Nutrition Commons^™

Low Economic Level And The Risk Of Overweight Among Indonesian Junior And Senior High School Students, Ariyanto Nugroho, Purwo Setiyo Nugroho, Amarin Yudhana, Sri Sunarti

Kesmas

Overweight and obesity among Indonesian adolescents have emerged as a pressing public health issue, reflecting global trends. This study examines the relationship between economic status and overweight prevalence among junior and senior high school students in Indonesia, using secondary data from the Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS). This study analyzed data from 9,977 students aged 11–18 years through a cross-sectional design and binary logistic regression, adjusting for dietary habits, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Overall, 14.7% of students were overweight; the prevalence was notably higher among low-income students (27.4%) compared to high-income groups (14.2%). Students from lower economic backgrounds were …

Why Are Food System Workers Excluded From Local Food Policy Councils?, Frank Sarfo, Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern, Jonnell A. Robinson

The Lender Center for Social Justice

This brief summarizes findings from our study that used national survey data of FPCs as well as focus groups and interviews with over 25 FPC representatives and leaders to examine the challenges and barriers that have limited FPCs’ engagement with labor issues. We also identify key obstacles to labor advocacy and offer practical recommendations for integrating labor equity into local food policy efforts.

Analyzing Food Access: An Investigation Of Food Insecurity Amongst Latinos In Rural Nebraska, Natalia Santos

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Food insecurity is a public health issue in the United States, with disproportionately higher rates among Latino/Hispanic households. Rural communities face unique geographical, socioeconomic, and systemic barriers that often exacerbate food access disparities. Despite the growing Latino population in rural areas, particularly in Midwestern states like Nebraska, there remains a critical gap in comprehensive research that integrates both objective and subjective understandings of their food environments. Understanding these multifaceted influences is crucial for developing effective, culturally sensitive interventions.

Problem Statement: This dissertation aims to answer the central question: How does food access and food insecurity manifest amongst Latinos in …

Proteomics-Based Aging Clocks In Midlife Or Late-Life And Their Associated Risk Of Dementia, Sanaz Sedaghat, Saeun Park, Rob F Walker, Shuo Wang, Jialing Liu, Timothy M Hughes, Behnam Sabayan, Weihong Tang, Josef Coresh, James S Pankow, Keenan A Walker, Ramon Casanova, Ruth Dubin, Rajat Deo, Jerome I Rotter, Alexis C Wood, Peter Ganz, Pamela L Lutsey, Weihua Guan, Anna Prizment

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Biological age can be quantified by composite proteomic scores, called proteomics-based aging clocks (PACs). We investigated whether a discrepancy between chronological and biological age in midlife and late-life is associated with cognition and dementia risk.

Methods: We used two longitudinal population-based studies: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). PACs were created in ARIC at midlife (mean age: 58 years, 57% female, n = 11,758) and late-life (mean age: 77 years, 56% female, n = 4934) using elastic net regression models in two-thirds of dementia-free participants and validated in the remaining one-third …

Integrated Analysis Of Untargeted Liver, Serum Metabolome And Gut Microbiome Following Selenium Deficiency Diet In Selenoh Knockout And Wildtype Mice, Richard Eugene Baird

Theses and Dissertations

Selenoprotein H (SELENOH) is an oxidoreductase located in the nucleolus, and its biochemical levels decrease with selenium (Se) deficiency, as reported in mammalian research. This current investigation aimed to understand the impact of nutritional Se deficiency on gut microbial composition and metabolomic profiles. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidota (F/B) ratio, linked to various health conditions, was balanced for wildtype (WT) mice (1.06). In contrast, selenoh knockout (KO) mice associated with dietary Se deprivation had a significantly (p < 0.002) lower ratio (0.56), suggesting dysbiosis. It is believed that SELENOH levels decreased due to the Se deficient diet, and the selenoh KO mice exhibited alterations in microbial community composition and metabolite profiles, as supported by correlative analyses. With respect to the bacterial communities, significant differences between diets occurred for three taxa, including Akkemansia mucinphila, Bacteroides caecimuris, and Parabacteroides goldsteinii. Candida tropicalis, Malassezia restricta, and Cyberlindnera jadinii were three abundant fungal yeasts. Only Cyberlindnera jadinii exhibited significantly greater relative abundance between genotypes and was more abundant in the selenoh KO versus WT mice. Correlation analyses between bacterial and fungal taxa revealed both positive and negative relationships, but no specific trends were observed. The liver and serum metabolomic data contained similar amino acids, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. Using NMR spectroscopy, 112 liver metabolites were detected, while GC-TOF-MS analysis of the serum revealed the presence of 172, comprising both polar and nonpolar compounds. The metabolite levels varied significantly when analyzed using multivariate models such as PCA and PLS-DA (VIP scores), particularly for glucose, taurine, lactate, and UDP-glucose, which are associated with energy production and cellular health. Overall, the Se deficient diet had the most significant impact on the microbial community structure and the concentration of key metabolites within liver tissues and serum. Correlation analyses conducted across studies revealed significant linear relationships between metabolites and the microbiome. However, these differences were associated with bacterial and fungal taxa containing low relative abundances. Based on these findings, further investigation into the impact of SELENOH homeostasis on microbial and metabolite profiles should be conducted using selenoh KO mice under various nutritional Se dietary levels.

