Nutrition Commons^™

Operationally Ready Vs Gym Ready: Training For The Real Demands Of Tactical Work, Ben Jacobs

Tactical & Occupational Performance Conference

Tactical organizations are increasingly recognizing that readiness extends beyond fitness alone. Structured performance systems that integrate training, recovery, nutrition, and fatigue management can help departments improve resilience, reduce injuries, and sustain operational capability over an entire career.

Session's revolve around the concept of Tactical Readiness Architecture, a systems-based framework designed to help departments build structured, sustainable performance support for their personnel. Rather than focusing solely on workouts or individual habits, Tactical Readiness Architecture integrates training, recovery, nutrition, fatigue management, and data-informed monitoring into a cohesive readiness model.

The Past, Present And Future Of The Dietary Guidelines Of America And The Impact On Community Nutrition, Jordyn Dearth

2026 Student Academic Showcase

The most recent addition of the Dietary Guidelines of America have been released to the public, and has caused many questions to the community. The guidelines serve not only as a resource for the general public and a resource for local and national policy regarding nutrition. Because community nutrition is directly shaped by these recommendations, exploring its past implementations, present implications and possible future actions can help in understanding how these guidelines influence public health at local and national levels. This project aims to explain the impact of the past Dietary Guidelines, show the newest Dietary Guidelines, and predict how …

Test-Retest Reliability Of Commercial Timing Gates (Dashr And Sport React) To Measure Neuromotor And Running Performance And Agility, Kyle S. Geppert, Renee M. Skiera, Caitlin O'Keeffe, Adam Pennell, Rachel Tan

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Commercially-available laser-based timing gates are widely implemented for assessing neuromotor function, speed and agility; however, there is limited available data for the reliability and validity of this equipment. The purpose of this study is to establish the reliability and validity of timing gates from DASHR vs. Sport React compared to a manual stopwatch in a battery of neuromotor, performance and agility tests. Participants will complete 3 x 1-h visits over a 2- to 3-week period in a test-retest design. Participants will perform three rounds of the following tests, with 4-min rest separating each round: two reaction tests (Sport React Choice …

Acute Nitrate Ingestion On Blood Pressure And Lower Body Power In Healthy Females, Sydney N. Brennan, Ryan Tran, Logan J. Dore, Henry C. Nafzger, Justin M. Foster, Kyle S. Geppert, Trevor J. Molnar, Renee M. Skiera, Rylee M. Perlmutter, Mikayla A. Yue, Michael Egiazarian, Christopher B. Sottile, Graciela K. Simpson, Layla A. Busquets, Abigial F. Ballhagen, Adam Pennell, Rachel Tan

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Dietary nitrate supplementation can improve blood pressure and contractile function of type II (fast twitch) muscle fiber contraction and force production. However, limited data are available for  women and dosing guidelines for women. The purpose of this study is to investigate if nitrate ingestion, provided as nitrate-rich beetroot juice, improves blood pressure and countermovement jumps and cycling sprint performance compared to nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo in women. Eight recreationally active women have been assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to three experimental conditions to receive: (1) 2 x 70 ml of concentrated nitrate--depleted beetroot juice placebo (PL; 0.10 mmol …

Harnessing The Gut-Diet Axis To Enhance Chemotherapy And Immunotherapy, Jill Carline

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

The human microbiome, a complex ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, represents a critical "gut-diet axis" that significantly influences cancer progression and therapeutic efficacy. While a state of homeostasis supports systemic immunity, dysbiosis is linked to chronic inflammation and can actively promote resistance to standard cytotoxic chemotherapies and modern immune checkpoint inhibitors. Specifically, research indicates that Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) promotes resistance to 5-Fluorouracil and Oxaliplatin in colorectal cancer by activating Notch1 receptors to inhibit apoptosis and push cancer cells into a resilient, stem-cell-like state. Conversely, the introduction of fiber-rich and fermented foods can cultivate beneficial bacteria …

