Nutrition Commons^™

The Role Of Adiponectin And The Adipocyte In Energy Metabolism And Inflammation, Sheila Kay Jacobi

Open Access Dissertations

A series of experiments were conducted to characterize the autocrine role of adiponectin in modulating fatty acid metabolism and inflammation in the pig. In the first study, we cloned and sequenced the porcine adiponectin open reading frame and evaluated the regulation of adiponectin, in vitro and in vivo. The porcine sequence shares approximately 88, 86, 85 and 83% homology with the dog, human, cow and mouse adiponectin, respectively, and 79–83% similarity with dog, human, cow and mouse proteins at the amino acid level, based on the translated porcine sequence and GenBank submissions for the other species. Analysis of serum from …

The Impact Of An Omega-3 Enriched Diet On Hyperactivity And Biochemistry In An Animal Model For Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Nadine M. Hammoud

Open Access Theses

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most diagnosed behavioral disorder in children. It affects around 5% of children worldwide and 11% of children in the United States, with rates increasing. Pharmaceutical treatments, such as amphetamines and methylphenidates, are not effective for everyone and are known to have unwanted side effects. While the etiology of the disorder is not yet fully understood, there are clear genetic and environmental components. Nutritional insufficiencies have recently become a popular environmental risk factor under investigation. Essential fatty acids (EFA), omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in particular, are needed for proper brain development and function. Our lab …

Analysis Of Vitamin E Metabolites By Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Tianlin Xu

Open Access Theses

Naturally occurring forms of Vitamin E are metabolized to various carboxychromanols and conjugated carboxychromanols. Recent studies showed that vitamin E metabolites, especially the long-chain carboxychromanols are more bioactive than unmetabolized vitamin E forms. It is necessary to quantify vitamin E metabolites in biological environment. Here a simple and effective extraction method was developed to achieve extraction efficacy of more than 90% of various forms of vitamin E and metabolites with less than 10% inter- or intra-day variation. An LC-MS/MS assay was developed and optimized to acquire best sensitivity for the detection of vitamin E and metabolites. This method allows simultaneous …

African Starchy Foods, Gastric Emptying, And Starch Digestion In Malian Stunted Children, Fatimata Cisse

Open Access Dissertations

Starch serves as the main energy source in cereal and tuber-rich diets, and its glycemic response profile has been associated with health-related conditions. Sorghum and millet are known to have relatively low starch digestibility, a potentially desirable property for controlling blood glucose response and providing sustained energy. Gastric emptying rates of traditional sorghum and millet-based African foods of the Sahelian region (couscous, thick and thin porridges made from millet and/or sorghum) were compared to those of non-traditional "modern" foods that are mostly consumed in urban areas using a non-invasive 13C-labelled octanoic acid breath test in healthy volunteers. The obtained results …

Iron Nutriture Following Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery, Breanne N. Wright

Open Access Theses

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) is effective for weight loss, but is commonly associated with iron deficiency and its clinical manifestation, anemia. Diagnosing iron deficiency is complex because iron status depends on other nutrients; additionally, anemia following surgery is not specifically due to deficiency in iron, as it can be due to deficiencies in other nutrients including zinc, copper, vitamin B₆, folate, and vitamin B ₁₂. In patients who have undergone RYGB, our aims were to 1) conduct a comprehensive assessment of nutrients involved in iron homeostasis, 2) determine the contribution of dietary intake to iron deficiency, …

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Alters Lipid Metabolism And Epithelialto- Mesenchymal Transition In Metastatic Epithelial Breast Cancer Cells, Alle Nicole Barnard

Open Access Theses

Evidence suggests that high vitamin D status (marked by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)2 D) is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer. It has been established that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH) 2 D) can alter glycolysis and the Krebs cycle of breast cancer cells (Jiang et al., 2010; Zheng et al., 2013) but little information is available on 1,25(OH) 2 D's alterations of lipid metabolism in breast cancer cells. Thus, the current research investigates if there was an effect of 1,25(OH) 2 D on proteins that regulate lipid metabolism in MCF10A, MCF10A-ras, MCF10CA1h, and MCF10CA1a epithelial breast cancer cells. While …

Fatty Acids And Mercury In Seventy Seven Species Of Commercially Available Finfish In The United States, Dennis P. Cladis

Open Access Theses

Finfish are consumed across the United States and constitute an important part of the American diet. However, seafood consumption can be a tenuous topic, with supporters highlighting the health benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n3) and opponents emphasizing the neurotoxicity of methylmercury. Because all fish contain varying amounts of EPA, DHA, and methylmercury, the need for clear and unbiased information is essential to alleviate the confusion experienced by many consumers and empower them to make informed decisions regarding seafood consumption. As the market changes and more fish originate from aquaculture sources, where diets are controlled, …

An Exploratory Analysis Of Fruit And Vegetable Consumption In Black Men, Jacqueline Reiter

Open Access Theses

Objective: Multiple peer-reviewed studies have found an association between fruit and vegetable consumption and lower risk for diseases such as hypertension, stroke and cancer. In other related studies, education level, retail food environment, and fruit and vegetable consumption were also examined together to discover patterns and associations. Currently, Black males have a higher risk for poor health outcomes. Limited research has focused specifically on Black men's fruit and vegetable consumption. This study explored the association between education level, food store access (measured by proximity) and fruit and vegetable consumption in black African American men.

