Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Exploring Available Information On The Gut-Brain Axis And Alzheimer’S Disease For Clinicians Making Dietary Recommendations: A Scoping Review, Megan Gibson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease that requires interprofessional collaboration. Pharmacological options are currently ineffective, increasing the need for preventative strategies to combat the rise of AD. Considerations of gut-targeted interventions have increased as a key component in the prevention of AD, based on the understanding that the state of the gut microbiome can impact cognitive function through the pathway known as the gut-brain axis.

Methods: This scoping review explored information on the gut-brain axis in persons with AD. A comprehensive search was conducted in November 2023. Forty reviews and 13 human studies were analyzed.

Results: There …

Prescribing Flavor: Proposal For A Longitudinal Culinary Medicine Curriculum In A Family Medicine Residency Program, Mario F. Jacome Jr

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Culinary medicine is gaining recognition as an essential component of healthcare, aiming to integrate food and nutrition into medical practice for managing chronic diseases. However, there is a significant gap in nutrition education within medical schools and residency programs, leaving healthcare professionals ill-equipped to address patients' dietary concerns. This proposal presents a comprehensive longitudinal curriculum blueprint for culinary medicine tailored to family medicine residents. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, collaborative cooking opportunities, and practical counseling techniques to empower residents in addressing nutrition-related diseases effectively. Through a structured approach and innovative educational strategies, this initiative aims to enhance resident proficiency and …

Assessing The Differences Between Chewing And Swallowing Arugula Extract Capsules On The Concentrations Of Nitric Oxide Metabolites In Metabolically Healthy Males, Tomas J. Chapman-Lopez, Leroy Bolden, Dylan T. Wilburn, Jeffery L. Heileson, Rodney Sturdivant, Andrew R. Gallucci, Leslee K. Funderburk, Jeffrey S. Forsse

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Previous literature has examined the benefits of consuming nitrate (NO3)-rich crops (e.g., beetroot, spinach, watercress, arugula) on endothelial function due to their positive influence on nitric oxide (NO) production from the utilization of nitrate-reducing bacteria in the oral microbiome. However, there has yet to be a study addressing how the method of consumption may influence the role the oral microbiome plays in the degradation of NO3 to NO from consuming an encapsulated NO3-rich crop. PURPOSE: To determine the differences in NO metabolite concentrations following two different methods (e.g., chewing, swallowing) of consuming the encapsulated arugula extract. METHODS: Eight, …

Nutrition Able: A Lecture-Based Intervention To Promote Nutritional Literacy About Protein Intake In Women, Jeffery Bolte, Alejandra Garcia, Jacob Abalos, Jakson Johnson, Alex Joyce, Christopher Hinds, Jared Tuttle, Jeff Svec

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Sport performance is influenced by sport-specific requirements for body composition. One major predictor of body composition is protein intake. Higher protein intake tends to cause leaner body composition relative to lower protein intake, especially during caloric deficit. In Bexar County, ~72% of the adult population is overweight/obese and 15.5% are diabetic. This suggests that high protein diet could be a high leverage option in the San Antonio population for optimizing body composition for sport performance. Furthermore, late life sporting activity and protein intake is a primary method for mitigating sarcopenia, osteoporosis, fractures, and accidental death in post-menopausal women. PURPOSE: …

Development Of A Culinary Medicine Toolkit To Improve Implementation Of Virtual Cooking Classes For Low-Income Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, David Ai, Natalia I Heredia, Vanessa Cruz, Diana C Guevara, Shreela V Sharma, Dolores Woods, Melisa Danho, John Wesley Mcwhorter

Journal Articles

Culinary medicine (CM) addresses diseases through nutrition and culinary education. To promote access to educational material for people with diabetes and engagement in virtual classes, we created a virtual culinary medicine toolkit (VCMT) sensitive to literacy levels and language preferences. The VCMT was developed to accompany existing virtual CM programs and help improve participant interaction and retention, offering educational materials for providers and participants. The provider VCMT offers level-setting education to reduce mixed nutrition messaging, including educational resources discussing inclusive nutrition and mindful eating topics. Each handout has a QR code and link to engaging, animated videos that provide further …

