Life Sciences Commons^™

Association Between Spatial Access To Food Outlets, Frequency Of Grocery Shopping, And Objectively-Assessed And Self-Reported Fruit And Vegetable Consumption, Jared T. Mcguirt, Stephanie B. Jilcott Pitts, Alison Gustafson

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Because supermarkets are a critical part of the community food environment, the purpose of this paper is to examine the association between accessibility to the supermarket where participants were surveyed, frequency of shopping at the supermarket, and self-reported and objectively-assessed fruit and vegetable consumption. Accessibility was assessed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) measured distance and multiple versions of the modified Retail Food Environment Index (mRFEI), including a localized road network buffer version. Frequency of shopping was assessed using self-report. The National Cancer Institute Fruit and Vegetable screener was used to calculate daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Skin carotenoids were …

A High-Fat Diet Alters Genome-Wide Dna Methylation And Gene Expression In Sm/J Mice, Madeline R. Keleher, Rabab Zaidi, Lauren Hicks, Shyam Shah, Xiaoyun Xing, Daofeng Li, Ting Wang, James M. Cheverud

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Background: While the genetics of obesity has been well defined, the epigenetics of obesity is poorly understood. Here, we used a genome-wide approach to identify genes with differences in both DNA methylation and expression associated with a high-fat diet in mice. Results: We weaned genetically identical Small (SM/J) mice onto a high-fat or low-fat diet and measured their weights weekly, tested their glucose and insulin tolerance, assessed serum biomarkers, and weighed their organs at necropsy. We measured liver gene expression with RNA-seq (using 21 total libraries, each pooled with 2 mice of the same sex and diet) and DNA methylation …

Early Oral Feeding After Bowel Resection, Jennifer Strang

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus: The primary purpose of this project was to determine if there was an association of factors with time to first solid meal in gastrointestinal (GI) surgery patients and the impact solid diet has on length of stay (LOS) in the hospital, GI symptoms, and incidence of post-operative ileus (POI). A secondary purpose was to observe and describe when an oral diet was started and the progression of diet after GI surgery.

Research Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, retrospective chart review of a convenience sample in a multi-centered hospital system conducted in 84 GI resection patients …

The Effect Of Dietary Fat On Behavior In Mice, Madeline R. Keleher, Rabab Zaidi, Kayna Patel, Amer Ahmed, Carlee Bettler, Cassondra Pavlatos, Shyam Shah, James M. Cheverud

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Purpose Obesity is linked to cognitive dysfunction in humans and rodents, and its effects can be passed on to the next generation. However, the extent of these effects is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a prenatal maternal high-fat diet and an individual high-fat diet in inbred mice. Methods We varied maternal diet and offspring diet to test the hypothesis that a high-fat diet would increase anxiety, reduce activity levels, and impair nest-building. First, we fed a high-fat (HF) or low-fat (LF) diet to genetically identical female Small (SM/J) mice and mated …

Differences In Physical Activity And Diet Patterns Between Non-Rural And Rural Adults., Lacey Mccormack, Howard Wey, Jessica R. Meendering, Bonny Specker

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: It is unclear how rural occupations and lifestyles may play a role in shaping physical activity and diet behaviors that contribute to the rural⁻urban obesity disparity.
METHODS: Data come from the prospective and observational South Dakota Rural Bone Health Study, which included adults aged 20⁻66 years in three groups: (1) non-rural non-Hutterite, (2) rural non-Hutterite, and (3) rural Hutterite. Physical activity data were collected using 7-day physical activity questionnaires, and hours per day in physical activity categories are reported. Diet data were collected using food frequency questionnaires, and food group servings per day (svg/day) are reported. Mixed models were …

Metabolic Impact Of Protein Feeding Prior To Moderate-Intensity Treadmill Exercise In A Fasted State: A Pilot Study, Bradley T. Gieske, Richard A. Stecker, Charles R. Smith, Kyle E. Witherbee, Patrick S. Harty, Robert Wildman, Chad M. Kerksick

Faculty Scholarship

Background

Augmenting fat oxidation is a primary goal of fitness enthusiasts and individuals desiring to improve their body composition. Performing aerobic exercise while fasted continues to be a popular strategy to achieve this outcome, yet little research has examined how nutritional manipulations influence energy expenditure and/or fat oxidation during and after exercise. Initial research has indicated that pre-exercise protein feeding may facilitate fat oxidation while minimizing protein degradation during exercise, but more research is needed to determine if the source of protein further influences such outcomes.

