Nutrition Commons^™

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 …

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 …

Patient-Centered, Theory-Based, Online Intervention To Promote A Physically Active Lifestyle For People With Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Chungyi Chiu, Vaishnavi Sridharan, Mojtaba Khaliji, Md Refat Uz Zaman Sajib, Xiaotian Gao, Kathleen Zackowski

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience life challenges due to the nature of disease progression. Although an active lifestyle has been shown effective for symptom and relapse management, most people with MS lead a sedentary lifestyle and do not reach the recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines.

Objective: This study aims to test the preliminary efficacy of a codeveloped, online self-management intervention based on the health action process approach (HAPA) adapted for people with MS to cultivate a physically active lifestyle.

Methods: The 8-week intervention program was developed using community-based participatory research based on the HAPA. The program includes increasing …

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.

Integrated Advanced Education Supports Future Registered Dietitian Nutritionists’ Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy In Practice, Crystal C. Douglas, Simone Camel

Journal of Dietetic Education

Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of graduate-level breastfeeding and lactation management education that includes didactive and active learning components on future RDNs’ knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Design: A pre-and post-test design, utilizing a 41-item pre-intervention survey, learning modules, and a 35-item post-intervention survey. Setting: Three U.S. public universities located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Participants: Graduate-level dietetic internship students. Intervention: Four advanced education modules (2 didactive; 2 active learning) developed by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Main outcome measures: Gains in breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy to assist with breastfeeding education and problem-solving using validated and newly developed survey items. Analysis: Descriptive statistics, …

Sense Of Belonging In The Profession And Program Of Study Among Nutrition And Dietetics Students, Jessica Torro, Melissa Masters, Rachel C. Sinley, Jesse Lunsford, Heidi Masching, Miranda Chen Musgrove

Journal of Dietetic Education

Sense of belonging may positively impact student performance, especially in marginalized groups. This study aimed to examine sense of belonging among a diverse group of nutrition and dietetics students. An online survey investigated students’ feelings of belonging, isolation, and connection to the field of nutrition and dietetics and department of study. The survey was distributed through email to the nutrition and dietetics student body in the Department of Nutrition at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Quantitative data were analyzed as count and percentage. Overall sense of belonging scores were calculated as an average on a 5-point scale (1-strongly disagree to …

Cover, Table Of Contents, About The Journal, Diana Cuy Castellanos, M Elizabeth (Beth) Miller

Journal of Dietetic Education

No abstract provided.

Editors' Message, Diana Cuy Castellanos, M Elizabeth (Beth) Miller

Journal of Dietetic Education

No abstract provided.

Serum Metabolomic Profiling Of Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In The Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis And Rotterdam Study, Xuanwei Jiang, Fang Zhu, Gonçalo Graça, Xihao Du, Jinjun Ran, Fariba Ahmadizar, Alexis C Wood, Yanqiu Zhou, Denise M Scholtens, Ali Farzaneh, M Arfan Ikram, Alan Kuang, Carel W Le Roux, Meghana D Gadgil, Marilyn C Cornelis, Kent D Taylor, Xiuqing Guo, Mohsen Ghanbari, Laura J Rasmussen-Torvik, Russell P Tracy, Alain G Bertoni, Jerome I Rotter, David M Herrington, Philip Greenland, Maryam Kavousi, Victor W Zhong

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: This study aimed to investigate serum metabolomic biomarkers associated with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and evaluate their performance in improving T2DM risk prediction.

Methods: Untargeted proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy-based metabolomics analyses were conducted in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA; n = 3460; discovery cohort) and The Rotterdam Study (RS; n = 1556; replication cohort). Multivariable cause-specific hazards models were used to analyze the associations between 23 571 serum metabolomic spectral variables and incident T2DM. Replicated metabolites required an false discovery rate-adjusted P < .01 in MESA, P < .05 in RS, and consistent direction of association. Pathway and network analyses were conducted to elucidate biological mechanisms underlying T2DM development. The utility of the replicated metabolites in improving T2DM risk prediction was assessed based on the Framingham Diabetes Risk Score. A 2-sample Mendelian randomization was conducted to assess causal associations.

Results: Nineteen metabolites were significantly associated with incident T2DM. Pathway analyses …

The Overlooked Impact Of Background Diet And Adherence In Nutrition Trials, Javier I Ottaviani, Hagen Schroeter, Dennis M Bier, John W Erdman, Howard D Sesso, Joann E Manson, Gunter G C Kuhnle

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Randomised controlled trials in nutrition (RCTN) face unique challenges, including the considerable influence of the background diet and the challenge of assuring intervention adherence by participants. The impact of these factors on the outcome of RCTNs has been difficult to quantify, but nutritional biomarkers represent a valuable tool to address these challenges. Using flavanols as a model dietary intervention and a set of recently validated flavanol biomarkers, we here investigated the impact of background diet and adherence on the outcomes of a subcohort of the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS, NCT 02422745). We found that 20% of participants …

Src/Fn1 Pathway Activation Drives Tumor Cell Cluster Formation And Metastasis In Lung Cancer: A Promising Therapeutic Target, Zujun Que, Zhichao Xi, Dan Qi, Rongchen Dai, Yang Li, Mengfan Liu, Bin Luo, Jiajun Liu, Pan Yu, Yun Yang, Erxi Wu, Hongxi Xu, Jianhui Tian

