Nutrition Commons^™

Measuring Food Literacy Among Limited-Resourced Adults, Emelia Clement

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Food literacy is the interrelated knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to plan and manage, select, prepare, and eat healthy food. It is positively associated with improved consumption of nutritious diets, and can be beneficial to limited-resource adults, who are often at risk for chronic diet-related diseases. Valid instruments for measuring food literacy in this population are scarce but urgently needed. The Eating and Food Literacy Behavior Questionnaire (EFLBQ) can be used to measure food literacy among limited-resource audiences.

Part one of this study aimed to determine the fitness of the EFLBQ to measure food literacy in limited-resource adults. A convenience …

Effect Of Obesity And Insulin Resistance On Glucose And Fatty Acid Metabolism, Chao Cao

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

In people with obesity, insulin resistance of glucose and fatty acid metabolism is common and it is thought that insulin resistance of fatty acid metabolism is involved in causing insulin resistance of glucose metabolism and subsequently hyperglycemia through a mechanism referred to as “lipotoxicity”. However, in many individuals with obesity and insulin resistance fasting plasma glucose and free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations are not elevated. It is widely believed that pancreatic beta-cells detect the need to increase insulin secretion in order to compensate for the impaired insulin action caused by insulin resistance in these people, whereas beta-cell dysfunction results in …

Implementation Of A Biometric Screening Program And Wellness Coaching Program In A Hospital Employee Wellness Center, Carl Gastanes

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Wellness programs are an emerging priority among organizations concerned about employee wellness and productivity. Data from Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) revealed that in 2019 there were 1,690 employee visits to the ER due to chronic diseases; 30% were classified as ER sick visit and 40% of employees who visited the ER had no primary care provider. Many companies use biometric screening and health risk assessment to measure the health of their employees. The purpose of this improvement project was to implement a biometric screening program (BSP) that included wellness coaching to improve the health outcomes of LIJMC …

Comparing Calculated And Perceived Energy Needs In Collegiate Student-Athletes, Lyndsey T. Reed

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate NCAA student-athletes' level of knowledge related to their energy needs. The participants were 75—42 male and 33 female—NCAA Division I student-athletes enrolled at the University of Mississippi (UM) from a variety of sports. In-person data collection took place at UM Athletics facilities by sports registered dietitians during team talks. The names of the athletes were used to find their pre-existing calculated energy, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and total energy expenditure (TEE) using the Nelson equation and the appropriate activity factor. Questionnaire and RMR/TEE data were analyzed and compared to assess knowledge related …

Impact Of Daily Sweet Potato Ingestion On Alterations To The Gut Microbiome, Cholesterol, And Exercise Performance, Johneric William Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The importance of the gut microbiome is being explored in relation to multiple facets of health and performance. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of frequent sweet potato ingestion on alterations of the gut microbiome which might in turn alter cholesterol levels and exercise performance. Thirteen recreationally trained males had fecal and blood samples collected and exercised to fatigue with and without exogenous carbohydrate ingestion prior to and following 42 days of daily sweet potato ingestion. Bacterial communities were extracted from fecal samples and bacterial DNA were sequence. Blood samples were analyzed for total cholesterol, low-density …

Home-Site Advantage For Host Species–Specific Gut Microbiota, Daniel D. Sprockett, Jeff Price, Anthony Juritsch, Robert J. Schmaltz, Madalena V. F. Real, Samantha L. Goldman, Michael Sheehan, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait, Andrew H. Moeller

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Mammalian species harbor compositionally distinct gut microbial communities, but the mechanisms that maintain specificity of symbionts to host species remain unclear. Here, we show that natural selection within house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) drives deterministic assembly of the house-mouse gut microbiota from mixtures of native and non-native microbiotas. Competing microbiotas from wild-derived lines of house mice and other mouse species (Mus and Peromyscus spp.) within germ-free wild-type (WT) and Rag1-knockout (Rag1^−/−) house mice revealed widespread fitness advantages for native gut bacteria. Native bacterial lineages significantly outcompeted non-native lineages in both WT and Rag1 …

The Consequences Of Low Energy Availability Related To Relative Energy Deficiency In Male Athletes: A Systematic Review, Lauryn Bailey

Theses and Dissertations

RED-S is a syndrome that stems from low energy availability (LEA) in athletes. It can impact numerous physiological and psychological functions, as well as negatively affect performance. Because RED-S is a relatively new syndrome, there are few studies showing the impact of RED-S on performance and physiological factors. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the consequences of induced LEA in relation to RED-S in male athletes. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, Five studies were deemed eligible based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies measured risk of RED-S through body composition, bone …

