Human and Clinical Nutrition Commons^™

An Evaluation Of Blogging As An Educational Tool For Interprofessional Education As Part Of University Experiential Learning, Kelley Robb

Graduate Theses

Since the inception of the Internet, much of our society’s communication has become paperless and instantaneous. The speed at which information can be disseminated has not only changed the way in which we communicate with each other but it has also increased the collaboration between professions, particularly the health sciences. As society shifts to a more virtual environment, it is imperative to assess these online tools to determine whether they elevate our research, educational methods and/or work environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether blogging can be used as an educational tool for interprofessional education in a …

Enhancing Vegetable Intake In Infants And Toddlers Through Parental Complementary Feeding Education, Sophia Testa

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research project investigated the outcomes of educating parents of infants between the ages of 6 months and 12 months on the importance of including vegetables in complementary feedings on the infant’s vegetable consumption. The efficiency of teaching was measured by comparing physical measurements and quantity of vegetables consumed by infants whose parents received education with the same data from infants whose parents did not receive education on inclusion of vegetable in complementary feedings. The results found contributed to Dr. Shreve’s research on childhood obesity in the Northwest Arkansas population and to the knowledge of parental education with regard to …

Dietary Supplement Attitudes And Behaviors In The Personal Training Profession, Allison Hull

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Dietary supplement attitudes and behaviors in the personal training profession

Allison Hull, Gina Blunt Gonzalez PhD (Mentor)

Department of Kinesiology, Health, and Imaging Sciences

Morehead State University, Morehead, KY

Dietary supplements are a growing multi-billion dollar industry. Supplement usage is widespread and many individuals take supplements for health, performance, and disease prevention reasons. However, due to a lack of FDA regulation, there are concerns with the safety and efficacy of many dietary supplements. Exercise professionals and personal trainers are in a position to educate the public on dietary supplements; however, it is unknown how exercise professionals and personal trainers approach …

Higher Unsaturated Fatty Acid Intake And Aerobic Training Are Related With Lower Intramyocellular Lipid In Older Adults, Hillary D. Mclean

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Title: Higher Unsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Aerobic Training are Related to Lower Intramyocellular Lipid in Older Adults

¹Hillary McLean, ²Maja Redzic, and ³D. Travis Thomas

Department: ¹Department of Agriculture, ²Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, and ³Department of Clinical Sciences

Funding: R21AG046762-01A1, UL1TR000117, T32DK007778-16

Word Count: 298/300

Intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) is associated with metabolic dysfunction in aging. Exercise is known to influence IMCL accumulation and was recently observed to have a direct association with vitamin D status (25(OH)D) in our lab. In addition, we observed an inverse association between IMCL and dietary unsaturated …

Optimisation Of Fucoxanthin Extraction From Irish Seaweeds By Response Surface Methodology, Emer Shannon, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam

Articles

Fucoxanthin is a xanthophyll pigment which occurs in marine brown algae (Phaeophyceae). The anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties of fucoxanthin have been widely reported. Macroalgae, particularly brown seaweeds, grow prolifically around Irish coasts, representing a valuable resource of nutraceuticals such as fucoxanthin for functional food applications. The aim of this study was to maximise the solvent extraction yield from three anatomically discrete regions of the seaweed thallus: blade, stipe, and holdfast. Response surface methodology was applied to determine optimum parameters for extraction of fucoxanthin from the seaweed, Fucus vesiculosus, as a model species. A central composite design was …

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Associated With Better Executive Function In Young Women, Samuel P. Scott, Mary Jane De Souza, Karsten Koehler, Dylan L. Petkus, Laura E. Murray-Kolb

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Purpose: A positive association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cognitive function has been demonstrated mainly in children and older adults. Women attending college live in a cognitively demanding setting where optimal cognition matters but often experience declines in CRF. Our aim was to test whether CRF is associated with executive function in young adult women.

Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional study included 120 healthy women age 18–35 yr in a university setting. Each woman completed a maximal treadmill-based exercise test to determine peak oxygen uptake (V˙O_2peak), computerized tests of executive function, and questionnaires to assess motivation …

Eicosapentaenoic Acid Potentiates Brown Thermogenesis Through Ffar4-Dependent Up-Regulation Of Mir-30b And Mir-378*, Jiyoung Kim, Meshail Okla, Anjeza Erickson, Timothy P. Carr, Sathish Kumar Natarajan, Soonkyu Chung

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Emerging evidence suggests that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) promote brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we hypothesize that n-3 PUFA promotes brown adipogenesis by modulating miRNAs. To test this hypothesis, murine brown preadipocytes were induced to differentiate the fatty acids of palmitic, oleate, or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The increases of brown-specific signature genes and oxygen consumption rate by EPA were concurrent with up-regulation of miR-30b and 378 but not by oleate or palmitic acid. Next, we hypothesize that free fatty acid receptor 4 (Ffar4), a functional receptor for n-3 PUFA, modulates …