Methods

Eleven healthy, college-aged males (23.5 ± 2.1 years, 86.0 ± 15.6 kg, 184 …

Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling Of Students' Dietary Intentions/Behaviors, Bmi, And The Healthfulness Of Convenience Stores., Tanya M. Horacek, Elif Dede Yildirim, Kendra Kattelmann, Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Onikia Brown, Sarah E. Colby, Geoffrey Greene, Sharon Hoerr, Tandalayo Kidd, Mallory Koenings, Jesse Morrell, Melissa D. Olfert, Beatrice Phillips, Karla P. Shelnutt, Adrienne A. White

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: When dietary behaviors are habitual, intentions are low, and environmental cues, such as the consumer food environment, might guide behavior. How might intentions to eat healthily and ultimately actual dietary behaviors, be influenced by the consumer food environment (including the availability and affordability of healthy foods) in convenience stores? This study will determine pathways between the healthfulness of convenience stores and college students' dietary intentions/behaviors, and body mass index (BMI).
METHODS: Through multilevel structural equation modeling, a comparison was made of students' healthful meal intentions (HMI); intake (fruits/vegetables, %kcal/fat, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and whole-grains); and measured BMI; as well …

The Fight Against Overweight And Obesity Among Adolescents, Jordan Reichel

All Student-Created Educational Resources

The purpose of this handout is to use evidence-based research to educate the adolescents population about the growing problem of overweight and obesity among youth in this age group. This handout describes the criteria for being considered overweight or obese during adolescence. Possible risk factors for adolescent overweight and obesity are identified. The handout discusses the burden of disease and the potential consequences associated with being overweight or obese as an adolescent. Behavior modification strategies for preventing or treating overweight and obesity in adolescent’s are also described.

An Apple A Day? Eat More Fruits And Vegetables, Cindy Nelson, Makendra Goff

All Current Publications

This fact sheet gives ideas for increasing fruits and vegetables in the diet each day.

The Effect Of Ingredient-Specific Calorie Information On Calories Ordered, Christopher R. Gustafson, Eliana Zeballos

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Providing calorie labeling is a widely used strategy to combat obesity. However, there is little evidence that the availability of calorie information at food-away-from-home establishments has an effect on food choices. Listing calorie information for each ingredient, though, may allow customers to avoid high-calorie items that add little to their enjoyment. Data from a natural experiment were used to compare total calories ordered before and after the provision of per-ingredient versus for build-your-own sandwiches, and per-sandwich for pre-defined sandwiches, at a supermarket sandwich counter. Sandwich order slips from a Lincoln, Neb. supermarket were collected from December 15, 2016 to February …

Micronutrient Deficiency Independently Predicts Time To Event In Patients With Heart Failure, Terry A. Lennie, Christina Andreae, Mary Kay Rayens, Eun Kyeung Song, Sandra B. Dunbar, Susan J. Pressler, Seongkum Heo, Jinshil Kim, Debra K. Moser

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background—Dietary micronutrient deficiencies have been shown to predict event‐free survival in other countries but have not been examined in patients with heart failure living in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine whether number of dietary micronutrient deficiencies in patients with heart failure was associated with shorter event‐free survival, defined as a combined end point of all‐cause hospitalization and death.

