Digital Commons Network^™

Antioxidants And Alcohol In The Progression Of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Laura Lynne Prestwich

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Wasting syndrome in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) appears to play a role in decline of immune function. Along with poor appetite, HIV infected individuals seem to have a tendency to be heavy alcohol drinkers which may be immunosuppressive and cause malnutrition. Altered macronutrient metabolism visibly contributes to wasting; however, micronutrient deficiencies also appear to play a role. Micronutrient deficiency has also been known to decrease immune function. As part of their role as antioxidants, P-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium may be helpful in altering cell production and response to cytokines and other secretions. This may decrease viral replication …

Syndrome X: A Review Of The Cluster Of Abnormalities, Diagnosis, And Treatment, Kathryn Lundgren Gurney

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Syndrome X is a cluster of abnormalities including insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, upper-body obesity, increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, decreased levels of tissue plasminogen activator, and hyperuricemia. The combined effect of these abnormalities greatly increases risk for Type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. Individuals at risk for Syndrome X are those with any of the abnormalities (not necessarily all) or with a family history of diabetes, hypertension, or early-onset coronary artery disease. Treatment of Syndrome X should be early and aggressive, starting with lifestyle changes. Exercise, proper diet, and weight loss all improve insulin resistance and thereby …

Vegetarianism, Kimberly A. Folkman

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Although vegetarian eating has been around throughout recorded history, in recent years, interest in this eating style has gone up dramatically. As the number of individuals adopting vegetarian dietary practices increases, healthcare professionals are called upon to provide guidance and advice. It is the position of The American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, are nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Both vegetarian and nonvegetarian eating patterns can be healthful-or detrimental to your health. Studies indicate that vegetarians often have lower morbidity and mortality rates from several chronic degenerative …

The Use Of Carnitine And Pyruvate In Weight Management, Karen Phyllis Bergs

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Carnitine has been a naturally occurring compound since the beginning of the century, and was considered to be an essential nutrient for quite some time. Carnitine has many essential roles in the body. Carnitine transports fatty acids into the mitochondria for energy, controls ketogenesis, and modulates the acyl-CoA/free CoA ratio. Studies have postulated that exercise decreases carnitine in the body, therefore leading to a deficiency in athletes. Carnitine has also been used as a weight loss product because of its fatty acid oxidation function. Many nutritional supplement companies have marketed on these functions of carnitine, resulting in a big business. …

The Beneficial Effects Of Supplemental Vitamins C And E In Diabetic Subjects, Jessica Rupp Gibbons

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Few reviews have been written related to the benefits of supplementing vitamin C and E in diabetic individuals. Excessive protein glycosylation is seen in persons with diabetes, and vitamin E and C have been shown to be beneficial in decreasing the glycosylation of proteins. In addition, vitamins E and Care potent antioxidants and actively reduce oxidation, triglycerides, and free fatty acid levels in diabetics. Diabetics may benefit from supplementing vitamins E and C.

Obesity: Environment Vs. Genetics, Kammi Marie Reeder Hansen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The prevalence of overweight and obese individuals is rising. Between 1980 and 1990 there was an 8% increase in the prevalence of obesity. Obesity is associated with many diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Over $39 billion dollars is spent annually on the illnesses associated with obesity. Our American culture has been blamed for the rise in obesity, yet there are obviously many people living in the American culture that are not obese. Researchers have turned to genetics to explain this phenomenon. This article will examine the many environmental factors that contribute to obesity and …

Protein-Based Diets: Fact Or Fiction?, Melanie Douglass

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Protein-based diets are once again popular among the those vulnerable to quick weight loss schemes. Advocates for these diets claim quick, permanent weight loss, disease prevention, improved physical performance, and even enhanced mental productivity. It is claimed that a diet high in carbohydrate contributes to hyperinsulinemia, fat storage, and "bad" eicosanoid production among other things. However, the detrimental effect of a low carbohydrate, high protein diet is rarely discussed. Subjects who follow protein-based diets are prone to a state of ketosis, which causes them to lose an unhealthy amount of nutrients and water. In general the protein-based diets are a …