The Influence Of Nutrition On The Gut Microbiota And Psychiatric Disorders: A Review, Megha Bhagavan, Francis Jenney

Research Day

The symbiotic harboring of gut microorganisms within the gastrointestinal tract has a profound influence on host physiology, well-being, and disease pathology. More specifically, the gut bacteria are able to interact with dietary components from foods chosen by the host and consequently relay their beneficial or precarious effects locally and systemically. The gut bacteria have the capacity to maintain a healthy gut microbiome or perpetuate intestinal imbalance, known as gut dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis has both local effects in gastrointestinal pathologies, such as intestinal bowel syndrome (IBS) and intestinal bowel disorder (IBD), as well as systemic pathologies, such as type II diabetes, …

Cenabis Bene: A Culinary Odyssey Through Apicius, Kathryn Atkinson

University Scholar Projects

Apicius is the sole surviving cookbook from classical antiquity; as such it is invaluable for what it tells us about ancient feasting customs. Yet the gluttony typically associated with classical antiquity has no place in Apicius beyond the art that is inherently associated with food; we are not so much given a seat at the cena (dinner) as we are led into the kitchen, handed an apron, and instructed to cook. This critical analysis explores each recipe not only on the surface—i.e., examining the ingredients and recreating selected recipes—but also on a deeper level, lifting food above its concrete reality …

The Last Of Us In Therapy: How Mind-Controlling Fungi And Gut Bacteria Affect Your Mental Health, Anastasia Lyon

Journal of Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences

The "psilocybiome" represents the mutually beneficial relationship between ourselves, our bacteria, and psychedelic drugs. This short review briefly discusses the benefits and limitations surrounding the potential for psychedelic therapy to synergize with gut bacteria to help regulate and maintain proper balance in the immune system, diet, and stress levels. Psychedelic therapy is a novel treatment strategy that has the potential to improve patient mental health, and, by identifying the types of gut bacteria present in patients, it can aid in personalizing medicine by determining how well their "psilocybiome" may respond.

Human Trafficking And Nutrition: Assessing The Effects Of U.S. Public Policy On Food Security And The Malnourishment Of Refugees, Moxie R. Mccandless

Honors Projects

This research paper aims to assess the challenges associated with human trafficking within the lived experience of refugees, specifically focusing on food security, and the resulting system shaped by existing United States policies and programs. By examining this complex relationship, the study seeks to shed light on the influence of power dynamics on fulfilling basic human needs and to propose more effective strategies for improving food security among marginalized populations.

A comprehensive literature review is conducted, and a community nutrition needs assessment is performed in King County, Washington. Qualitative interviews are conducted with human trafficked organizations, government officials, and experts …

Cenabis Bene: A Culinary Odyssey Through Apicius, Kathryn Atkinson

Honors Scholar Theses

Apicius is the sole surviving cookbook from classical antiquity; as such it is invaluable for what it tells us about ancient feasting customs. Yet the gluttony typically associated with classical antiquity has no place in Apicius beyond the art that is inherently associated with food; we are not so much given a seat at the cena (dinner) as we are led into the kitchen, handed an apron, and instructed to cook. This critical analysis explores each recipe not only on the surface—i.e., examining the ingredients and recreating selected recipes—but also on a deeper level, lifting food above its concrete reality …

Advancing College Food Security: Priority Research Gaps, Matthew J. Landry, Emily Heying, Zubaida Qamar, Rebecca L. Hagedorn-Hatfield, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Cara L. Cuite, Victoria A. Zigmont, Kendra Oonorasak, Susan Chen

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Despite over a decade of both quantitative and qualitative studies, food insecurity among US college/university students remains a pervasive problem within higher education. The purpose of this perspective piece was to highlight research gaps in the area of college food insecurity and provide rationale for the research community to focus on these gaps going forward. A group of food insecurity researchers from a variety of higher education institutions across the United States identified five thematic areas of research gaps: screening and estimates of food insecurity; longitudinal changes in food insecurity; impact of food insecurity on broader health and academic outcomes; …

Genome Mining For Anti-Crispr Operons Using Machine Learning, Bowen Yang, Minal Khatri, Jinfang Zheng, Jitender S. Deogun, Yanbin Yin