Methods and Results—Four‐day food diaries were collected from 246 patients with heart failure (age: 61.5±12 years; 67% male; 73% white; 45% New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III/IV) and analyzed using Nutrition Data Systems …

Integrating Complementary Methods To Improve Diet Analysis In Fishery-Targeted Species, Jordan K. Matley, Gregory E. Maes, Floriaan Devloo-Delva, Roger Huerlimann, Gladys Chua, Andrew J. Tobin, Aaron T. Fisk, Colin A. Simpfendorfer, Michelle R. Heupel

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Developing efficient, reliable, cost-effective ways to identify diet is required to understand trophic ecology in complex ecosystems and improve food web models. A combination of techniques, each varying in their ability to provide robust, spatially and temporally explicit information can be applied to clarify diet data for ecological research. This study applied an integrative analysis of a fishery-targeted species group—Plectropomus spp. in the central Great Barrier Reef, Australia, by comparing three diet-identification approaches. Visual stomach content analysis provided poor identification with ~14% of stomachs sampled resulting in identification to family or lower. A molecular approach was successful with prey from …

Nutritional Needs Among High School Athletes, Andy Mitchell, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Natalie Norris, Carrie Durward

All Current Publications

High school athletes have a greater need for nutritional adequacy for proper growth, development, wellness and performance as compared to students who do not participate in sports. This fact sheet discusses the purpose of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and hydration, why they are necessary in an athlete’s diet, food sources of each, and fun facts to help the young athlete enhance their diet.

Effects Of Adherence To A Higher Protein Diet On Weight Loss, Markers Of Health, Melyn Galbreath, Bill Campbell, Paul La Bounty, Jennifer Bunn, Jaqueline Dove, Travis Harvey, Geoffrey Hudson, Jean L. Guttierez, Kyle Levers, Elfego Galvan, Andrew Jagim, Lori Greenwood, Matthew B. Cooke, Mike Greenwood, Chris Rasmussen, Richard B. Kreider

Faculty Scholarship

Resistance training and maintenance of a higher protein diet have been recommended to help older individuals maintain muscle mass. This study examined whether adherence to a higher protein diet while participating in a resistance-based exercise program promoted more favorable changes in body composition, markers of health, and/or functional capacity in older females in comparison to following a traditional higher carbohydrate diet or exercise training alone with no diet intervention. In total, 54 overweight and obese females (65.9 ± 4.7 years; 78.7 ± 11 kg, 30.5 ± 4.1 kg/m², 43.5 ± 3.6% fat) were randomly assigned to an exercise-only …

Patterns Of Threatened Vertebrates Based On Trophic Level, Diet, And Biogeography, Shaley A. Valentine

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Humans have indirectly and directly contributed to the extinction of over 500 species within the past 500 years, a rate far higher than we have seen in the past. The high extinction rate and the fact that 18% of vertebrates may become extinct within the next century have pushed Earth into a biodiversity crisis. Understanding what makes species more at risk of extinction is needed to protect Earth’s biodiversity.

Generally, it is expected that predators have greater extinction risk than omnivores and herbivores because predators are larger in body size, depend on other animal species for food, need large home …

Division I Female Cross-Country Runners’ Perception Of Eating Behaviors And Attitudes Toward Health: A Pilot Study, Laurie Stickler, Marissa Thomas, Laura Kate Morse

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(3): 941-956, 2018.The complexity behind nutritional decisions and the impact of these decisions on overall health (both physical and emotional) in the Division I female runner is not yet well understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of female collegiate cross-country runners from a Division I school on eating behaviors and attitudes toward health. In this qualitative study, six NCAA Division I female collegiate cross-country runners participated in individual interviews. Through qualitative analysis, three themes (Nutritional Views, Identity as a Runner, and Psychological Factors) and 11 subthemes emerged. The …

How To Manage Blood Sugar; Establishing Healthy Defaults, Julie Hiller

All Student-Created Educational Resources

The pamphlet educates the audience on strategies to use in managing blood sugar through diet and exercise. This handout introduces the concept of healthy defaults. Suggestions are made on how to implement food and exercise healthy defaults into daily life. Education is also provided on the glycemic index (GI) and low GI foods are suggested.