Evaluation Of Diet Quality, Physical Health, And Mental Health Baseline Data From A Wellness Intervention For Individuals Living In Transitional Housing, Callie Millward, Kyle Lyman, Soonwye Lucero, James D. Lecheminant, Cindy Jenkins, Kristi Strongo, Gregory Snow, Heidi Leblanc, Lea Palmer, Rickelle Richards

All Current Publications

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate baseline health measurements among transitional housing residents (n = 29) participating in an 8-week pilot wellness intervention. Methods: Researchers measured anthropometrics, body composition, muscular strength, cardiovascular indicators, physical activity, diet quality, and health-related perceptions. Researchers analyzed data using descriptive statistics and conventional content analysis. Results: Most participants were male, White, and food insecure. Mean BMI (31.8 ± 8.6 kg/m2 ), waist-to-hip ratio (1.0 ± 0.1 males, 0.9 ± 0.1 females), body fat percentage (25.8 ± 6.1% males, 40.5 ± 9.4% females), blood pressure (131.8 ± 17.9/85.2 ± 13.3 mmHg), and …

Nutrition Anthropology In Global Malnutrition In Children Under Five, Katherine Michelle Dennison Owens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Food is essential to growth and development for people and nations. Too little or too much food can lead to undernutrition or overweight, both forms of malnutrition. While there have been improvements in undernutrition, overweight is increasing, causing the double burden of malnutrition globally, which is especially true in low-income and middle-income countries. Understanding nutrition anthropology's economic, environmental, and socio-cultural factors is critical to combat malnutrition's burden in different populations. Shaping policies and investments in malnutrition need to be strategic to have a measurable impact on malnutrition improvements. This study identified nutrition anthropology factors using six economic, environmental, and socio-cultural …

Staff Education For Improved Diabetes Management: Enhancing Knowledge And Patient Outcomes, Carissa Martine Bolden

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An increase in patients’ hemoglobin A1c levels in a South Mississippi organization suggests that inadequate type 2 diabetes (T2DM) knowledge among the staff hindered them from delivering competent care. The gap in practice at the site revealed a deficiency in knowledge in nutrition education for healthcare providers and staff, which led to the practice question: Does educating providers and staff on nutrition for adults with type 2 diabetes improve knowledge, as evidenced by pre- and post-surveys? This educational initiative employed the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model, the John Hopkins evidence-based practice (JHEBP) model, the Walden University Doctor …

A Pilot Study Exploring Vitamin D, Mental Health, And Gastrointestinal Health In Humans, Brianna C. Williams

Master's Theses

Mental disorders are experienced by nearly one billion people worldwide. Depression is one of the most common. Treatments exist, yet a devastating 75% of individuals suffering from depression do not receive adequate treatment. An emerging treatment strategy includes exploring the connection between mental health and nutrition, which includes the areas of gut health and nutrient deficiencies. Vitamin D is obtained through food, supplements, and sunlight. Many individuals are considered deficient (25[OH]D concentrations < 12 ng/mL) or insufficient (25[OH]D concentrations < 20 ng/mL). Purpose: This study aimed to explore mental and gastrointestinal (GI) health using surveys and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) concentrations, a biomarker of GI health, in individuals considered 25(OH)D deficient (DEF) vs not deficient (N-DEF). Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited physically active participants aged 18-45 years who underwent three evaluations in one visit. Health was assessed using surveys to evaluate mental health, GI symptoms, and vitamin D intake. Serum from fasting blood samples was used with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine 25(OH)D and LBP concentrations. Unpaired t-tests were used to compare DEF vs N-DEF and significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Thirty-two participants (mean age 25.3 ± 6.3 years) with mean and body fat percentage of 24.0% ± 10.7%, were placed into DEF (n=16) and N-DEF (n=16) categories. Interestingly, five of the 16 participants in DEF (31%) showed some level of depression (scores ranging from mild to severe) and only two of the 16 participants in N-DEF iv (13%) scored positively in the depression category (scores ranging from mild to moderate). Additionally, the participant with the lowest 25(OH)D concentration (5.42 ng/mL) was the only participant to meet the “severe” depression category criteria, with a score of 24 compared to other participants who scored within 0-16. Also, the only participant who scored “severe” in the stress category, was in the bottom 20% of 25(OH)D concentrations. As for GI health, the difference between average GI scores and average serum LBP concentrations between the groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: There were no significant differences between DEF and N-DEF in perceived depression (p = 0.16), anxiety (p = 1.0), stress (p = 0.96), GI symptoms (P values ranged from 0.27 to 1.00), nor in LBP concentrations (p = 0.77). Funding: Support was received from the Graduate Student Association and College of Natural Health Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado.