Targeting Minority Groups In Community Nutrition, Trisha Sisson Brimhall

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

A community nutritionist takes on the immense task of "improving the nutrition, and ... health of individuals and groups within communities" (1). These objectives are generally met by private sector sponsors such as health care facilities, work-site wellness programs and food banks. If the arena of public health is included, then the dietitian's scope is enlarged to include federally-funded agencies designed to improve public health and disease prevention (1). Skills required of these community dietitians not only include clinical knowledge and assessment skills, but marketing, education, and research competencies. The challenges of community nutrition range from counseling an individual on …

The Maternal Diet Can Prevent Neural Tube Defects, Shannon Michelle Gardner

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Maternal diet and nutritional status have a direct impact on pregnancy course and outcome. Nutrition is critical to the development of the human embryo and fetus. Each year in the United States, approximately 4000 pregnancies are affected by neural tube defects (NTD). The most important finding in recent years has been the relationship between maternal folic acid status and NTDs. Other studies have found an association between zinc deficiency and an increased risk for having an NTD-affected pregnancy. Furthermore, some of the latest research has linked maternal obesity with the development of NTDs. The cumulative data from several studies have …

Influence Of Streptococcus Thermophilus Mr-1c Capsular Exopolysaccharide On Cheese Moisture Level, Deborah Low

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study investigated the role of exopolysaccharide (EPS) in cheese moisture retention. Analysis of low-fat Mozzarella cheese made with different combinations of EPS-producing (Streptococcus thermophilus MR-1C and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus MR-lR) and non-EPS-producing (S. thermophilus TA061 and L. helveticus LH100) starters showed significantly higher moisture levels in cheese made with S. thermophilus MR-1C. To determine if the S. thermophilus MR-1C EPS was responsible for increased moisture retention, gene replacement was used to inactivate the epsE gene in this bacterium. Low-fat Mozzarella cheese made with L. helveticus LH100 plus the EPS-negative mutant, S. thermophilus DM1O, had significantly lower …

Diet, Health Practices, And Variables Associated With Breastfeeding In Caucasian And Asian Participants In The Special Supplemental Food Program For Women, Infants, And Children: A Comparative Study, Rebecca E. Blaine

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The United States Department of Health and Human Services wrote Healthy People 2000 National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives. One major goal is to reduce the mortality rate for infants by reducing low birthweight. The disparities have been great when goals and objectives are applied to poor and minority populations.

Objectives have been set to reduce risk factors associated with low infant birthweight. These include addressing inappropriate health practices, and appropriate nutrition for mother and infant.

Forty-eight Asian and 50 Caucasian participants were compared for maternal diet, health practices, breastfeeding initiation and duration, and infant growth parameters. Data were …

Effect Of Aging On The Quality Of Beef Semitendinosus Muscle Treated With Ultra High Temperature Pasteurization, Habiba Ali Nur

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of aging on the tenderness and palatability of beef from the semitendinosus muscle of the round. Tenderness may be affected by the length of the aging period and the aging temperature. Steaks from the semitendinosus muscle were stored for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hr at two temperatures, 43.3°C and 2.2°C. Ultra high temperature (UHT) pasteurization was accomplished by subjecting the meat to 1100°C for 20 seconds. UHT pasteurization denatures surface proteins, destroys vegetative pathogens, and eliminates some spoilage organisms from the surface of the meat. UHT -treated …

Characterization Of The Proteolytic System In Lactococcus Lactis Starter Cultures, Christina Beer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The proteolytic system of Lactococcus lactis starter cultures influences both flavor and the characteristic body and texture of cheese. The ability to further understand and control how different components of this proteolytic system work together to hydrolyze milk proteins would be of immense importance to the dairy industry.

The goal of this research was to characterize Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis starter bacteria with varying prt operon compositions by proteinase specificity, aminopeptidase and lipase activities, growth, and influence on cheese flavor. By using a cheese slurry system, a statistical model to predict milk protein hydrolysis patterns was developed.