Climate Change Mitigation Beyond Agriculture: A Review Of Food System Opportunities And Implications, Meredith T. Niles, Richie Ahuja, Todd Barker, Jimena Esquivel, Sophie Gutterman, Martin C. Heller, Nelson Mango, Diana Portner, Rex Raimond, Cristina Tirado, Sonja Vermeulen

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Publications

A large body of research has explored opportunities to mitigate climate change in agricultural systems; however, less research has explored opportunities across the food system. Here we expand the existing research with a review of potential mitigation opportunities across the entire food system, including in pre-production, production, processing, transport, consumption and loss and waste. We detail and synthesize recent research on the topic, and explore the applicability of different climate mitigation strategies in varying country contexts with different economic and agricultural systems. Further, we highlight some potential adaptation co-benefits of food system mitigation strategies and explore the potential implications of …

Biology Of Exosomes And Their Microrna Cargos In Human And Bovine Milk, Amy Lynn Leiferman

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Exosomes are small, cargo-containing vesicles secreted by cells to facilitate intercellular communication. Of exosome cargos, microRNAs are especially interesting because of their involvement in gene regulation. Recently, our lab has shown that exosomes and their microRNA cargo are absorbed through the diet and elicit effects exogenously. Human and animal milk contain exosomes, which may have implications in infant and adult nutrition. There is evidence that bovine milk exosomes enhance growth of murine C2C12 myotube cell cultures, but whether this translates to muscle in vivo is unknown. The USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference is lacking up-to-date information about human …

Teens Implementing A Childhood Obesity Prevention Program In The Community: Feasibility And Perceptions Of A Partnership With Hsta And Icook 4-H., Rebecca L. Hagedorn, Jade A. White, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Sarah E. Colby, Kendra Kattelmann, Adrienne A. White, Melissa D. Olfert

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

High school student researchers and teen leaders from the Health Science Technology Academy (HSTA), under the supervision of HSTA teachers, led a childhood obesity prevention (COP) program (iCook 4-H). The objective was to evaluate the feasibility and perceptions of having teen leaders implement a COP program for dyads of youth (9⁻10 years old) and their primary adult food preparer. Behavior change and perceptions were assessed through surveys and open-ended interviews. Across eight HSTA organizations, 43 teen leaders participated in teaching the iCook 4-H program to 24 dyads. Increased frequency of culinary skills, physical activity and mealtime behavior were reported by …

Mechanisms For The Potassium Sparing Effects Of Furosemide In Mice On High Potassium Diets, Bangchen Wang

Theses & Dissertations

Because of its cardio-protective benefits, diets that are low in Na⁺ and high in K⁺ are often warranted in conjunction with use of diuretics such as furosemide for treating hypertension. It is critical to understand how such diets influence the diuretic actions on renal K⁺ handling in order to choose the best drug for patients.

Furosemide is a commonly used K-wasting diuretic. It increases urinary K⁺ excretion by increasing distal Na⁺ delivery that stimulates K⁺ secretion. However, in wild-type mice (WT) adapted to an alkaline low Na⁺ high K⁺ diet (LNaHK), both …

Competition And Predation: Interactions Between American Eels (Anguilla Rostrata) And Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) In Virginia Mountain Streams, Jonathan Studio

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Competition has played a large role in structuring natural communities, especially with regards to vulnerable organisms. Brook trout and American eel populations have declined in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States as a result of anthropogenic development around freshwater ecosystems, and thus, subsequent conservation efforts of both species have included habitat restoration. Conservation efforts have increased the co-occurrence of these predatory fish species that are known to require similar resources. The main objective of this research was to elucidate the potential for competition between brook trout and American eels through analysis of their preferred prey, diet overlap, and supplementary …

Using Social Cues To Influence Fruit And Vegetable Intake In College Students, Elizabeth A. Nix

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

People often base their behaviors on social norms—what they think others do or approve of. This is likely true of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake as well. College students typically don’t get enough FV. We attempted to encourage FV eating by providing students with messages or demonstrations that eating FV is normal. First, we tried to encourage FV intake by providing students with messages regarding the average skin carotenoid concentration and where they fit within their peers (Chapter II). Carotenoids are compounds found in FV that cannot be made by the body, making them an estimate of FV intake. We …

The Role Of Diet And Lifestyle In Women With Breast Cancer: An Update Review Of Related Research In The Middle East, Zainab Taha, Sakina E. Eltom