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death globally, with metastasis driven by circulating tumor cells (CTCs)-particularly clusters-being a major treatment challenge. Despite their critical role, the biological differences between single CTCs and CTC clusters remain unclear. Here, we comprehensively compared their behavioral, transcriptomic, and proteomic profiles in lung cancer models. Compared with single cells, CTC clusters present enhanced metastatic potential, greater survival in the bloodstream and increased resistance to microenvironment. Mechanistically, the Src/FN1 pathway is centrally activated in clusters, promoting intercellular cohesion and protecting against immune clearance and stress in circulation. Pharmacological inhibition of Src with the clinical …

Food Noise: Definition, Measurement, And Future Research Directions, Emily J Dhurandhar, Kevin C Maki, Nikhil V Dhurandhar, Theodore K Kyle, Sydney Yurkow, Misty A W Hawkins, Jon Agley, Emily H Ho, Lawrence J Cheskin, Thorkild I A Sørensen, Xi Rita Wang, David B Allison

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The term food noise has been recently popularized by individuals managing their weight or adhering to specific diets for health reasons. Anecdotal evidence from patients and clinical observations suggests that food noise involves constant preoccupation with food-related decisions-such as which foods to eat, caloric intake, macronutrient balance, and meal timing-which can become intrusive and unpleasant. Food noise also appears to affect cognitive burden and quality of life, and is being cited as one reason weight-loss attempts fail. The increase in public discourse about food noise has highlighted its potential significance, yet a formal clinical definition and method of measurement of …

Healthcare Administration Within Free Medical Clinics And The Impacts On The Sustainable Development Goals, Saneywongse Le Mar

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

No abstract provided.

Covid-19-Related Beliefs And Dietary Behaviors Of American Undergraduate Students Vary By Race Via The Lens Of The Health Belief Model, Doreen Liou, Jong Min Lee

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

The COVID-19 pandemic caused immense physical disruptions, affecting young adults in the U.S. The Health Belief Model is a social psychological framework that predicts the likelihood of adopting health behavior. The purpose of this research is to investigate COVID-19-related health beliefs and dietary behaviors among undergraduate students during the pandemic. Using convenience sampling, a cross-sectional survey was completed by 304 individuals at a New Jersey state university. Survey data included the frequency of COVID-19 prevention behaviors (e.g., wearing an indoor mask, handwashing), and consumption of fruit and vegetables. The Health Belief Model constructs measured perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, severity, benefits, …

Protein Supplementation, Plasma Branched-Chain Amino Acids, And Insulin Resistance In Postmenopausal Women: An Ancillary Study From The Supplemental Protein To Outsmart Osteoporosis Now (Spoon) Trial, Jessica Dauz Bihuniak, Alessandra Byer, Christine A. Simpson, Rebecca R. Sullivan, Josephine M. Dudzik, Karl L. Insogna, Jeannette M. Beasley

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Background/Objectives: Studies have reported an increased risk of type 2 diabetes among people with higher protein intake. Moreover, branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are reported to be positively associated with insulin resistance (IR). However, it is not understood whether elevated levels of BCAA are causal to IR development, or if higher BCAA are a marker of IR. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of long-term protein and carbohydrate supplementation on plasma BCAA levels, and the relationship between plasma BCAA and IR in postmenopausal women. Methods: Stored samples and data from 84 postmenopausal women who participated in a …

A Child With Severe Pneumonia Cannot Feed, Causing Malnutrition: Exploring Health Worker And Caregiver Perspectives And Practices For Mitigating Malnutrition Among Children With Severe Pneumonia, A Case Of Uganda, Damalie Nalwanga, Robert Opoka, Andrew Sentoogo Ssemata, Lawrence Kakooza, Andrew Kiggwe, Victor Musiime, Sarah Kiguli

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Severe pneumonia remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. Severe pneumonia causes death during hospitalization, and survivors are prone to malnutrition after discharge from the hospital. The World Health Organization and United Nations International Children’s Fund recommend ‘continued’ feeding following a severe pneumonia illness without specific recommendations on nutritional support. This recommendation could influence health workers’ and caregivers’ nutritional practices. This study aimed to explore the perspectives and practices of health workers and caregivers for mitigating malnutrition among children with severe pneumonia.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study between June and November 2021 among …

Two Spectroscopy Devices Can Approximate Fruit And Vegetable Intake In A Racially And Ethnically Diverse Sample, Stephanie B Jilcott Pitts, Qiang Wu, Melissa N Laska, Nancy E Moran

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Assessing fruit and vegetable intake is important to determine the effectiveness of nutrition intervention studies. Few objective measures of fruit and vegetable intake have been directly compared within the same study participants.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the relative validity of 2 different skin spectrophotometry devices to serve as biomarkers of plasma carotenoid concentrations, self-reported fruit and vegetable intake (FVI), and carotenoid intake, to examine if both devices can be used to approximate FVI.

Methods: Human skin carotenoid scores (SCS, Veggie Meter-assessed) and color space measurement data from 2 prior studies were used. Participants' skin color space parameters …