Lactococcus lactis subsp. …

Identification Of Non-Nuclear Receptors For 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 In Chick Kidney And Brain, Zhiheng Jia

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D₃) has been shown to mediate the rapid, non-nuclear stimulation of calcium and phosphate transport in chick intestine through binding to a receptor localized in the basal lateral membrane. By using an antibody to the N-terminus of the membrane receptor, studies were undertaken to determine whether a comparable protein exists in kidney and brain, and whether it is present in a particular subcellular fraction.

The first step was to establish fractionation protocols to separate subcellular organelles as judged by marker enzyme analyses. Differential centrifugation and Percoll gradient fractions were prepared from chick kidney …

Antioxidant Activity Of Carnosine And Phytate: Application As Meat Preservatives, Beom Jun Lee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The antioxidant activity of carnosine and phytic acid was investigated using several model systems. Carnosine and phytic acid alone inhibited metal ion-catalyzed deoxyribose degradation. Carnosine strongly inhibited metal ion-catalyzed lipid peroxidation in liposomes and in ground beef homogenates. Phytic acid facilitated oxidation of Fe (II) to Fe (III), and it inhibited hemeprotein + H₂O₂-catalyzed lipid peroxidation in linoleic acid micelles.

Antioxidant and color stabilizing effects of carnosine and phytate were investigated in a beef model system. Both compounds increased the rate of pH decline in pre-rigor beef muscle and stabilized fresh meat color by inhibiting metmyoglobin …

Improving Fat Retention And Texture In Low-Moisture Cheese Manufactured From Ultrafiltered Milk, Brian J. Orme

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three serious problems have been experienced in the manufacture of low moisture cheese using ultrafiltration (UF)- high fat-loss, excessive moisture retention, and poor cheese texture. In this work the causes of these problems were identified, and means of overcoming them were developed.

Coagulation and cheese-making experiments indicated that UF concentration of milk shifts the control of rennet coagulation toward the casein micelle collision rate and away from rennet activity, resulting in formation of a rough-textured curd structure that resists syneresis. Use of 4x whole milk retentate, instead of 5x, improved rennet curd structure, syneresis, and UF cheese texture without reducing …

Expression And Iron Loading Of Recombinant Ferritin Homopolymers, Jia-Hsin Guo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ferritin is an iron storage protein consisting of H and L chains to form a 24-subunit heropolymer. Ceruloplamin oxidizes Fe(II) and then loads the iron into ferritin. This research was conducted to determine which ferritin subunit is involved and whether a proposed iron-loading channel is required for iron loading by ceruloplasmin.

Recombinant rat liver H and L chain ferritin homopolymers, designated as rH-Ft and rL-Ft, respectively, were produced using insect cell-baculovirus and Escherichia coli expression systems. The expressed rH-Ft strongly suppressed the growth of the host. The rH-Ft expressed in the E. coli contained approximately 150 iron atoms/ferritin and was …

The Effects Of A Very-Low-Calorie-Diet On Resting Energy Expenditure, Body Composition, And Biochemical Data In Obese Outpatients, Charlene A. Perkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Obesity is a disease of major proportion in the United States. The Surgeon General has identified obesity as a national health problem that affects approximately 34 million Americans.

The aim of this study was to investigate the very-low-calorie diet, Optifast 70. Measurements for resting energy expenditure (REE} and body composition via circumference measurements (CBF} and infrared photospectromerty (NIR} with a Futrex 5000 were collected at weeks 1, 7, 13, 19, and 25. Biochemical data, including serum chemistry panel (SMA-12} and complete blood count (CBC}, were collected on weeks 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, and 25. Lipid profiles were drawn …

The Relationship Between Cobalamin Deficiency And Neurological Dysfunction In Older Adults, Marion Bachra

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The prevalence of cobalamin (Obi) deficiency among older adults is higher than among younger adults, and is estimated to be between 14% and 23%. Persistent Cbl deficiency can cause a variety of neurological deficits. Neurological dysfunction occurs commonly among older adults, raising the research question whether or not there is a relationship between the high prevalence of Cbl deficiency and neurological dysfunction among older adults.

