Victor Castro Alves
Victor Castro Alves Position: Researcher School/office: School of Science and TechnologyEmail: dmljdG9yLmNhc3Ryby1hbHZlcztvcnUuc2U=
Phone: +46 19 302385
Room: B3118
- Man-Technology-Environment research centre (MTM)
-
Responsive Nutrition Research Centre
About Victor Castro Alves
Victor Castro-Alves is a researcher in the Metabolomics & Exposomics Lab at the Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre (MTM), and Deputy Director of the Food and Health Center, Örebro University.
Research
With a strong background in food science and analytical chemistry, Victor’s research focuses on how food components are metabolized by the gut microbiota and how this process impacts human health. He coordinates a Swedish Research Council Starting Grant exploring the health effects of dietary fibres. To connect food production, composition, and nutrition, he applies high-throughput mass spectrometry-based workflows and sensor technology to study plant metabolism, gut microbiota function, and human physiology.
Below you will find more information about some of his focus areas:
1. Unpuzzling the structure and health effects of dietary fibers
How dietary fibres affects our immune system? (Press release, March 2025)
"Dietary fibers benefit our health in many ways, including through interactions with receptors in the gut, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Our research introduces new approaches to uncover how fibres engage with human cell receptors, guiding the design of personalized, health-promoting food ingredients. By integrating smart sensors to monitor digestion dynamics and applying bioengineering techniques, we are developing next-generation functional ingredients tailored to individual needs."
2. Enhancing food quality and exploring the fate of bioactive compounds
"We also focus on how changes in plant production influence the synthesis of health-promoting compounds, using advanced metabolomics and ambient ionization techniques. Our research truly goes from farm to fork, and beyond! It extends to the gut, where we study digestion and bioactivity, and into space, where we investigate how plants respond to microgravity and radiation aboard the International Space Station. By linking food composition, digestion, and health effects, we aim to create healthier foods in a climate-smart way while generating insights that benefit producers, retailers, and consumers alike."
If you are interested in our research and would like to work with us on an internship or thesis project, we’d be happy to hear from you.
Teaching and supervision
Victor coordinates the Instrumental Analytical Methods course in the chemistry program. He is the lecturer of the module Advanced Topics in Mass Spectrometry, encompassing data processing and mass spectra interpretation, and is also involved in the Analytical Chemistry course. He is also a lecturer in the biology program, environmental science program, and has been involved in the international master's programs at the School of Science and Technology and School of Medical Sciences. He supervises students in the chemistry program and incoming exchange students from BSc, MSc, and PhD levels.
Other information
Victor participates of the COST ACTION INFOGUT as a task leader in "In vitro models used to evaluate the impact of acute and chronic exposure to food follutants, including chemicals and microplastics." He is also a member of the editorial board of Frontiers in Nutrition and Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, and actively involved in Örebro University's strategic initiatives at national and international level, planning student exchange with partners within the NEOLAiA alliance, participating in research exchange within MIRAI 2.0, and being part of the EIRENE PPP work group at ORU.
Laureate of the Dietary fibre research award by the International Association for Cereal Science and Technology (ICC, 2017) and Magna cum Laude (BSc Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2010). Associate member of EPNOE (European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence), Metabolomics Society (ECN), and Nordic Metabolomics Society.
