Margarita De L. Teran-Garcia

Dr. Teran-Garcia's research focus is on understanding the role of genetic and environmental influences on the development of children obesity. The laboratory uses genomic approaches to study pediatric nutrition, obesity and its related disorders in the context of translational research.

The goal of my research is to expand on the knowledge of gene-environment interactions. Our individual genetic profile interacts with the environment to allow a gene or groups of genes in different metabolic pathways to adapt to changes in diet or exercise and many other environmental factors, to maintain a healthy status. As we understand more about gene-environment interactions, individualized recommendations for preventing obesity and obesity-related diseases will become more accessible and reliable.

My research group investigates nutrient-gene, exercise-gene and other gene-environment interactions in children and young adults. We are participating in two major multi-disciplinary projects: 1) STRONG Kids (Synergistic Theory and Research on Obesity and Nutrition Group) and 2) UP Amigos (Universities of Illinois and San Luis Potosi: A Multidisciplinary Investigation on Genetics, Obesity and Social-environment). Both research initiatives aim to identify risk factors that influence the development of childhood and adolescent obesity. Our long-term goal is to offer efficient interventions to have a significant positive impact on health and wellness.

Dr. Teran's Laboratory website

Selected Publications

Harrison K., Bost K.K., McBride B.A., Donovan S.M., Grigsby-Toussaint D.S., Kim J., Liechty J.M., Wiley A., Teran-Garcia M. and Jacobsohn G. C. Toward a developmental conceptualization of contributors to weight imbalance in childhood: The Six-Cs model. Child Development Perspectives. 2011; 5(1):50-58.

Rankinen T., Rice T., Teran-Garcia M., Rao D.C. and Bouchard C. FTO genotype is associated with exercise training-induced changes in body composition. Obesity. 2010; 18(2):322-6.

Stütz A.M., Teran-Garcia M., Rao D.C., Rice T., Bouchard C. and Rankinen T. Functional identification of the promoter of SLC4A5, a gene associated with cardiovascular and metabolic phenotypes in the HERITAGE Family Study. Eu J Hum Genetics. 2009; 17(11): 1481-9.

Argyropoulos G., Stütz A.M., Ilnytska O., Rice T., Teran-Garcia M., Rao DC, Bouchard C. and Rankinen T. KIF5B Gene Sequence Variation and Response of Cardiac Stroke Volume to Regular Exercise. Physiol Genomics 2009; 36:79-88.

Teran-Garcia M., Rankinen T., Bouchard C. Genes, Exercise, Growth and the Sedentary, Obese Child. J Appl Physiol. 2008; 105:988-1001.

Ukkola O., Teran-Garcia M., Tremblay A., Després J.P. and Bouchard C. Adiponectin Concentration and Insulin Indicators Following Overfeeding in Identical Twins. J Endocrinol Invest. 2008; 31(2):132-7.

Teran-Garcia M., Després J.P., Tremblay A., and Bouchard C. Effects of Cholesterol Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) gene polymorphisms on adiposity in response to long-term overfeeding in identical twins. Atherosclerosis 2008; 196(1):455-460.

Redman L.M., Teran-Garcia M. and Ravussin E. Preventing Metabolic Syndrome: Diet, Exercise, Both or More? Review of Endocrinology 2007 July/Aug: 23-25. 2007.

Teran-Garcia M., Rankinen T., Rice T., Leon A.S., Rao D.C., Skinner J.S. and Bouchard C.Variations of the Four and a half LIM domain 1 gene (FHL1) are associated with fasting insulin and insulin sensitivity responses to regular exercise. Diabetologia 2007; 50(9):1858-66.

Teran-Garcia M. and Bouchard C. Genetics of the Metabolic Syndrome. Review. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 2007; 32: 89-114.

Teran-Garcia M., Adamson A.W, Rufo C., Clarke S.D. and Gettys T.W. Involvement of NF-Y in the polyunsaturated fatty acid inhibition of rat liver fatty acid synthase gene transcription. Biochem J. 2007; 402 (3): 591-600.

Adamson A.W., Suchankova G., Rufo C., Nakamura M.T., Teran-Garcia M., Clarke S.D. and Gettys T.W. Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4alpha contributes to carbohydrate-induced transcriptional activation of hepatic fatty acid synthase. Biochem J. 2006;399 (2): 285-95.

Teran-Garcia M., Santoro N., Rankinen T., Bergeron J., Rice T., Leon A.S., Rao D.C., Skinner J. S., Wilmore J.H., Bergman R. N., Després J.P. and Bouchard C. Hepatic Lipase Gene Variant -514C>T is associated with lipoprotein and insulin sensitivity response to regular exercise: The HERITAGE Family Study. Diabetes 2005; 54 (7): 2251-2255.

Courses recently taught:

FSHN 420 - Nutritional Aspects of Disease

FSHN 520 - Advanced Clinical Nutrition. Weight Management and Metabolic Syndrome.

NUTR 500 - Nutritional Sciences Seminar

Ph.D. in Metabolism/Nutrient-gene interactions - University of Texas at Austin, 2001

Dr. Teran-Garcia obtained her M.D. from the National University Autonomous of Mexico, UNAM, and did her pediatric residency at the National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico. In 2001, she received her Ph.D. in Metabolism/Nutrient-gene interactions form the University of Texas at Austin under the mentorship of Prof. Steven D. Clarke. After completing her post-doctoral training with Prof. Claude Bouchard at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, she continued her work as an Associate Scientist in the Human Genomics Laboratory and as Co-Director of the Cell Culture Core Facility. Dr. Teran-Garcia has experience in clinical nutrition, nutrigenetics, and childhood obesity. In August of 2008, she joined the faculty of Food Science and Human Nutrition as an Assistant Professor in Nutrition. She is currently serving as chair of the Latin American Affairs section of The Obesity Society.