This case-control study enrolled 120 subjects with and without neurological dysfunction through the Faculty Medical Offices' Internal Medicine and Neurology Outpatient Clinics. All subjects received a neurological and cognitive exam. Blood samples were drawn to …

The Correlation Between The Dietary Intake Of The Fat-Soluble, Antioxidant Vitamins Alphatocopherol And Retinol And Their Fasting Plasma Concentrations In Postmenopausal Women, Michelle C. Ethun

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in older women with 500,000 dying annually. Postmenopausal women have a different relative risk for CHD due to the loss of ovarian function and cessation of menses. Recent epidemiological studies indicate that 1) an increase in -tocopherol is associated with a decreased susceptibility of LDL to oxidative modification. This study examined the dietary intake of -tocopherol and retinol in a group of 32 postmenopausal women, and the correlation between dietary intake and plasma concentrations of these two vitamins. The 3-day diet records indicate that 66% of our population receives the …

A Comparison Of Blood Cholesterol Levels And The Intake Of Dietary Trans Fatty Acids In Post-Menopausal Women, Bridget Cartwright

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between dietary trans fatty acids and levels of total serum cholesterol, high and low density lipoproteins, and the ratio of total serum cholesterol to HDL in apparently healthy post-menopausal women.

Subjects (n = 21) were current members of the Eastern Illinois University Adult Fitness Program. All were moderately active Caucasian women determined to be post-menopausal and not taking hormone replacement therapy or lipid lowering medications. Mean age of the subjects was 69.1 ± 9.1 years.

Dietary intakes were assessed with the use of a multiple day food record and personal …

Peptideaccumulation And Bitterness In Cheddar Cheese Made Using Single-Strain Lactococcus Lactis Starterswith Distinct Proteinase Specificities, Jeff Broadbent, M. Strickland, B. Weimer, M. E. Johnson, J. L. Steele

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

This study investigated peptide accumulation and bitterness in reduced- and full-fat Cheddar cheeses that were manufactured with single-strain Lactococcus lactis starters that had distinct cell envelope proteinase specificities. Micellar electrokinetic capillary electrophoresis of aqueous cheese extracts detected three large peaks, designated O, P, and Q, that eluted with peptide standards and increased in area during cheese maturation in a pattern that was distinct for each starter. Regression analysis of bitter flavor scores from trained sensory panels and individual OQ peak areas suggested that peaks P and Q had a negative and positive correlation, respectively, to this defect. Then, HPLC, capillary …

The Effect Of Growth Hormone Release On Plasma And Erythrocyte Selenium And Zinc Levels In Children, Maria Estela Legal De Reid

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Research studies have suggested that selenium may be important in the release of growth hormone, GH. A selenium-containing amino-acid residue, selenocysteine, has been identified as part of the active site of the three isoenzymes (Type I, II and III iodothyronine 5' -deiodinase) responsible for the synthesis of active thyroid hormone, T_3, which is reported to stimulate GH secretion. The importance of zinc in growth is well- documented because of its involvement in transcription and expression of GH and its intermediary, insulin growth factor I or IGF- I. Thus, selenium and zinc levels in plasma may be altered in response …

An Analysis Of The Calcium And Iron Intake Of Langston University's Track And Basketball Athletes, Dominique Patrice Moore

McCabe Thesis Collection

Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA's ) reflect that the average healthy American aged 18-24 years should consume 1,200 mg of calcium daily and 10-12 mg and 15 mg of iron for men and women respectively. These RDA's have not been adjusted for those persons involved in endurance sports. Studies by Telford (1992) and Clarkson (1992) show that endurance athletes suffer from calcium and iron deficiencies. There is a general assumption that athletic coaches are more concerned with the "weigh in" of 4 athletes than overall nutrient requirements. Positive nutrition education should be part of the overall training of athletes. Also, studies …

The National School Lunch Program, Katherine M. Hadley

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In 1946, President Harry Truman signed the National School Lunch Act which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary (1). It was established by congress "to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation's children" (2). The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program that is functioning in more than 94,000 public and nonprofit private schools. Lunches through the NSLP are served to more than 25 million school children each day.