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Motivation: Encoded by (pro-)viruses, anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins inhibit the CRISPR-Cas immune system of their prokaryotic hosts. As a result, Acr proteins can be employed to develop more controllable CRISPR-Cas genome editing tools. Recent studies revealed that known acr genes often coexist with other acr genes and with phage structural genes within the same operon. For example, we found that 47 of 98 known acr genes (or their homologs) co-exist in the same operons. None of the current Acr prediction tools have considered this important genomic context feature. We have developed a new software tool AOminer to facilitate the improved …

Qualitative Analysis Of The Expanded Food And Nutrition Education Program’S 24-Hour Dietary Recall, Serena M. Fuller, Josh A. Phelps, Susan Baker, Jennifer Walsh

Journal of Extension

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) uses a group 24-hour dietary recall (Gr24HDR) to measure changes in diet quality. Participant perceptions of the tool can guide implementation practices used by EFNEP Extension staff. Focus group (FG) sessions were conducted in five states and transcripts analyzed following a framework analysis approach. According to FG participants, a range of factors, condensed into six themes with potential interactions, influence Gr24HDR including implementation processes and community settings. Findings inform overarching considerations EFNEP staff may take when collecting Gr24HDR data in the field to improve the evaluation process for participants.

(Pro)Renin Receptor And Its Soluble Form In Metabolic Dysfunction: Friend Or Foe?, Gertrude Arthur

Journal of Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences

(Pro)renin receptor is component of the renin angiotensin system which has been shown to be involved in several physiological and pathophysiological processes including blood pressure regulation and hypertension, water and electrolyte balance, kidney injury, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction. Enzymatic cleavage of prorenin receptor produces soluble prorenin receptor which can also activate the renin angiotensin system stimulate similar pathophysiological process like its full form receptor. This review explores findings on the role of prorenin receptor and soluble prorenin receptor in metabolic dysfunction and discusses the conflicting findings on soluble prorenin receptor in metabolic dysfunction.

Student Preferences On The Development Of A Non-Alcoholic Beverage Product To Alleviate The Negative Impact Of Alcohol On College Campuses, Cecilia Azar

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Alcohol abuse and peer pressure to drink are prominent issues on college campuses across the nation. More than 50 percent of college students aged 18 to 22 consume alcohol monthly and 33 percent consistently engage in binge drinking (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2021a). A non-alcoholic beverage product marketed to students as an alternative to alcohol in social settings could alleviate some of the negative impacts, such as peer pressure and the dangers caused by overconsumption.

Through two phases, this study implements University of Arkansas student preferences and recipe modification in the development of a non-alcoholic beverage product …

Special Issue: Hunger, Nutrition, And Health, Susan Rice

Journal of Food Law & Policy

Everyday millions of Americans face barriers to accessing food, housing, and other supports–––making the impossible decision of whether to put food on the table or cover other essential needs. Food insecurity and diet-related diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, affect people of all ages and in all communities. It was for this reason that the Biden-Harris Administration hosted the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. As the President said at the Conference, “No child should go to bed hungry. No parent should die of a disease that can be prevented.” It will require all …

Effects Of Time, Temperature, And Cooking Vessel On Antioxidant Potential, Ph, And Degrees Brix In The Processing Of Black Garlic, Victoria Gargano

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Garlic, from the allium family, is known to contain organosulfur compounds. These compounds contain antioxidants, which provide a plethora of potential health benefits. Black garlic is created by processing regular garlic at temperatures ranging between 60-90°C, with high humidity for upwards of one month. The process of making black garlic alters these components, potentially increasing the antioxidant capacity. This end product yields a garlic that is a deep black color with a sweet flavor, pungent aroma, and a soft malleable texture. Black garlic is increasing popularity within the culinary world with more products making it to market shelves. PURPOSE: To …

The Influence Of Diet Recommendations On Exercise Performance, Specifically Single And Multi-Nutrient Effects, Samuel Maurer

All Theses

Objectives: The main question in this study was “Do nutrients present within the MyPlate and Paleo dietary patterns affect exercise parameters in a positive way?” An auxiliary question was “Do nutrients present within these two diets reduce comorbidities of chronic diseases?”

Methods: This study analyzed secondary data collected from a previous diet and exercise study. Dietary records were analyzed for correlations between nutrient intake and exercise performance in both diet groups. Further stratification by VO2 peak performance was done to analyze nutrient intake differences between high and low-performing individuals.

Results: The MyPlate eating pattern increased body fat percentage, blood pressure, …