Effects Of Flavonoids On Reducing Colon Cancer Risk Via Macrophage Polarization, Gracien Jules

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer is one of the most fatal diseases in the United States. Chronic tissue inflammation can cause cell proliferation, which leads to tumor formation and cancer development. Macrophages are responsible for maintaining tissue homeostasis and for inflammatory responses. M1 macrophages exhibit proinflammatory responses while M2 macrophages exhibit anti-inflammatory responses. Imbalance between M1 and M2 macrophages is closely related to inflammation-associated disease development. The anti-inflammatory effects of apiaceous vegetable constituents, specifically flavonoids, have been studied for their preventative effects towards reducing disease risk. However, sufficient evidence is lacking on the mechanisms by which flavonoids impact M1/M2 macrophage polarization. RAW 264.7 …

Breeding Biofortified Protein Rich Organic Pulses For Better Human Health, Sonia Salaria

All Dissertations

Pulse crops are dry grains of legumes, the second most consumed plant crops in the world after cereals. These crops are one of the primary sources of plant-based protein and contain high concentrations of pre-biotic carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Recognizing the health benefits of pulses intake, their demands as sustainable food and changes in people’s diet preferences for plant-based protein have increased awareness for pulses consumption. With this scenario, improving the nutritional profile of pulse crops for rich nutrition has been an opportunity for breeders to explore and tailor the available germplasm to develop nutrient dense pulses. Furthermore, the genomic …

Alternative Therapeutics For Human Breast Cancer: Nutraceutical Underpinnings, In Vitro Metabolomic Profiling, Treatment Efficacy, And Contextual Ethical Implications, Aubrey A. Mattingly

All Dissertations

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, yet therapeutic equity is still lacking. Standard treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and long-term hormone therapy. These approaches are often accompanied by significant side effects. While newer methods such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies have emerged, chemotherapy protocols and incorporation have remained largely unchanged in the past decades. In this context, nutraceuticals represent an alternative or adjuvant to therapy worthy of exploration. The reviewed literature highlights the anti-carcinogenic activity in selected nutraceuticals, marjoram, thyme and persimmon, considering their phytochemical constituents and secondary metabolites. Metabolomic profiling using the Biolog Phenotype Mammalian …

Using The Dash Diet To Create Hypertensive-Friendly Dishes For People Of Chinese Heritage, Kady Li

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, associated with high sodium intake being a primary contributor to elevated blood pressure. The US Dietary Guidelines for sodium intake is 2,300 mg per day; however, studies indicate that the average daily sodium consumption among Chinese adults is 5,013 mg. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is often recommended to those diagnosed with hypertension. This project aims to develop a cookbook featuring lower-sodium Chinese recipes following the DASH diet guidelines. Twenty-five traditional Chinese recipes were modified to align with DASH diet guidelines (25% reduction in sodium content). Nutrient analysis …

The Influence Of Psychological, Biological, And Social Determinants On Disordered Eating Behaviors Among U.S. Young Adults: Evidence From Nhanes 2015-2018., Samantha Kaye Gerbine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) are influenced by biological, social, and psychological factors, yet research often narrowly focuses on White, college-aged women. This study assessed the predictors and prevalence of DEBs in a nationally representative sample of U.S. young adults using data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Survey weights were applied to generate national estimates. Descriptive statistics characterized the sample, and logistic regressions tested biological, social, and psychological predictors of DEBs. A composite risk score was developed using variables retained in the final model. The unweighted sample (n = 1,062) represented 64 million U.S. young adults. …

Improved Rumen Microbiome Interpretation Via Empirical Filtration Derived From Known Mock Microbiomes, Wesley A. Tom