Benefits Of A Flexitarian Diet: Educating College Students Of Lifestyle Approaches To Reduce The Risk Of Developing Breast And Prostate Cancer, Abbigail Pace

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Practicing the Flexitarian diet, a plant-based diet, in conjunction with physical activity can promote a lifestyle consistent with the American Cancer Society’s recommendations for reducing risks of breast and prostate cancer (American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention, 2015) College students were assessed on knowledge of the relationship between diet and cancer risk prior to and after accessing information on the American Institute of Cancer Research site or the WKU Flexitarian Pinterest Page. Participants were recruited from the National Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council memberships and the International students at Western Kentucky University. Participants completed a …

Decomposing Trends In Adult Body Mass Index, Obesity, And Morbid Obesity, 1971-2012, Ashley Wendell Kranjac, Robert L. Wagmiller

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

Trends in adult obesity have been used to motivate key public health policies in the United States. While these analyses provide important insights into the broad historical contours of the obesity epidemic in the U.S., they shed less light on the proximate mechanisms that have generated these changes and that will ultimately determine the long-term course and pace of change in obesity rates. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), Glenn Firebaugh's linear decomposition technique, and Kitagawa's algebraic decomposition method to decompose change in body mass index (BMI), obesity, and morbid obesity from 1971 through …

Relationship Between Body Composition, Fitness, And Eating Behaviors And Markers Of Metabolic Suppression In Exercising Men, Mikayla K. Locke, Karsten Koehler

UCARE: Research Products

Introduction: Chronic dieting can result in characteristic metabolic adaptations such as a suppression of resting metabolic rate (RMR). Previous research has focused on health outcomes related to metabolic suppression in female athletes, which include impaired menstrual and bone health. The study purpose was to assess the relationship between metabolic suppression and body composition, fitness, and eating behavior traits in exercising men.

Approach: Cross-sectional study comparing exercising men who display evidence of metabolic suppression (MS) and a control group (Con). RMR was used as a surrogate marker of metabolic suppression.

Results and Discussion: When compared to Con, MS …

Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion, Rodney Richmond

Faculty Research ​and Publications

No abstract provided.

3-Hydroxy Fatty Acid Induce Trophoblast And Hepatocyte Lipoapoptosis, Taylor Bruett, Taylor Heng, Sathish Kumar Natarajan

UCARE: Research Products

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy (AFLP) is a very rare and fatal condition for both the mother and the unborn offspring accompanied by severe maternal liver dysfunction. AFLP usually develops during the third trimester of pregnancy with symptoms of liver disease. AFLP is associated with a mutation in the enzyme, long-chain 3-hydroxy acyl CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) which is involved in the mitochondrial beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Defective beta-oxidation of fatty acids results in the individual unable to metabolize fatty acids which then causes fatty infiltration in their organs, such as the liver. This interferes with normal function of the liver …

Rice Consumption And Effects Of Rice Cake, Seolgitteok, On Human Health, Ellen Joy Pottgen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Within the United States type 2 diabetes is an ever growing health epidemic. The prevalence in the adult population has quadrupled over the past 30 years and is expected to continue on a similar path in the coming decades. While the cause of type 2 diabetes is multifactorial, it is considered to be an acquired condition related to environmental contributors including poor diet, obesity, and physical inactivity, which may be managed to alter the course or progression of the disease. Preventative or maintenance measures emphasize nutritional intervention strategies, including encouraging individuals to follow a nutrient-dense, high-fiber diet with ample whole-grains, …

Long-Term Supplementation With Leucine Does Not Prevent Development Of Obesity In Rats Fed A High-Fat Diet, Dameon Smith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Excess dietary fat consumption has been implicated in the development of obesity and diabetes. Obesity can be characterized by a disproportionate increase in fat mass compared to lean body mass. However, if muscle mass can be increased or maintained in obesity, this may facilitate weight loss by increasing the body’s overall metabolic capacity. Historically, supplementation with the branched-chain amino acid leucine has been shown to increase muscle protein synthesis via the protein kinase mTORC1. Recent studies suggest that supplementation with leucine also has the potential to reduce weight gain and fat deposition in high-fat fed, obese mice. The objective of …

The Impact Of Fast Food Marketing On Millennials, Kabo Tuelo Segokgo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fast food marketing is an effective tool used by businesses to build food brand recognition among their consumers. Increased fast food consumption has been linked to the increase in high calorie consumption. This study sought among Millennials to assess the association between fast food marketing and consumption of fast food. It further dealt with perceptions on the relationship between fast food consumption and weight gain. A convenience sample of 507 participants was used to collect data from University of Arkansas’ students through an online survey and an in person survey. An independent sample t test and multivariate analysis of variance …

Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone) Supplementation And Its Benefits In Cardiovascular Disease, Osteoporosis, And Cancer, Grant S. Buchanan, Md, Thomas Melvin, Brandon Merritt, Charles Bishop, Md, Franklin D. Shuler, Md, Phd

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Vitamin K is known to play an essential role in the coagulation cascade; however, a growing body of research has found that a subtype of this vitamin, vitamin K₂ (menaquinone) may have a beneficial effect in osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of recent literature regarding menaquinone and its role in human health. This review discusses the physiology of menaquinone, its clinical benefits in cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer, and how it may interact with certain medications. The authors conclude that menaquinone supplementation has been shown to improve carboxylation …

Jumpin’ Jacks: Social Marketing Campaign Aimed To Increase Awareness Of Healthful Behavior In South Dakota Fourth Grade Students, Megan N. Olesen, Kendra Kattelmann, Jessica Meendering, Suzanne Stluka

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

This study investigated the influence of utilizing a collegiate mascot as a marketing tool for the promotion of fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity among 4th grade students. The program utilized service learning and formative research for the development of a social marketing campaign comprised of nutrition education and brand marketing. A pre-test/post-test design was used to measure fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity in participants in intervention and control schools. Awareness and understanding of the campaign was assessed post-intervention. There were no changes in fruit and vegetable intake or physical activity. However, 91% of the intervention students …

The Influence Of Exclusive Breastfeeding On Growth Trajectory From Birth To Year 5 In A Wic Cohort, Lindsey Arevalos

Master's Theses

OBJECTIVE. The impact of exclusively breastfeeding (EBF) on child body mass index (BMI) from birth through 60 months of age was investigated.

METHODS. 60,190 mothers and children attending Women, Infant and Children (WIC) clinics in the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties of California provided data on breastfeeding duration, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, and child weight-for-length (WL) was measured at 3 month intervals until 5 years of age. Missing time points were interpolated in determining child BMI/WL z-score trajectories plotted on the Center of Disease Control (CDC) infant and child growth curves. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to contrast …

Exploration Of Malnutrition Coding Practices At Nebraska Medicine, Frances C. Becker

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Malnutrition is present in 25-50% of hospitalized patients. Patients identified as malnourished are assigned a code based on the type and severity of malnutrition in order to gain the necessary reimbursement to care for the patients. There is a current gap in the research regarding the characteristics that define the difference between malnourished patients classified with a major complications and comorbidities (MCC) code versus a complications and comorbidities (CC) code.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine which malnutrition codes are being used at Nebraska Medicine. Additionally, this study obtained clinical factors that are associated with malnutrition …

A Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet Combined With Six Weeks Of Crossfit Training Improves Body Composition And Performance, Rachel M. Gregory

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

A low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) is a popular approach to weight and fat loss. CrossFit is a high-intensity power training (HIPT) type exercise for all levels of age and fitness that has gained recognition as one of the fasting growing sports in America. No previous research has been found which examines body composition changes or performance in individuals consuming a LCKD and participating in CrossFit training. PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of a 6-week LCKD and CrossFit program on body composition and performance. METHODS: Twenty-seven non-elite CrossFit subjects (mean ± SD age = …

Using The Des-28 Tool To Determine The Relationship Among Diabetes Self-Empowerment, Diet Quality, And Glycemic Control In A Southeastern United States African American Population, Makala Katuscak Smith

Graduate Theses

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Protein Source At Breakfast On Energy Metabolism, Metabolic Health, And Food Intake: A Pilot Study, Lauren A. Cambias

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

Over 30% of adults in the US are obese. A primary contributor to obesity is an unhealthy diet related to imbalanced macronutrients. Diets higher in protein (PRO) are associated with increased energy expenditure (EE) and reduced food intake. The objective of this pilot study was to determine if protein source at breakfast influences EE in young men (n=4; ages 18-35). Participants consumed three isocaloric (whey (WP), pea (PP), beef (BP); 275 kcal, 62% PRO, 23% CHO, 15% Fat) drinks in randomized, crossover design with a one-week washout period. Each test day EE, appetite, and cravings were assessed at 0, …

The Effect Of Protein Quantity And Quality At Breakfast On Energy Metabolism, Appetite And Metabolic Health, Brianna Lynne Neumann

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a global health concern and, within the United States, the current obesity rate is 36% and projected to double within the next two decades. Obesity is linked to many chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. In young females, weight gain (5-11 kg) between the ages of 20-30 years increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorders later in life. The cause of obesity is multifactorial in nature, however fundamentally weight gain occurs when energy intake is greater than energy expended (i.e. calories in > calories out). Therefore, identifying and validating nutritional …

