Dr Natalia Perez-Moral

Researcher

Contact via email

Optimising nutrient release from plant-based foods

I am a Biophysical Chemist. I have over the years worked as a polymer, analytical, colloidal, and biophysical chemist in different institutions including the Institute of Food Research (Biotechnology, and Food and Health Departments), the School of Chemical Sciences (University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK), and in the Chemical Engineering Group (University of the Basque Country, Spain). I have worked in the synthesis, analysis and characterisation of structured systems and their interactions with molecules for their application in encapsulation-release systems, bioavailability studies, uptake and targeted delivery of specific molecules and molecular recognition techniques.

My current research is focused on gaining knowledge and understanding of the influence of the structure of plant-based food products in the digestion, release, and bioavailability of nutrients. As well as studying the nutritional and health impact generated by legumes, we investigate the preparation of new food products with potential health benefits.


Key Publications

Perez-Moral N., Watt S., Wilde P. J.(2014) Comparative study of the stability of multiple emulsions containing a gelled or aqueous internal phase. Food Hydrocolloids 42 215-222

Perez-Moral N., Chueca Gonzalez M., Parker R.(2013) Preparation of iron-loaded alginate gel beads and their release characteristics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Food Hydrocolloids 31 114-120

Perez-Moral N., Mayes A. G.(2007) Molecularly Imprinted Multi-Layer Core-Shell Nanoparticles – A Surface Grafting Approach. Macromolecular Rapid Communications 28 2170-2175

Perez-Moral N., Mayes A. G.(2004) Comparative Study of Imprinted Polymer Particles Prepared by Different Polymerisation Methods. Analytica Chimica Acta 504 15-21

Perez N., Whitcombe M. J., Vulfson E. N.(2001) Surface Imprinting of Cholesterol on Submicrometer Core-Shell Emulsion Particles. Macromolecules 34 830-836

Haarhuis JE, Ahn-Jarvis J, Savva GM, Day-Walsh P, Ferns C, Hughes S, Triller S, Al-Jaibaji O, Philo M, Acaroz E, Perez-Moral N, Kroon P. (2026)

Effect of a polyphenol-rich pomegranate extract on plasma trimethylamine N-oxide levels following an oral carnitine challenge: a randomized controlled crossover trial in healthy adults

Frontiers in Nutrition


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Eldridge B, Javvadi S, Perez-Moral N, Sweetman J, De Barros Dantas L, Saha S, Lynch DA, Hunt T, Clough SE, Toussaint J, Worrall A, Manzoni LR, Robinson N, Franklin KA, Edwards C, Clarke J, Farmer J, Warren M, Dodd AN. (2026)

Addressing Vitamin B12 deficiency through aeroponic fortification of a salad crop (Pisum sativum)

Communications Biology


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Cai M, Tejpal S, Tashkova M, Ryden P, Perez-Moral N, Saha S, Garcia Perez, Serrano Contreras, Wist J, Holmes E, Bernal A, Dou B, Franco Becker, Frost G, Edwards C. (2025)

Upper-Gastrointestinal Tract Metabolite Profile Regulates Glycaemic and Satiety Responses to Meals with Contrasting Structure  

Nature Metabolism


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Freitas D, Gwala S, Henry G, Lazaridou A, Boesch C, Duijsens D, Wheller F, Lopez-Rodulfo I, Kotsiou K, Corbin K, Alongi M, Martinez M, Hafiz M, Tomassen M, Perez-Moral N, Vidal N, Ariens R, Simsek S, Nehir El S, Karakaya S, Le Feunteun S, Bastiaan-Net S, Krause S, Zhang B, Orfilla C, Ballance S, Grassby T. (2025)

Interlaboratory validation of an optimized protocol for measuring a-amylase activity by the INFOGEST international research network.

Scientific reports, 159, 104969


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Freitas D, Lazaridou A, Duijsens D, Kotsiou K, Corbin KR, Alongi M, Perez-Moral N, Simsek S, El SN, Gwala S, Karakaya S, Le Feunteun S, Grauwet T, Martinez MM, Edwards CH. (2025)

Starch digestion: a comprehensive update on the underlying modulation mechanisms and its in vitro assessment methodologies

Trends in Food Science and Technology, 159, 104969


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Dagbasi A, Danckert N, Edwards C, Valdivia M, Hanyaloglu A, Holmes E, Ma Y, Marchesi J, Mendoza L, Tashkova M, Perez-Moral N, Garcia-Perez I, Sands C, Murphy KG, Frost G, Serrano-Contreras J. (2024)

Diet shapes the metabolite profile in the intact human ileum, which affects PYY release

Science Translational Medicine


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Freitas D, Lazaridou A, Duijsens D, Kotsiou K, Corbin KR, Alongi M, Perez-Moral N, Simsek S, El SN, Gwala S, Karakaya S, Le Feunteun, Grauwet T, Martinez MM, Edwards C. (2024)

Starch digestion: a comprehensive update on the underlying modulation mechanisms and its in vitro assessment methodologies

Trends in Food Science and Technology


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