Intersecting Determinants Of Health: Correlating Food Insecurity And Sleep Deprivation Across Southern Adventist University Demographics*, Heaven Robles, Jesica Paralafox Ramirez, Kimberly Mongare, Joshua C. Jenkins, Melany Castillo, Philip Chen Dr, Aaron Corbit Dr

Campus Research Month

For university students, social determinants of health such as food security and sleep patterns heavily dictate both health outcomes and academic success. Using a cross-sectional study design, statistical analyses will be conducted using the Jamovi software platform to compare mean sleep durations and food access scores across multiple academic departments and ethnic demographic groups. The study evaluates four primary hypotheses: (1) Consistent food access positively correlates with sleep quality; (2) Food security and sleep metrics vary significantly across academic departments; (3) Systemic ethnic disparities exist in food accessibility; and (4) Underrepresented ethnic groups experience a compounded burden of food insecurity …

Zinc Imbalance And Its Effect On Nutritional Status, Behavior, Gut Microbiota, And Inflammatory Biomarkers In Btbr T+Itpr3tf/J And C57bl/6j Mice: Insights Into Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asma Nasrullah Ahmadani

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with altered zinc homeostasis and disruptions in the gut microbiota. Zinc is a vital trace mineral involved in multiple biological processes such as inflammatory regulation, intestinal integrity, and neurobehavioral function, and has an important role in influencing microbial activity along the gut–brain axis. Both deficiency and excess of zinc can alter microbial balance. However, their collective effects on behavior, overall physiology, and mineral status in ASD-relevant models are not yet fully understood.

Aim: This comprehensive study explored the effect of dietary zinc variation on body weight, food intake, behavior, gut microbiota composition, …

Effects Of Plant Based Egg Replacers On Flavor And Sensory Characteristics Of Banana Bread, Daniela Mason, Sarah Harris, Anniston Drummonds

Student Scholar Symposium

This abstract assesses the differences in the characteristics of baked goods using alternative ingredients, and informs about the benefits of opting for natural, whole-foods when cooking.

Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge And Body Composition Changes Across A Season In Collegiate Women’S Soccer, Emily M. Mowbray, Harry P. Cintineo, Kyle Sunderland

2025 Student Academic Showcase

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between athlete preseason nutrition knowledge and changes in body composition over a competition season. METHODS: Twenty NCAA Division I women’s soccer athletes (20 ± 2 y, 167.8 ± 6.5 cm, 64.4 ± 7.2 kg) participated. Before fall training, athletes completed the Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (A-NSKQ) to assess nutrition knowledge. Body composition was assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) pre-season and one week post-season. Spearman's rank correlations examined relationships between A-NSKQ scores and DEXAderived measures (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Total A-NSKQ score showed a significant positive correlation with change in % body fat …

Effects Of Beetroot Juice Supplementation On Power Output During Resistance Exercise In Resistance-Trained Women, Christopher B. Sottile, Sydney N. Brennan, Trevor J. Molnar, Raymond T. Gerardo, Justin M. Foster, Ryan Tran, Michael Egiazarian, Kyle S. Geppert, Abigial F. Ballhagen, Adam Pennell, Rachel Tan

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Dietary nitrate supplementation has been reported to enhance explosive-type movements, but our understanding of the ergogenic potential of nitrate in resistance exercise and women is understudied. PURPOSE: To investigate if dietary nitrate, provided as nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR), improved resistance exercise performance compared to nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (PL) in resistance-trained women. METHODS: Eighteen resistance-trained women were assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to consume PL (0.10 mmol nitrate) and BR (6 mmol of nitrate) 2.5 h prior to performing barbell back squats and bench press at 55% one-repetition max (1RM), 60%1RM, and 65%1RM. Power and velocity were measured via …

Nutrition Education Intervention For Patients Living With Hiv Attending An Outpatient Clinic In Dubai, Uae, Souheir Mahmoud Alia