Financial support
Research projects
Active projects
- Effect of serotonergic stimulation on the gut-brain axis in irritable bowel syndrome patients compared with healthy subjects applying functional brain imaging
- Establishing a novel gut-brain axis model
- ImprUV+ - An analytical framework to explore the effects of UV during plant growth on human health
- Interaction between dietary protein and fibre fermentation - its functional consequences
- PAN Protein - plant-based proteins contributing to a healthy and sustainable diet
- POPgut - The impact of persistent organic pollutants exposure on gut health
- Exploring the probiotic and postbiotic effect of Akkermansia muciniphila on intestinal barrier function in patients with Parkinson's disease - applying Ussing chambers and electron microscopy techniques
- The Blue Muffin Study - Impact of gut physiology and function on the formation of bioactive oligomers upon dietary fibre consumption
- Unpuzzle - Unravelling molecular motifs from dietary fibers responsible for interaction with recognition receptors in human cells
- Development of toolbox for exposome and metabolomics analyses (MeET)
Completed projects
Research groups
Publications
Articles in journals
- Guerreiro, C. d. A. , Andrade, L. A. , Fernández-Lainez, C. , Fraga, L. N. , López-Velázquez, G. , Marques, T. M. , Prado, S. B. R. , Brummer, R. J. & et al. (2025). Bioactive arabinoxylan oligomers via colonic fermentation and enzymatic catalysis: Evidence of interaction with toll-like receptors from in vitro, in silico and functional analysis. Carbohydrate Polymers, 352. [BibTeX]
- Karlsson, J. , Lopez-Sanchez, P. , Marques, T. M. , Hyötyläinen, T. , Castro Alves, V. , Krona, A. & Ström, A. (2024). Effect of heating of pea fibres on their swelling, rheological properties and in vitro colon fermentation. Food Hydrocolloids, 147. [BibTeX]
- Karlsson, J. , Lopez-Sanchez, P. , Marques, T. M. , Hyötyläinen, T. , Castro Alves, V. , Krona, A. & Ström, A. (2024). Physico-chemical properties of pea fibre and pea protein blends and the implications for in vitro batch fermentation using human inoculum. Food Hydrocolloids, 150. [BibTeX]
- Seeburger, P. , Forsman, H. , Bevilacqua, G. , Marques, T. M. , Morales, L. O. , Prado, S. B. R. , Strid, Å. , Hyötyläinen, T. & et al. (2023). From farm to fork… and beyond! UV enhances Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity of cruciferous vegetables in human intestinal cells upon colonic fermentation. Food Chemistry, 426. [BibTeX]
- Sommer, S. G. , Castro Alves, V. , Hyötyläinen, T. , Strid, Å. & Rosenqvist, E. (2023). The light spectrum differentially influences morphology, physiology and metabolism of Chrysanthemum × morifolium without affecting biomass accumulation. Physiologia Plantarum, 175 (6). [BibTeX]
- Seeburger, P. , Herdenstam, A. P. F. , Kurtser, P. , Arunachalam, A. , Castro Alves, V. , Hyötyläinen, T. & Andreasson, H. (2022). Controlled mechanical stimuli reveal novel associations between basil metabolism and sensory quality. Food Chemistry, 404 (Pt A). [BibTeX]
- Palma, C. F. F. , Castro Alves, V. , Morales, L. O. , Rosenqvist, E. , Ottosen, C. , Hyötyläinen, T. & Strid, Å. (2022). Metabolic changes in cucumber leaves are enhanced by blue light and differentially affected by UV interactions with light signalling pathways in the visible spectrum. Plant Science, 321. [BibTeX]
- Kurtser, P. , Castro Alves, V. , Arunachalam, A. , Sjöberg, V. , Hanell, U. , Hyötyläinen, T. & Andreasson, H. (2021). Development of novel robotic platforms for mechanical stress induction, and their effects on plant morphology, elements, and metabolism. Scientific Reports, 11 (1). [BibTeX]