Nutrition Counseling Practices Among Psychologists, Wibecke Stromsnes

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

There is a lack of treatment guidelines for how to address the impact of nutrition on clients’ mental health. Prior research is limited regarding psychologists’ practices of nutrition counseling and has mostly focused on practices of dieticians and medical doctors. The purpose of this study was to examine psychologists’ beliefs and attitudes about nutrition counseling, amount of training and use of nutrition counseling, self-rated knowledge in the use of nutrition counseling and perceived benefits and barriers to using nutrition counseling. Data was collected using an online survey of 76 licensed psychologists’ training in nutrition and use of nutrition counseling. Findings …

Improving Nutrition Education And Access To Healthy Food For Low-Income Mainers, Jessica Wyn

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Many people in Androscoggin county are not able to consistently achieve a diet with the recommended food variety for improving health. Adequate nutrition for improving health outcomes requires access to healthy food at affordable prices, health literacy regarding diet and nutrition concepts, and the skills and access to equipment required to prepare and store food. A lack of resources in any one of these areas can limit a person’s ability to engage in a healthy diet, which increases their risk of developing preventable non-communicable diseases later in life.

Nutritional Support For Oncology Patients: Role For The Pcp, Annabelle S. Feist

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Adequate nutrition is a key prognostic factor in the treatment outcomes of patients with cancer diagnoses. Despite the increased morbidity and mortality of malnutrition, the importance of nutrition for oncology patients is often not well communicated and not well understood by patients. Part of this issue stems from the limited information most patient can absorb at any given doctors appointment, especially regarding their cancer. Primary care providers hold a unique position to fill this gap and have the information be heard and retained given their usual role in addressing overall health. This project compiles resources in an easily accessible and …

Food And Mood: Investigating The Correlation Between Vitamin B12 Intake And Depression, Jana Soucar, Hawley Almstedt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that metabolizes homocysteine, which is a potentially neurotoxic molecule when in excess. Studies show that a deficiency in vitamin B12, as well as folate, may be associated with mental health conditions. Additionally, the prevalence of depression is higher in college students than other demographic populations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate a correlation between vitamin B12 and folate intake with signs and symptoms of depression in college students. METHODS: This study was conducted by first providing participants with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to measure signs and symptoms of …

Fluid Intake And Hydration Responses To Mass Participation Gravel Cycling, Brandon Raik, Francis Salmon, Grace Handler, Matthew M. Schubert

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Gravel cycling is a relatively new cycling discipline, with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) hosting their first UCI Gravel World Championships in 2022. Gravel races combine features of road racing, cyclocross, and mountain biking, including various terrain of varying technical difficulty (paved roads, dirt roads, fire roads, single- and double-track trails), long distances, substantial vertical elevation gain, obstacles, and limited opportunities to stop for in-race nutrition. PURPOSE: To date, gravel racing has not been scientifically examined to determine the demands of the sport. Data from cycling road races indicate substantial fluid loss, which may impair exercise performance. This study assessed …

Debunking Medical Myths: Juice Cleanse Detoxification, Blaise Deschamps, Anjani Raja, Stephanie Barna, Armaan Naghdi, Jack Mao

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Debunking Medical Myths: Detox Diets: Ineffective At Best, Harmful At Worst, Isabella Anton, Patrick Kollman, Parnia Behinaein, Samy Shelbaya, Yage Pi, Jacob Waitzman

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Using Motivational Interviewing To Increase Confidence In Nutritional Counseling Among Dental Hygienists: A Pilot Study, Heather M. Anderson, Sarah Jackson, Lisa Bilich, Craig Hunt, Elizabeth Tipton

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Dental hygienists have the unique opportunity to educate patients on connections between nutrition and oral health. Dental hygiene students are introduced to these concepts but struggle to gain confidence to share this knowledge with patients. This pilot study looked at an educational module on motivational interviewing (MI) and an assessment and counseling tool to build student confidence with nutritional counseling. Methods: Dental hygiene students participated in an educational module to review MI and introduce a nutritional risk assessment and counseling tool. Prior to the module, participants completed a pretest about confidence levels regarding MI and nutritional counseling. After three …