Autophagy Regulation After Diet And Exercise In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Megan Elizabeth Rosa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Along with the rise in obesity, rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have also increased. NAFLD may begin with fat accumulation in the liver, but can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and eventual cirrhosis. With no pharmacological treatment for NASH, lifestyle interventions appear vital to maintaining liver health. Previous work has shown aberrant mitochondrial content/quality and autophagy in models of NAFLD. Exercise is known to improve mitochondrial health and possibly autophagy, thus autophagy may be a key regulatory factor for treatment of obesity induced-NAFLD. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine how weight loss from diet …

Awareness Of Biological Mechanisms Of Artificial Sweeteners And The Effects Of Increased Awareness Via Video Media On Intent To Change Dietary Habits In Traditional College-Age Students, Cassie A. Mahler

Honors Theses

In the past, artificial sweeteners have been touted as weight loss solutions because they theoretically do not interact with the body’s metabolism. However, new research is being done to test this theory, but what is the public awareness of these compounds’ interactions with the body? The purpose of this study is threefold: to assess the current awareness of the biological mechanisms of artificial sweeteners in traditional college-age individuals; to assess the effectiveness of video education in increasing this awareness; and to assess how the increase of this awareness might lead to intentions to change dietary habits. The study consisted of …

The Effect Of Transformed Escherichia Coli On The Mouse Intestine Microbiome: The Microbial Metabolic Enhancement Hypothesis, Bryar P. Kader

Senior Honors Theses

Metabolic disorders affect around thirty-four percent of the population in the United States. Among these disorders is lactose intolerance, which results from diminished production of the human lactase enzyme. This disorder and others like it are genetically determined and cannot be cured. However, the use of transformed bacteria implanted in the colon may provide a means by which the faulty pathway can be bypassed. To test whether transformed bacteria have the capability to aid in the digestion of normally indigestible compounds, a transformed strain of Escherichia coli overexpressing the beta-galactosidase enzyme encoded by the lacZ gene was colonized in the …

The Effect Of The Expanded Food And Nutrition Education Program On Participants’ Diet Quality: Does Supermarket Access Matter?, Rachel Ann Spencer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This project assesses the effectiveness of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) within the context of supermarket access. EFNEP is a national community nutrition education program that strives to give participants the tools to live healthier lives. Analysis was performed on participants from 16 Arkansas counties that completed EFNEP during 2013 or 2014. The program outcome is measured in terms of the change in Healthy Eating Index (HEI) as calculated from 24-hour diet recalls at program entry and exit. Supermarket locations were obtained from the USDA Food Nutrition Service’s SNAP Retail Locator and represent the food environment near …

Programming Heart Disease: Does Poor Maternal Nutrition Alter Expression Of Cardiac Markers Of Proliferation, Hypertrophy, And Fibrosis In Offspring?, Cathy Chun

Honors Scholar Theses

Maternal malnutrition can affect fetal organogenesis, metabolic processes, and factors involved in developmental regulation. Of the many physiological effects poor maternal nutrition can induce in offspring, one of the most important organs affected is the heart. Cardiovascular disease has been associated with poor maternal diet. It also been suggested that hypertension can originate during impaired intrauterine growth and development. Hypertension can trigger hypertensive heart disease and is associated with numerous heart complications. We hypothesized that poor maternal nutrition would alter critical growth factors associated with normal heart development, specifically, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF-2, transforming growth factor (TGF)β, and connective …

Hydration Status, Habits, And Knowledge Of Collegiate Cross Country Runners, Laura J. Comee

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

Abstract: Dehydration exceeding 2% loss of body mass can cause decreased cognitive and physical performance in endurance athletes. While many runners carry water bottles with them, most do not know their sweat rate or fluid recommendations, increasing the risk for heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke. Purpose: To assess hydration status, habits, and knowledge of collegiate cross country runners. Methods: Institutional Review Board approval was obtained and subjects completed informed consents. Thirty-three female and twenty-five male Division III collegiate runners participated in the study. Hydration status was assessed measuring the specific gravity of three urine samples one each …

Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy In Rural Maharashtra: A Preventative Approach To Risk Factor Reduction Through Lifestyle Interventions, Jess Wiken

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The primary purpose of this study is to assess the contribution and correlation between lifestyle behaviors and modifiable risk factors (MRF) established in adolescence and during pregnancy with development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) exclusive to preeclampsia (PE), eclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). MRF include but are not exclusive to diet and nutrition, physical activity, and Mishri use. Associations of HDP with increased premature cardiovascular risk in the affected woman and child indicate the importance of healthy lifestyle modifications that promote cardiovascular health and longevity and reduction of risk factors through prevention. While cardiac conditions are primarily associated …