- Palma, C. F. F. , Castro Alves, V. , Rosenqvist, E. , Ottosen, C. , Strid, Å. & Morales, L. O. (2021). Effects of UV radiation on transcript and metabolite accumulation are dependent on monochromatic light background in cucumber. Physiologia Plantarum, 173 (3), 750-761. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. , Kalbina, I. , Nilsen, A. , Mats, A. , Rosenqvist, E. , Jansen, M. A. K. , Qian, M. , Öström, Å. & et al. (2021). Integration of non-target metabolomics and sensory analysis unravels vegetable plant metabolite signatures associated with sensory quality: A case study using dill (Anethum graveolens). Food Chemistry, 344. [BibTeX]
- Lanzon, B. , Martin-Taboada, M. , Castro Alves, V. , Vila-Bedmar, R. , González de Pablos, I. , Duberg, D. , Gomez, P. , Rodriguez, E. & et al. (2021). Lipidomic and Metabolomic Signature of Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Severe Obesity. Metabolites, 11 (12). [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2021). Size matters: TLR4-mediated effects of α-(1,5)-linear arabino-oligosaccharides in macrophage-like cells depend on their degree of polymerization. Food Research International, 141. [BibTeX]
- Palma, C. F. F. , Castro Alves, V. , Morales, L. O. , Rosenqvist, E. , Ottosen, C. & Strid, Å. (2021). Spectral composition of light affects plant sensitivity to UV-B and photoinhibition in cucumber. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. , Kalbina, I. , Öström, Å. , Hyötyläinen, T. & Strid, Å. (2020). The taste of UV light: Using sensomics to improve horticultural quality. UV4Plants Bulletin (1), 39-43. [BibTeX]
- Nascimento, T. P. , Castro-Alves, V. C. , Castelan, F. P. , Calhua, M. F. N. , Saraiva, L. A. , Agopian, R. G. & Cordenunsi-Lysenko, B. R. (2019). Metabolomic profiling reveals that natural biodiversity surrounding a banana crop may positively influence the nutritional/sensorial profile of ripe fruits. Food Research International, 124, 165-174. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. , Misuzu Shiga, T. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2019). Polysaccharides from chayote enhance lipid efflux and regulate NLRP3 inflammasome priming in macrophage-like THP-1 cells exposed to cholesterol crystals. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 127, 502-510. [BibTeX]
- Castelan, F. P. , Castro Alves, V. , Saraiva, L. A. , Nacsimento, T. P. , Cálhau, M. F. N. S. , Dias, C. T. S. & Cordenunsi-Lysenko, B. R. (2018). Natural Ecosystem Surrounding a Conventional Banana Crop Improves Plant Health and Fruit Quality. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2018). α-and β-D-Glucans from the edible mushroom Pleurotus albidus differentially regulate lipid-induced inflammation and foam cell formation in human macrophage-like THP-1 cells. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 111, 1222-1228. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. , Gomes, D. , Menolli Jr., N. , Sforça, M. L. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2017). Characterization and immunomodulatory effects of glucans from Pleurotus albidus, a promising species of mushroom for farming and biomass production. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 95, 215-223. [BibTeX]
- Ramos Do Prado, S. B. , Melfi, P. R. , Castro Alves, V. , Broetto, S. G. , Araújo, E. S. , do Nascimento, J. R. & Fabi, J. P. (2016). Physiological Degradation of Pectin in Papaya Cell Walls: Release of Long Chains Galacturonans Derived from Insoluble Fractions during Postharvest Fruit Ripening. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2016). Polysaccharides from raw and cooked chayote modulate macrophage function. Food Research International, 81, 171-179. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. C. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2016). Speeding up the extraction of mushroom polysaccharides. Food Analytical Methods, 9 (9), 2429-2433. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. & Cordenunsi, B. R. (2015). Total Soluble Phenolic Compounds Quantification Is Not As Simple As It Seems. Food Analytical Methods, 8 (4), 873-884. [BibTeX]