Macronutrients For High And Low Injury Risk Collegiate Rodeo Athletes Compared To Recommended Dietary Allowances, Jessie Ramirez, Andy Wolfe, Bailee Cooper, Ruth Caddell

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Rodeo is a high-intensity, intermittent sport in nature unlike popular American sports. The production of empirical research outlining the physical demands and ideal training methods connected to rodeo and improving performance has not matched the rate of growth the sport of rodeo has experienced. Particularly regarding nutritional recommendations, limited research explains nutrition and its role in injury prevention and the process of recovery in rodeo athletes. PURPOSE: The purpose was to investigate the differences of macronutrients between high risk and low risk of injury in rodeo athletes compared to recommended daily allowances (RDA). METHODS: College rodeo athletes from …

How Does Diet Quality Predict The Performance Of Rotc Cadets On The Acft, Grant Calhoun, Sofia Harman, Annika C. Grams, Ruth Larson, Payton Price, Sara Thomasson, Kaitlyn Wabakken, Katelynn Brock, Zachary Zeigler, Anthony Acevedo

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is a newly developed test assessing U.S. Army soldiers' combat readiness. The Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) is a questionnaire established by the USDA that quantifies overall diet quality. The HEI-2015 uses a scale of 0 to 100 with higher scores aligning more with the recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The HEI-2015 is comprised of 13 subcategories: Total Fruits [TF], Whole Fruits [WF], Total Vegetables [TV], Greens and Beans [GB], Whole Grains [WG], Dairy [D], Total Protein foods [TP], Seafood and Plant Proteins [SPP], Fatty Acids [FA], Refined Grains [RG], Sodium [S], …

Characterization Of Gangliosides And Fatty Acids In Extracellular Vesicles From Human Milk, Aliya Amin

Food Science (MS) Theses

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are bioactive components of human milk that may impact functionality to regulate growth, cognitive development, metabolism, and immunity in newborns. The biogenesis of EVs and the mechanism by which EVs elicit biologic effects in vivo have not been characterized entirely. Gangliosides and fatty acids are integral in the formation, release, stability, and functionalities of EVs. Presumably, EV function is related to EV composition and lipids in EVs influence the bioavailability of EV cargo and downstream functions of EVs. The objective of this research was to characterize the fatty acid and ganglioside composition of EVs in human milk. …

Debunking Medical Myths: Is Msg Unhealthy, Sadie Knill, Alejandro Ponce Sepulveda, Doo Hee Kim, Enoch Kim, Lauren Larson, Shagane Kotcharian

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Debunking Medical Myths: Breakfast Is The Most Important Meal Of The Day, Arsh Kaiser, Erin Madden, Chelsea Yu, Collin Gustafson, Adlai Nelson, Matthew Myhand

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Debunking Medical Myths: Bmi Reliably Measures Body Fat, Michael Melhem, Lillian Baumann, Victoria Kelley, Michael Escobar, Nicholas Pryde, Quynh Liu

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Debunking Medical Myths: 3 Myths Surrounding Coconut Oil, Tabassum Chowdhury, Kia Sweeney, Andrew Rabah, Andrew Gregory, Nicholas Livingston, Laura Aravena

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Debunking Medical Myths: Msg Safety, Meyer Gershater, Gabriella Shab, Amanda Rodriguez, Ahmad Chouman, Anthony Mrocko

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Debunking Medical Myths: Eggs & Your Heart Health, Sai Dheeraj Reddy Kagithala, Maighdlin Patterson, Anyan Cheng, Nicolas Ceniza, Alex Duvall

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Doctors & Diets: The Return Of Nutrition To American Medical Education, Luke Hollingsworth