All Works

© Zainab Taha and Sakina E. Eltom 2018. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among Arab women in Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). The incidence of breast cancer has substantially increased in recent years among this women population, especially those younger than 50, and the incidence is expected to double by 2030. Considerable experimental evidence supports the potential role of dietary habits and lifestyle in cancer etiology and cancer prevention. In this review we examined the literature for evidence to link dietary choices and the rise in incidence and mortality of breast cancer among women in EMR. A literature search …

How Saving The Cookies For Santa Could Save Our Children, Grace M. Conroy

BU Well

Environmental factors and high sugar lunches represent a few proposed causes of the childhood obesity epidemic. Consequences of this epidemic are not limited to physical illnesses in children, but also psychological ones. The solution to this issue is more complex than a low carbohydrate diet or increased physical activity. Children need to be raised in an environment which fosters healthy lifestyle habits year-round.

A Genome-Wide Association Study Of Red-Blood Cell Fatty Acids And Ratios Incorporating Dietary Covariates: Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort, Anya Kalsbeek, Jenna Veenstra, Jason Westra, Craig Disselkoen, Kristin Koch, Katelyn A. Mckenzie, Jacob O'Bott, Jason Vander Woude, Karen Fischer, Greg C. Shearer, William S. Harris, Nathan L. Tintle

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Recent analyses have suggested a strong heritable component to circulating fatty acid (FA) levels; however, only a limited number of genes have been identified which associate with FA levels. In order to expand upon a previous genome wide association study done on participants in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort and FA levels, we used data from 2,400 of these individuals for whom red blood cell FA profiles, dietary information and genotypes are available, and then conducted a genome-wide evaluation of potential genetic variants associated with 22 FAs and 15 FA ratios, after adjusting for relevant dietary covariates. Our analysis …

Immune-Boosting Nutritional Strategies For Collegiate Athlete: How-To Pamphlet, Lyndie Kelley

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This handout is designed to inform collegiate athletes about various nutritional strategies that can provide a positive boost to their immune system during their competitive season. Collegiate athletes are a population that tends to experience high levels of both acute and chronic illness, especially upper respiratory-related infections due to poor nutrition, poor rest and recovery and tendencies to over-train. The amount of high-intensity training sessions that occur in succession can lead to chronic immunosuppression in collegiate athletes. Chronic or acute Illness can lead to missed training or competitive opportunities and can negatively influence a student-athlete’s success and overall health.

Eating Right For A Healthy Smile!, K. Michelle Head

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This printable handout discusses easy-to-follow tips for mothers and their children to observe for healthy eating and drinking habits (aka “healthy defaults”) for good oral hygiene. The tri-fold also addresses the benefits good oral health has on whole-body wellness and the risks that are associated with poor diet on oral health. The handout is intended to provide mothers with quick and easy tips that feel effortless that will improve her own health, and her children.

Junk Food And Its Link To Childhood Obesity, Erik Keough

MBA Student Scholarship

Childhood obesity has been a growing epidemic not only in the United Sates, but around the world. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship of childhood obesity to how available junk and fast food is to adolescents. Two hundred students, one hundred boys and one hundred girls, ranging in ages six to twelve years old will take part in a survey as well as physical examination. Additionally, one parent or guardian of each student will be asked to complete a survey. The surveys will determine how often and readily available junk food is to the children, the …

Food Insecurity And Age Of Menarche: Using A Biocultural Approach And Life History Theory To Assess Risks Of Food Insecurity Among Girls In Tampa Bay, Fl, Mecca Burris

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Using life-history theory within a biocultural perspective, this research explores whether household food insecurity correlates with early or delayed menarche among adolescent females in Tampa Bay, Florida. Early onset of puberty and menstruation is connected with numerous health consequences including growth stunting, obesity, type-2 diabetes, adult-onset asthma, reproductive cancers, increased risk for depression, behavioral problems, and early sexual activity which increases the risk for STIs and ovarian cancer. Early menarche also seems to disproportionally impact disadvantaged and minority groups. While there are many known factors that influence age at menarche (e.g.: genetics, diet), little is understood regarding the effect of …