhammed Yunus Alp
Muhammed Yunus Alp
Background After the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, the impact of genetic variations among people on human health was better understood. Precision medicine, also called 4P (Predictive, Preventive, Personalized, Participatory) medicine, is used to determine personal health risks, prevent, diagnose, and treat chronic diseases, and aims to identify the phenotypic, genotypic, and environmental factors that affect individual health risks instead of applying the same approach to everyone. Methods The study was conducted with 24 patients aged between 7 and 57. The patient group was selected from individuals who had undergone genetic and microbiota testing at Epigenetic Coaching Company. The patients' age, gender, and health status were documented. Genomic analysis of buccal samples was subsequently conducted using a custom Infinium HTS iSelect microarray on an Illumina iScan instrument, and microbiota metagenome analysis was performed using an Illumina NextSeq 500 platform. This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Biruni University Molecular Biology and Genetics Ethics Committee, with the decision number 2023/78-03. Results The genotypes of 19 cases carrying genetic variants involved in the metabolism of Vitamin D, Folate, B12, and Choline were analyzed. Eight of the cases were included in our study as autism patients, eight as allergy patients, and three as autoimmune thyroiditis patients. The Vitamin D receptor (VDR) genetic variants and microbiota diversity (using the Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio, an indicator of dysbiosis) of 11 cases (9 allergy and two autism patients) participating in the study were evaluated together. Conclusions Translating nutrigenetic and nutrigenomic research into multidisciplinary clinical practice is the most challenging aspect. It is now evident that integrating data regarding phenotype and genotype, and using nutrition, lifestyle, and supplements tailored to an individual's genetics can increase clinical success. Importantly, if we wish to adopt an epigenomic approach, we must incorporate analyses of nutrigenetics, microbiota, and personalized risk based on test results.

20 February 2025 in Molecular Biology Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
EAElif Sibel Aslan
Elif Sibel Aslan
CYCüneyd Yavaş
Cüneyd Yavaş
NANERMİN AKÇALI
NERMİN AKÇALI
SESajjad Eslamkhah
Sajjad Eslamkhah
GMGulsen Meral
Gulsen Meral
LBLutfiye Karcıoğlu Batur
Lutfiye Karcıoğlu Batur

2 December 2025 in Cureus
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
GMGulsen Meral
Gulsen Meral
MAMuhammed Yunus Alp
Muhammed Yunus Alp
NBNeval Burkay
Neval Burkay
EAEsma Gökcen Alper Acar
Esma Gökcen Alper Acar
BBBilge Ozluer Baser
Bilge Ozluer Baser
EAElif S Aslan
Elif S Aslan
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a global health concern affecting all age groups, despite the implementation of supplementation strategies. This study aimed to investigate the roles of genetic polymorphisms, epigenetic mechanisms, and microbiota interactions in vitamin D metabolism, as well as their potential contributions to allergies, autoimmune thyroiditis, and autism spectrum disorder.