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Nutrition is crucial to HIV/AIDS management. HIV affects the immune system, making infections and illnesses harder to resist. Despite the importance of nutrition for people living with HIV (PLHIV), there have been no studies of nutritional interventions for PLHIV in the MENA region. Aim: The objective of this study is to assess the baseline status of PLHIV and the impact of a lifestyle intervention on various aspects of their health and lifestyle status, including nutritional knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP), and intake of immune-boosting food/nutrients. Methods: Sixty-three patients attending an outpatient clinic in Dubai were randomly assigned to an intervention …

The Impact Of Lactoferrin And Iron-Enriched Whey On Iron Absorption, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, And Menstrual Health In Women, Mia Dustin

Student Research Symposium

Background

• Iron is essential for oxygen transport, energy metabolism, and overall health. ¹
• In the U.S., 20% of women aged 18–45 do not meet the estimated average requirement (18 mg/day). ^2,3
• Ferrous sulfate (FS) effectively improves iron levels but often causes severe gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. ⁴
• Previous research has suggested that lactoferrin, a milk-derived glycoprotein, may provide comparable iron delivery with fewer GI issues. ⁴
• Research suggests that lactoferrin, a milk-derived glycoprotein, delivers iron as effectively as ferrous sulfate, with fewer gastrointestinal issues. ⁴
• This clinical trial, conducted at USU’s Center for Human Nutrition Studies, examined the effects of …

Frequency Of Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Among Women Diagnosed With Gestational Diabetes, Hailey Koster

Student Research Symposium

• Consuming fruits and vegetables has been associated with a reduced risk of gestational diabetes and improved pregnancy outcomes. ¹

• However, the majority do not meet the recommendation of five servings per day or 400 g per day according to the World Health Organization.²

Empowering Girls In Sports: Combatting The Female Athlete Triad, Mia Dustin, Emma George, Whitney Stevenson

Student Research Symposium

The purpose of this project is to address the prevalence of the Female Athlete Triad among female high school athletes. Studies indicate that while the risk factors for the Female Athlete Triad are widespread, awareness of the condition among athletes and coaches remains low.¹ Female athletes also experience higher levels of body dissatisfaction, disordered eating patterns, and associated mental health concerns compared to their male counterparts.² ³ The prevalence of the Female Athlete Triad is particularly concerning due to its long-term implications, including low bone density, amenorrhea, muscular injuries, stress fractures, abnormal lipid profiles, irreversible bone loss, depression, low self-esteem, …

Alternatives For Whey Protein Powder, Alleyah Murphy, Emily Jensen, Jaiden C., Spencer C.

Student Research Symposium

Protein shakes have become a popular product in the market, heavily advertised as convenient nutrient sources for active adolescents and adults. These products are widely available in grocery stores, pharmacies, and through online distributors (Deutch, 2022). Typically made with whey protein, they are unsuitable for individuals following vegan or lactose-free diets. The goal of this experiment is to evaluate the impact of substituting whey protein powder with equivalent amounts of pea, soy, and hemp seed protein powders on the taste, texture, viscosity, and protein content of vanilla protein shakes to identify the most suitable alternative

Plant-Based Substitutes For Gelatin In Gummy Bears, Neisha Christensen, Tiffany Stoker, Bethany Janes, Kaiah Thomas, Maryann Schneider

Student Research Symposium

Gummy bears are typically made using gelatin. Those who choose to follow a vegan/vegetarian diet are unable to eat products that contain gelatin, since gelatin is made from the collagen found in animal tissues. Additionally, people who avoid eating pork for religious or other reasons cannot consume gelatin, as it is commonly derived from pork.