Senior Theses

The purpose of this honors graduation thesis is to analyze the role of nutrition in the prevention, management, and treatment of chronic diseases and to argue that clinical nutrition should be reintegrated into American medical education as a high priority subject. The thesis begins with a historical review of clinical nutrition beginning in the fifth century B.C. with Hippocrates in Classical Greece and ending in 21st century America. Following the historical review, five of some of the most prevalent chronic diseases in America are examined through a nutritional lens. This thesis concludes with a discussion of the outlook of American …

Associations With The Number Of Well-Known Grocery Stores, Gyms, And Parks To Median Household Income, Sara Le, Edward Merritt Phd, Vanessa Mikan Phd

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Segregated neighborhoods are linked to the environmental exposures, education and behavior of their residents. Access to exercise and nutrition resources are dependent on whether or not residents are able to afford it or not. PURPOSE: To identify the associations between the location of nutrition and exercise resources to household income. METHODS: Selective Zip codes in the Austin Area were used to identify the median household income through an online search where data is collected from the U.S. Census. Selective grocery store companies and gyms were found through an online search of their website “store locator.” Neighborhood parks were identified by …

The Process And Case Study Approach To Implementing A Nutrition-Specific Dissemination And Implementation Science Training In Appalachia, Ayron E. Walker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Introduction: Nutrition professionals face implementation challenges due to their lack of knowledge to incorporate D&I science into intervention design. To improve intervention outcomes, nutrition professionals must be trained in D&I science, which are currently absent in the field.

Aims: To identify and assess nutrition educators and practitioners perceived motivations, self-efficacy, and attitudes in using D&I science to inform the educational design and strategies of a nutrition-specific D&I curriculum for nutrition educators. Then to test feasibility of the nutrition-specific curriculum in increasing knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes by a case study approach, pre/post intervention design.

Methods: First, scoping review methodology involved the …

Accessibility Of Nutritious And Healthy Foods To Older Adults, Kristen Wright

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Food insecurity rates are high among older adults who have chronic conditions and/or are homebound. These patients have functional limitations, comorbidities limiting their mobility, and often are socially isolated or live alone, all of which impact their ability to access or make healthy meals. As food insecurity rises, so do the health care costs related to inaccessibility to healthy food, involving the increased risk or prevalence of chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. This project aimed to understand the barriers older adults face in accessing and making healthy meals, and to educate health care providers and patients on recognizing …

Trust Your Gut: Promoting Gut Health Through Updated Nutrition Education, Christina Cobb

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Physician time and nutrition education are limited, yet lifestyle changes, including healthy eating, are often the primary intervention for both preventing & managing chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. There is growing evidence of the importance of gut health & the microbiome’s link to several aspects of health, including the immune system, mental health, and metabolic syndrome. Through collaboration with two dietitians, a "promoting gut health" patient handout was created and existing nutrition handouts were updated to reflect current dietary recommendations.

Healthy Living In Washington County, Colleen Mccarthy

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

No abstract provided.

Precision Nutrition And Advanced Culinary Medicine, Sara B. Police

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Textbook Gallery

This electronic textbook (eBook) accompanies NS801, Precision Nutrition and Advanced Culinary Medicine, a 1-credit, 8-week online medical elective course for the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Office of Medical Education. The eBook provides module-based background information including text, tables, and figures to support each module of the online course:

1. Introduction
2. Culinary Challenges Preparation
3. Emerging Concepts in Precision Nutrition
4. Cardiovascular Disease & Nutritional Considerations
5. Neurological and Mental Health Disorders & Nutritional Considerations
6. Cancer & Nutritional Considerations
7. Gastrointestinal (GI) Health, Microbiome & Nutritional Considerations
8. Renal Conditions & Nutritional Considerations

As an open access textbook supported by the University of Kentucky Libraries …

Dashing Into A Healthier Life, Megan N. Eubank

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Almost half of all US adults have hypertension (high blood pressure), which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Hypertension can be controlled through a combination of diet, exercise, and medications. The DASH diet has been proven to lower blood pressure in as little as two weeks. I created a brochure and Epic SmartPhrase that explains and simplifies the DASH diet for patients.