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The rumen microbiome plays a critical role in ruminant health and performance. As a consequence, many studies investigate microbial community composition using 16S rDNA based sequencing. As such, data quality and data filtering are critical to accurately identify microbial community composition. In this study we use mock communities to empirically select data filtering parameters to reduce artifact populations and compared the effect of filtering using different bioinformatic pipelines using rumen bacterial community data. The filtering parameters identified provides consistent estimates of rumen microbial diversity, regardless of bioinformatic pipeline utilized and provides a more accurate view of microbiome structure and composition. …

The Effect Of Diet Formulations Containing Different Protein Sources On Energy And Nitrogen Utilization In Lactating Jersey Cows, Kortney Ann Harpestad

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

It is well understood that lactating dairy cows require metabolizable protein (MP) for milk yield and milk protein synthesis. Diets with conventional feed sources like corn and soybean meal (SBM) may not sufficiently meet all MP and amino acid (AA) requirements so supplementation with more rumen undegradable protein (RUP) rich feeds or rumen-protected AA can be fed to support animal performance. The growth trajectory of biofuels has resulted in dramatic increases in the production of feeds like heat treated soybean meal (HTSBM). While the chemical composition of this product is understood, there is a need to better understand how HTSBM …

Food Literacy Program Among Adults In A Primary Care Setting, Marie K. Williams

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice problem: The increase in preventable chronic diseases is associated with food illiteracy, which arises from a lack of understanding of nutritional value and dietary guidelines (Silva et al., 2023).

PICOT: (P) In adult primary care patients aged 30-75 years, (I) does the implementation of evidence-based food literacy program (C) compared to standard practice (O) improve food literacy (T) in eight weeks?

Evidence: Using a validated food literacy questionnaire effectively measures improvements in food literacy. Customized programs that fill knowledge gaps are essential for enhancing overall food literacy. Intervention: Customized educational tools were provided to participants based on their knowledge …

Examining Weight Bias Attitude Changes After Exposure To A Brief Photovoice Assignment, Gretchen L. George, Hillary L. Roberts, Kristin Rose, Madison Clemens, Kate G. Burt

Journal of Dietetic Education

Weight bias is present among pre-health professional students (e.g., nutrition, dietetics, nursing, physical therapy, medicine). Educators need support and guidelines about how to enhance learning through engaging assignments while also meeting accreditation requirements. This pilot study examined the impact of an innovative weight bias assignment using photovoice and reflection within existing nutrition education courses, measured through pre-post assessments from the Fat Attitudes Assessment Toolkit. While not all subscales showed significant change, improvements in the Fat Acceptance and Attribution Complexity Composites suggest these methods may be effective in shifting attitudes about fatness. Further research is needed to assess the long-term impact …

Development Of Dietetics Students’ Skills And Self-Efficacy In The Nutrition Care Process, Kristen Heitman, Marcia Nahikian-Nelms, Holly Estes-Doetsch, Kristen M. Roberts, Jennifer A. Garner, Julie Kennel, Christopher A. Taylor

Journal of Dietetic Education

The Nutrition Care Process (NCP) is a systematic framework for providing nutrition care and a cornerstone of dietetics practice. Dietetics education relies on development of skills to achieve competence and demonstrate readiness for practice. The relationship between development of fundamental skills and self-efficacy among dietetics students preparing for clinical practice remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the development of dietetics students’ skills in NCP documentation and their self-efficacy in performing the skills over one academic year. Student nutrition notes (n = 120 notes, n = 30 students) from standardized patient encounters were evaluated for quality using …

Burnout And Turnover Among Program Directors In Acend-Accredited Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Programs, Heather Frazier, Patricia Grace-Farfaglia

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: Knowledge about program director burnout in ACEND-accredited registered dietitian nutritionist programs is severely limited. Objective: To measure the changes in program director burnout and turnover over a two-year period. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to program directors via e-mail in 2021 and 2023. The validated Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (MBI-ES) was used to measure burnout, which had three scales: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Demographic and program information was also obtained. Results: Over the two-year period, program directors scores for emotional exhaustion (p < 0.001) and depersonalization (p < 0.001) significantly worsened. Interestingly, personal accomplishment scores significantly improved (p < 0.001) during the same time frame. Sixty-six percent of program directors in 2023 reported consideration for leaving their position in the next 5 years, which increased from 58%. Since 2021, 29.9% Didactic Program in Dietetics directors, 28.8% Dietetic Internship directors, and 37.5% Coordinated Program in Dietetics directors have resigned. Conclusion: Program directors show increased signs of burnout. Efforts are needed to investigate ways to support program directors to reduce burnout and increase retention of program directors.