Nourishing Skin Health: The Impact Of A Balanced Diet On Chronic Inflammatory Skin Conditions, Archana Banda

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the influence a balanced diet has on the outcome of specific dermatologic conditions notably psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and rosacea. Background: Nutritional status is pivotal in shaping holistic wellness, which extends to skin health. Adequate nutrition can prevent the worsening of inflammatory conditions. Methods: A literature review was conducted to analyze how specific dietary habits for selected chronic inflammatory cutaneous conditions influence the presentation and overall clinical outcome. Results: The analysis indicates a higher incidence of flare-ups with diets heavily consisting of carbohydrates, red meat, alcohol, and fats. Specific diets, such as the Western …

Honey: A Natural Recipe For The Management Of Pancreatic Cancer, Aun A. Bangash, Muhammad A. Bangash, Georgina Villanueva, Haider Ahsan, Shiza Khan, Rida Shareef, Mudassier Ahmad, Dae J. Kim, Sahir S. Alvi, Bilal B. Hafeez

Research Colloquium

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is the fourth deadliest cancer worldwide and expected to become the second deadliest cancer by 2030. In the USA, the National Cancer Institute put forth a grim prediction stating that there will be 64,050 new cases in 2023 alone and about 50,000 of these patients will die. The first line treatment for pancreatic cancer is Folfrinox, a three-drug regimen consisting of 5-Fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin. The second line treatment is gemcitabine combined with paclitaxel. Only 19% of patients who are prescribed the former regimen survive past 18 months of treatment while just 6% of patients survive …

Improving Nutritional Delivery To Pediatric Patients While Using Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy, Jennifer Ruiz-Boada, Sarah Brunner, Tara Benton, Vimal Chadha

Research Days

This quality improvement guide aims to enhance early nutritional delivery to pediatric patients with renal failure who require renal replacement therapy.ng renal replacement therapy.

Relationship Between Gut Microbiota And Dementia, Saad Ahmed, Zack Harris, Russell David Levi

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

This paper explores the complex relationship between gut microbiota, dietary habits, and dementia, focusing particularly on Alzheimer's disease (AD). Growing evidence suggests a significant link between the composition of gut bacteria, dietary choices, and susceptibility to dementia. Notably, individuals with dementia demonstrate a noticeable reduction in gut bacteria diversity, highlighting the crucial role of a balanced microbiome in maintaining cognitive health. Conversely, dietary preferences characterized by excessive consumption of processed foods and sugars are associated with an increased risk of dementia, emphasizing the critical influence of diet on shaping gut microbiota and subsequent neurocognitive outcomes. Importantly, dietary interventions featuring a …

Patterns Of Fruit And Vegetable Incentive Use By Consumers With Low-Incomes, Sarah Moore Smith

Student Research Symposium

Situation:

• 9.5% or 316,980 Utahns are food insecure. That’s 1 in every 11 people who are experiencing hunger.¹
• Hunger is often accompanied by poor diet quality as a result of inadequate access or resources to purchase nutrient dense foods² (i.e. fruits and vegetables, F&V).

Public Health Response:

• Utah Double-Up Food Bucks (Double-Up) addresses this situation by providing a monetary incentive to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers to purchase fresh F&V. Double Up matches the amount of SNAP EBT withdrawn (up to $30) to be spent on F&V.
• Double Up has resulted in:
• New farmers market customers
• Increased …

Impact Of Snac On Physical And Mental Health, Halle Larson, Kaylee West

Student Research Symposium

Food insecurity is a common occurrence among college students and may have profound impacts on a student’s physical and mental well-being. It is vital that college campuses create not only access to food, but a culture of food security among students and student service organizations. Many institutions are striving to provide food assistance to their students and create this culture through a variety of methods. Ninety seven percent of institutions involved in programs to fight food insecurity implement a food pantry to combat this issue, but only 54% track the impact of their food pantries. Through this study, the impact …

Social And Economic Impacts Of Snac, Sara Marshall, Carson Johnson

Student Research Symposium

Food security is a common concern among college students.¹ Compared to 10% of U.S. households experiencing food insecurity², many college campuses report food insecurity prevalence about four times the national average.³ Approximately 39% of Utah's higher education student's face food insecurity.⁴ The stability of food for an individual can greatly impact different aspects of life including social and economic factors, such as social relationships.⁵