Design: The data for this study …

Bridging The Omega-3 Gap: The Disparity Between Actual And Target Intakes Of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (Epa) And Docosahexaenoic Acid (Dha) In Children, Lyndsey Rae Herdzina-Huss

Open Access Theses

To improve children's diet quality for optimal growth and development and the prevention of chronic disease, we conducted two studies. One was focused on analyzing nationally representative data; the other was designed to test the feasibility of children accepting and consuming oily fish in a childcare setting. The objective of our first study was to provide evidence for 2-18 year old children's fish and shellfish consumption patterns and their eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake. The aims of this study were to estimate proportion of children consuming fish, to identify major dietary sources of EPA and DHA, and …

Consumer Perceptions Of Child-Friendly Shaped Healthy Fruit And Vegetable Snacks, Selena Lauren Baker

Open Access Theses

Fruits and vegetables (FV) are widely recognized as healthful foods by the public, and most individuals are aware of dietary guidance recommendations to consume more FV. However, actual consumption of FV has been and continues to be low in the United States and many other countries, despite public health efforts to change this trend. The sub-optimal intake of FV among children and adolescents is of particular concern due to high nutrient requirements for proper growth and development during these life stages. Fruit and vegetable intake patterns in childhood have been shown to track into later life and may affect individuals' …

An Economic Analysis Of Sizing Constraints: Price Discrimination And Changes In Welfare Under The New York City Soda Ban, Brian A. Bourquard

Open Access Theses

This thesis uses profit maximizing techniques and nonlinear, second-degree price discrimination theory to describe changes in consumption and gains and losses in welfare of consumption under a container size constraint. It observationally examines the New York City soda ban to provide insight into retailer behavior in the event of such a ban, and examines three cases to highlight potential retailer decisions to compensate for a ban: to continue using a restricted menu of pricing options; to sell only to high type soda consumers; or to serve both markets with a one-size-fits-all strategy. This thesis finds that the ban generally reduces …

Natural Genetic Variation Affecting Calcium Homeostasis, Rebecca Anna Replogle

Open Access Dissertations

Calcium (Ca) is essential for multiple functions within the body including skeletal health. The level of Ca in the serum is tightly regulated. During periods of habitual low Ca intake, the body senses a decrease in serum Ca and increases renal conversion of 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) to 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D). 1,25(OH)2D acts through the vitamin D receptor (VDR) to increase intestinal Ca absorption, renal Ca reabsorption and skeletal Ca resorption. Efficient intestinal Ca absorption, especially during periods of low Ca intake, is critical for protecting bone mass. Ca absorption and its primary regulator, 1,25(OH)2D, are affected by both …

Brain Bioavailability Of Polyphenols: Implications For Delivery Of Brain Health Benefits, Tzu-Ying Chen

Open Access Dissertations

Consumption of fruits and vegetables has been associated with neuroprotection and cognitive benefits throughout the life span. These associations have sparked interest in plant-derived polyphenols as biologically active agents with potential for targeting brain benefits. However, little is known regarding the ability of the polyphenols or their metabolites from polyphenol-rich products to cross the blood-brain-barrier, and be available for biological action. Furthermore, additional insight is needed on factors affecting the absorption and brain distribution of polyphenol metabolites in vivo. To fill gap in current knowledge, this thesis will focus on the effects of diabetogenic diet and diabetic state which have …

The Obesity Epidemic, Lenka Kollar, Evienne Epifano, Molly Mckneight, Jeff Miskovich, Heather Moore

Student Papers in Public Policy

The incidence of chronic, noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, is increasing at an alarming rate on the global scale. The growing prevalence of overweight and obesity have led to an upsurge in cases of diabetes and other obesity-related diseases. About 18 million people die every year from heart disease, of which diabetes and obesity are major predisposing factors. Worldwide, more than 1.1 billion adults are overweight, 312 million of which are obese. The number of children that are overweight or obese is also growing (Hossain, Parvez et al.). Obesity, and the associated diseases, has become a worldwide epidemic and …

Impact Of High Calcium Intake From Calcium Carbonate Or Dairy On Cardiovascular Function, Coronary Artery Calcification And Coronary Artery Disease Burden In Ossabaw Miniature Swine, Alyssa K. Phillips

Open Access Theses

Recent secondary analyses have associated supplemental calcium use with increased risk for myocardial infarction and cardiovascular-related death in healthy, older adults. Subsequent concern over the safety of calcium supplements has spurred a calcium controversy, because calcium is a shortfall essential nutrient that is critical for bone health and a mainstay of osteoporosis prevention and treatment. The proposed mechanism by which calcium intake may detriment cardiovascular health is through the acceleration of coronary artery calcification (CAC), a clinical indicator of coronary artery disease (CAD) that has been associated with mortality risk. However, causal evidence to support this hypothesis is lacking. Determining …