- Todisco, K. M. , Castro Alves, V. , dos Santos Garruti, D. , Corriea da Costa, J. M. & Clemente, E. (2014). The Use of Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) to Assess the Quality and Stability of Fruit Products: An Example Using Red Mombin Pulp (Spondias purpurea L.). Molecules, 19 (10), 16851-16860. [BibTeX]
- dos Santos Garruti, D. , de Oliveira Frederico Pinto, N. , Castro Alves, V. , Azevedo da Penha, M. F. , de Castro Tobaruela, E. & da Silva Araújo, Í. M. (2013). Volatile profile and sensory quality of new varieties of Capsicum chinense pepper. Ciência e tecnologia de alimentos, 33, 102-108. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. , da Silva Pereira, G. , de Oliveira Frederico Pinto, N. , Azevedo da Penha, M. F. & dos Santos Garruti, D. (2012). Sensory and Volatile Compounds Profile of Thap Maeo Banana: an Option for the Replacement of Pest-susceptible Cultivars. The Natural Products Journal, 2 (3), 205-211. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. , Azevedo da Penha, M. F. , de Oliveira Frederico Pinto, N. & dos Santos Garruti, D. (2012). Volatile Compounds Profile of Musa FHIA 02: An Option to Counter Losses by Black Sigatoka. The Natural Products Journal, 2 (1), 55-60. [BibTeX]
- Leite, L. M. , Carvalho, A. G. G. , Tavares Ferreira, P. L. F. , Xavier Pessoa, I. , Gonçalves, D. O. , de Araújo Lopes, A. , dos Santos Góes, J. G. , Castro Alves, V. C. & et al. (2011). Anti-inflammatory Properties of Doxycycline and Minocycline in Experimental Models: An in Vivo and in Vitro Comparative Study. InflammoPharmacology, 19 (2), 99-110. [BibTeX]
- Lucetti, D. L. , Lucetti, E. C. , Bandeira, M. A. M. , Veras, H. N. , Silva, A. H. , Am Leal, L. K. , Lopes, A. A. , Castro Alves, V. & et al. (2010). Anti-inflammatory Effects and Possible Mechanism of Action of Lupeol Acetate Isolated From Himatanthus Drasticus (Mart.) Plumel. Journal of Inflammation, 7. [BibTeX]
Articles, reviews/surveys
- Castro Alves, V. , Nguyen, A. H. , Barbosa, J. M. G. , Oresic, M. & Hyötyläinen, T. (2025). Liquid and gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry methods for exposome analysis. Journal of Chromatography A, 1744. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. , Oresic, M. & Hyötyläinen, T. (2022). Lipidomics in nutrition research. Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care, 25 (5), 311-318. [BibTeX]
- Ramos Do Prado, S. B. , Castro Alves, V. , Ferreira, G. F. & Fabi, J. P. (2019). Ingestion of non-digestible carbohydrates from plant-source foods and decreased risk of colorectal cancer: A review on the biological effects and the mechanisms of action. Frontiers in Nutrition, 6. [BibTeX]
- Cordenunsi-Lysenko, B. R. , Nascimento, J. R. O. , Castro-Alves, V. , Purgatto, E. , Fabi, J. P. & Peroni-Okyta, F. H. G. (2019). The Starch Is (Not) Just Another Brick in the Wall: The Primary Metabolism of Sugars During Banana Ripening. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10. [BibTeX]
Chapters in books
- Castro Alves, V. , de Oliveira Frederico Pinto, N. , Penha, M. F. A. , Gomes, B. L. , Reifschneider, F. J. & Garruti, D. S. (2014). Aroma-Active Compounds of Capsicum Chinense Var. Biquinho. In: Vicente Ferreira; Ricardo Lopez, Flavour Science: Proceedings From XIII Weurman Flavour Research Symposium (pp. 567-571). Salt Lake City: Academic Press. [BibTeX]
- Penha, M. F. A. , Castro Alves, V. , de Oliveira Frederico Pinto, N. , Magalhães, H. C. R. , Reifschneider, F. J. & Garrut, D. S. (2014). Varietal Differences in the Volatile Profile of Bananas with Resistance to Black Leaf Streak Disease. In: Vicente Ferreira; Ricardo Lopez, Flavour Science: Proceedings From XIII Weurman Flavour Research Symposium (pp. 597-600). Salt Lake City: Academic Press. [BibTeX]
- Pinto, N. O. , Castro Alves, V. , Penha, M. F. A. , Gomes, B. L. , Reifschneider, F. J. & Garruti, D. S. (2014). Volatile Profile of New Improved Brazilian Capsicum chinense Peppers. In: Vicente Ferreira; Ricardo Lopez, Flavour Science: Proceedings From XIII Weurman Flavour Research Symposium (pp. 643-647). Salt Lake City: Academic Press. [BibTeX]