Thickened Carbonated Beverages, Adam Hair, Marissa Cook, Clarissa Richins

Student Research Symposium

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, affects many individuals around the world with an array of underlying medical conditions, and rates of dysphagia are expected to increase as the population ages^1,2. Dysphagia affects the swallowing reflex, which can lead to a greater risk of aspiration and subsequent infections. In order to mitigate this, thin liquids are thickened following IDDSI standards so they can be more easily swallowed by those with dysphagia. Research has shown that carbonation in beverages improves the swallowing reflex over non-carbonated beverages¹. There are different methods and products that can be used to thicken beverages …

Leavening Agents Substitution In Chocolate Chip Muffins, Cassie Alder, Ashley Dawes, Savannah Harbison

Student Research Symposium

The primary function of leavening agents in baking is to cause the dough or batter to rise, allowing the baked product to be less dense, have more volume and be more aesthetically pleasing.¹ The three main types of leavening agents are baking powder, yeast, and the production of carbon dioxide steam as the product is baked.² These different types of leavening agents behave very differently and the purpose of this experiment was to discover and record the differences that occur in chocolate chip muffins. This research is important because if baking powder is unavailable the research shows what …

Diet Considerations To Promote Bone Health, Prevent Chronic Disease, And Optimize Healing After Orthopedic Surgery, Amanda Albright

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Snac Patrons' Typical Use And Overall Evaluation Of Services, Joy Bruneel, Melody Loutzenhiser

Student Research Symposium

Food insecurity among students in higher education programs is a relatively new area of research with the first study being published only 14 years ago.¹ Over the years, the costs associated with higher education have steadily increased leading to more financial burdens for students than ever before. According to the 2019-20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, over 4 million students nationwide struggle with food insecurity.²

While the incidence of food insecurity among students is increasing, many students are not taking advantage of community and university resources aimed at targeting this issue on college campuses.³ In a study …

Assessing The Reliability, Internal Consistency, And Sensitivity Of A Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire For Four-Year-Old Pre-K Children, Lin Wang, Karla Cortez, Brenda Rodriguez, Joseph Reyes, Moises Cisneros, Elizabeth Alanis, Zasha Romero, Lisa Michelle Belzer Salinas, Juan López Alvarenga, Roberto Treviño-Peña

Research Symposium

Introduction: Assessing nutrition knowledge in four-year-olds, a developmental stage marked by limited attention spans and varying comprehension abilities, is challenging with traditional methods. A reliable test is pivotal for establishing a foundation for future health interventions. We evaluated a 13-question nutrition and healthy habits test in Pre-K4 children to assess reliability and sensitivity to detect differences.

Methods: Calculations included Cronbach's alpha, kappa coefficient, McNemar analysis by item, and Bland-Altman plots for test-retest differences. Mixed model regression assessed the questionnaire's sensitivity by sex and association with age. Item response theory (IRT) models were employed, generating latent abilities for students and individual …

Barriers And Enablers Of Weight Loss Maintenance After Bariatric Surgery, Shukri Farah Mohamed

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Weight loss maintenance following bariatric surgery is still a challenging task, with a great probability of failure and weight regain. Aims: This qualitative study aimed to use the socialecological model to better understand barriers and facilitators of weight loss maintenance in adult Emiratis who have undergone bariatric surgery. Methods: This qualitative research involved in-depth individual interviews of 35 adults who performed bariatric surgery at Altaie Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates between January 2018, and December 2019 (40 % male) with a mean age of 36.3±8.6 years. The only two surgeries included in this study were sleeve gastrectomy (SG) …

The Association Betweem Total And Types Of Dietary Protein Intake And Prevelence Of Impaired Fasting Glucose And Type 2 Diabetes, Afra Salah Alsammach

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Introduction: People with impaired fasting glues (IFG) and type type 2 diabetes (T2DM) need to modify their dietary composition. This could assist in the management and prevention of the disease. However, the role played by the composition of specific dietary macronutrients on the risk of IFG &T2D remains uncertain. This study sought to examine the association between total and type of dietary protein consumption with prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Examining the dietary assessment in nutritional epidemiology provided the data needed to assess the relationship between the variables. Aims: To investigate the association …