Life Sciences Commons^™

Serum Vitamin Concentrations Are Associated With Metabolic Syndrome And Insulin Resistance In Us Children, Nida I. Shaikh

Nutrition Theses

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a concern in the US. Association between vitamin D status and metabolic syndrome (MetS), insulin resistance (IR), and inflammation is unclear in children. Objective: The relationship between serum vitamin D and MetS, C-reactive protein (CRP), and Homeostatic Model Assessment-IR (HOMA-IR) was investigated. Design: Data from 3 cycles of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2006 for 3700 (1820, boys; 1880, girls) children and adolescents, aged 12-17 y were used to assess prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng>/mL) and association between serum vitamin D and prevalence of MetS, various components of MetS, CRP, and HOMA-IR …

Food Store Audits: Examining Food Price, Availability, And Quailty, Before And After Relocation Of Public Housing Residents, Anjenique Anderson

Nutrition Theses

In an effort to deconcentrate poverty, Atlanta is attempting to become the first city in the U.S. to completely eliminate public housing by relocating ≈ 10,000 residents. Research has shown that the health status of public housing residents is worse than any other population. Evidence also suggests that there is an inverse relationship between neighborhood availability of healthy, affordable foods and diet intake. The aim of this study was to compare the price, availability, and quality of food items in the public housing residents’ communities, before and after relocation. Using Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS), a total of 42 food …

The Effectiveness Of A Short Food Frequency Questionnaire In Determining The Adequacy Of Vitamin D Intake In Children, Caitlin Russell

Nutrition Theses

Background: Studies have consistently found a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in adolescents. Few validated dietary intake assessment tools for vitamin D exist for adolescents.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if a short food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) can be used to effectively assess vitamin D intake in adolescents compared to a previously validated long food frequency questionnaire (LFFQ).

Participants/setting: 140 healthy 6-12 year old (male n=81) Caucasian and African American (n=94) children from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania completed a SFFQ and LFFQ at two time points 6 months apart.

Main outcome measures: Reliability and validity of a …

Halftime Hydration And Snacking Practices In Collegiate And Professional Basketball And Football Players, Desiree L. Nathanson

Nutrition Theses

Background: Sustaining a hydration state and energy status during competition is important for athletes, yet there is no current evidence in the literature that halftime hydration and snacking practices of basketball and football players have been assessed. Under ideal circumstances, proper hydration and food consumption practices should be followed by basketball and football players before, during and after practices and competitions because both sports involve fast rate of energy utilization with a concomitant increase in sweat production.

Objectives: This study aimed to improve our understanding of the halftime hydration and snacking practices used by basketball and football players at the …

The Effects Of Carbohydrate, Protein, And Carbohydrate With Protein Solutions On 200-Meter Sprint Speed, Denice A. Vance

Nutrition Theses

Purpose: To investigate the differential effects of solutions providing varying concentrations of carbohydrate and/or protein ingested between 200-meter sprints on sprint time. Subjects: Recruitment was from the Georgia State University track and field team. Methods: The study protocol was approved by the Georgia State University IRB. Ten subjects, 18 to 21 years of age, consented to be included in the study. Nine subjects (7 females; 2 males) completed trial 1, six subjects (5 females; 1 male) completed trial 2, and three subjects (2 females; 1 male) completed the final trial. Each trial consisted of a 200-meter sprint followed by the …

The Relationship Between Within-Day Energy Balance And Menstruation In Active Females, Alexandra J. Friel

Nutrition Theses

Background: Past studies suggest that inadequate energy intake (EI) is directly related to menstrual dysfunction (MD) in active females. Inadequate EI causes activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, disrupting the normal hormonal signaling of reproductive cycling and resulting in MD. However, studies have also demonstrated similar EI in athletes, but with different menstrual function. Traditionally, energy balance has been evaluated in 24-hour time periods. Recent research suggests there is benefit to analyzing energy balance at smaller intervals to better address physiologic response in real time. It is possible that women who meet their daily EI needs could still, therefore, experience MD …

Factors Affecting Bone Mineral Density In Elite Female Runners, Maureen E. Cartoon

Nutrition Theses

Introduction: The benefits of regular exercise on skeletal health have been well-documented in terms of stimulation of bone accrual and bone maintenance. Medium-impact sports activities such as running have been demonstrated to exert site-specific enhancement of bone mass in the lower appendicular skeleton. However, elite female runners engaged in high intensity training and sports activity may also be at risk of amenorrhea and low bone mineral density (BMD) resulting from inadequate caloric intake. Purpose: To investigate the effect of intensive exercise and maintenance of adequate caloric intake on BMD in a group of elite female runners. Methods: This study represents …

The Use And Knowledge Of Olive Oil And Other Lipids In A Collegiate Student Population, Samir Benyazza

Nutrition Theses

Purpose: Evidence suggests that olive oil consumption is associated with a decreased prevalence of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. The purpose of this study was to assess the intake and knowledge of olive oil and other lipids in a collegiate population.

Methods: Using an IRB-approved protocol, volunteered college students (N=56) from the college of Health and Human Sciences at Georgia State University completed a questionnaire on lipid and knowledge and eating behavior. Results were assessed to determine if students were able to accurately answer questions on the contents of different lipids, and also to determine the consumption behaviors …

The Effect Of Green Tea Extract On Endurance Performance In Young Adults, Eric D. Green

Nutrition Theses

Background: Green tea is rich in catechin, a polyphenolic antioxidant. Consumption of green tea or extract from green tea has been shown to result in weight loss, increased fat oxidation, and elevated energy expenditure in mice and humans. Green tea consumption has also been shown to result in increased exercise endurance in mice and improved maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in humans. It is not clearly known whether green tea consumption would increase exercise endurance in humans. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if the daily consumption of decaffeinated green tea extract for 4-5 weeks, would improve exercise …