A Study Of The Interactions Between Milk Proteins And Soy Proteins, Venkatachalam Narayanaswamy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This research investigates the protein interactions that occur when soy protein is added to milk and subjected to renneting or heating. Milk was fortified with 20% soy protein and enzymic coagulation studied at 35°C at various pH's and CaCl₂ levels. The first part deals with the interaction between milk and soy proteins during rennet-induced milk coagulation. The first goal was to determine how soy proteins affected milk coagulation. The effects of native versus heat-denatured soy proteins on rennet coagulation time and curd firmness were compared. lmmunogold labeling along with transmission electron microscopy was used to identify and localfze soy …

Isolation And Biochemical Characterization Of Acid- And Bile- Tolerant Strains Of Lactobacillus Acidophilus And Bifidobacterium Bifidum, Lan-Szu Chou

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Lactic acid bacteria have been reported to be used as a health adjunct in food for u many years. However, these health benefits have not been proven. and how these bacteria pass through the digestion process and remain viable in the human intestinal tract is still not clear. The aim of this work was to isolate mutants from Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium bifidum that could tolerate the conditions of the digestion process (low pH and bile conduction) and to characterize these isolated mutants.

Acid- and bile-tolerant mutants of L. acidophilus were isolated from parental strains successfully using natural selection techniques. …

Use Of A Self-Administered Food Frequency Questionnaire In A Population 65 Years And Older, Karri Lynn Hoyt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Little is known of the elderly's ability to use a food frequency questionnaire to describe their dietary intake. This study examines the elderly's ability to reliably describe their diets and how age, education, cognitive status, and gender may affect their ability to complete and return a food frequency questionnaire. The reproducibility of the questionnaire was tested by a repeated administration among 85 participants 65 years of age and older from the Preston, Idaho, area. Correlation coefficients between nutrient scores from the first and second administration ranged from 0.48-0.79 (total population), 0.44-0.88 (males), and 0.39-0.86 (females). Median values for the correlation …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Potassium Loss As A Result Of Different Processing Methods, Patricia M. Klefbeck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Compliance with the strict dietary regimen for the dialysis patient can be very challenging. Many foods are limited from the diet of a renal patient because of the high potassium content. The physiological consequences of failure to follow a diet prescription can be fatal for the dialysis patient. In an effort to improve patient compliance with nutritional protocols, several potato cooking methods and centrifugation of tomato sauce were investigated for their effects in reducing potassium content.

All methods with a 24-hour soak were found to be significant in reducing potassium content of potatoes (P < 0.05). However, some of the methods in which the potatoes were not soaked were also found to be effective in reducing potassium content. Slice thickness and volume of cooking water used were found to be two important factors in determining potassium loss. The 4-mm sliced potatoes, which had a mean potassium value of 84 mg/100 g, lost more potassium than the 8-mm potatoes with a mean potassium value of 182 mg/100 g (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the potatoes cooked in 10 times the amount of water lost more potassium (124 mg/100 g) than those cooked in only 5 times the amount of water (148 mg/100 g) (P < .005). Soaking in cold versus hot water, agitation of the soak water, or the addition of chemical chelators to the soak water were not shown to be any more effective in reducing the potassium content than the other methods. Sensory data indicated that participants did not have a strong taste preference for potatoes cooked by any one particular method (P < 0.05).

Centrifugation of …

Physiological Effects Of Chitosan And Chitorichtm On Rats Fed At Two Levels Of Lipid And Fiber, Hyung-Suk Lee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Chitin is a polysaccharide derived from the shell of crustaceans. Chitosan is a deacylated chitin derivative and ChitoRich™ is a chitosan-based formulation. Chitosan is known to inhibit dietary fat absorption. ChitoRich™ and chitosan were evaluated for their ability to control fat absorption in growing rats.

Forty-eight rats (about 150 g) were fed for 4 weeks on 12 different diets containing two levels of vegetable shortening (15 and 5%) and fiber (5 and 2.5%) with cellulose, chitosan, or ChitoRich™ as the dietary fiber sources.

Rats fed ChitoRich™ ate less and gained less body weight than rats fed the other fiber sources. …