Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2022, Nursing

Cardiovascular disease is a significant cause of death, disability, and financial expenditures. Research supports plant-based diets as an effective, practical, and cost-effective means to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease. Despite the evidence in favor of plant-based diets to prevent and manage heart disease, there is limited research that informs the social process of transitioning to a plant-based diet. The purpose of this study was to explore the social process that people with cardiovascular disease undergo to successfully transition to and maintain a plant-based diet. This constructivist grounded theory study was informed by symbolic interactionism, which served as an abstract framework to provide a way of knowing about the process and meaning of dietary change among individuals who made the transition to plant-based eating. Using a semi-structured interview guide, intensive interviews were conducted with 7 adults with cardiovascular disease who had transitioned to and maintained a plant-based diet for at least 1 year. The Plant-Based Diet Transition Model emerged from the data and centers on Being changed. The process begins with Having your eyes opened, then continues with the inter-related categories of Becoming self-informed, Finding what works, Seeing positive affirmations, Building conviction, and Leading by example. Experiencing cultural conflict encompasses the process. Within Experiencing cultural conflict, participants described a lack of information and support from health-care providers which led them to seek information and support from other sources, ultimately relying heavily on self-guided research and learning, along with trial and error. This demonstrates the importance of nurses and other healthcare providers becoming informed about plant-based diets and learning about how best to support people in this transition to promote positive cardiovascular health outcomes. Because evidence supports plant-based diets as an effective means to (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2018, Allied Medicine

Background: Effective methods for lowering elevated blood cholesterol include medication and healthy dietary habits. While prescription rates have increased, dietary habits of hyper- and normocholesterolemic Americans remain unknown. Aims: To assess differences in diet quality between groups stratified by cholesterol level and treatment via lipid lowering medication. Methods: Data from 18,952 adults (>20 years) who participated in the 2005-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were compared across four groups: normocholesterolemia not taking medication (NC-M), normocholesterolemia taking medication (NC+M), hypercholesterolemia not taking medication (HC-M), and hypercholesterolemia taking medication (HC+M). 24-hour dietary recall data was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 and an Adjusted American Heart Association (AHA) Healthy Diet Score (HDS). Higher scores indicate better diet quality. Results: Total diet quality scores were not different across the four groups according to the HEI and HDS, with average total scores of 52 and 43, respectively, out of 100 points. Individual diet component scores differed between groups. NC+M scored better than both hypercholesterolemic groups in saturated fat (HEI p=0.032, HDS p=0.020), fatty acids (HEI p<0.001), and whole grains (HEI p=0.016, HDS p=0.001). HC-M scored the poorest of the four groups in saturated fat and fatty acids. NC-M had the highest total diet quality while the HC+M had the worst diet quality. Conclusions: The data demonstrates small strides for heart disease prevention in the NC+M group relative to groups with hypercholesterolemia, yet drastic discrepancies from dietary recommendations. This provides direction for improving heart disease prevention efforts, especially in those with hypercholesterolemia.

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2014, Allied Health Sciences: Nutrition

Background: Diet quality in children and adolescents can be predictive of health, including risk for developing nutrition-related disorders like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Currently it is difficult to measure diet quality since foods cannot be easily labeled “good” or “bad”. Dietary energy density (ED) is a measure of calories per weight of foods, and may be useful as a measure of diet quality, although this has not been clearly established in childhood. Objective: The purpose of this thesis was to determine whether dietary ED is related to diet quality as measured by Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score. Methods: 846 teenagers from Seattle Washington and Baltimore, MD whose dietary information was collected over three days were used for these analyses. Demographic information was collected by self-report and dietary information was collected using 3-day diet recalls by telephone interview. Food recalls were analyzed for nutrient content and food group servings using the Minnesota Nutrient Data Systems for Research (NDSR) software. DASH score and DASH component scores (fruits and vegetables; fats and sweets) were determined using the DASH score index, where higher scores indicated higher diet quality on each measure. ED was calculated by 3 methods: inclusive of foods plus all beverages, foods plus all caloric beverages, or foods only. BMI was measured and physical activity was assessed by accelerometry. The relationships between ED, DASH score, and DASH component scores were assessed using linear mixed effects regression analysis adjusted for child age, child sex, child race/ethnicity (white vs. non-white), highest attained parental education, child physical activity (METS/d), and parent BMI. Results: Overall, DASH score was inversely associated with ED regardless of whether ED was calculated from food only or inclusive of beverages. This association was stronger in females than in males. Additionally, intake of fruits and vegetables (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 1917, Graduate School

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2023, Allied Health Sciences: Nutrition

Background/Purpose: Food purchasing data may be an important assessment tool to identify healthful and problematic eating behaviors. Associations between food purchasing data and dietary intake to evaluate diet quality haven't been rigorously assessed. This study examined concordance between electronic food purchasing data and dietary intake collected from primary household food shoppers (n=20) of a major Midwest supermarket chain for measures of dietary quality. Methods: Food purchasing data were retrieved from participants' supermarket loyalty card for a 2-week shopping period. Dietary intake data were collected over the same 2-week period for 3 non-consecutive days. Data were analyzed for dietary quality (DASH score) and food serving/nutrient densities and compared for concordance, degree of difference, and moderators of difference between measures. Results: Concordance between food purchasing and dietary intake data for DASH score was poor (pc<0.2) for most food/nutrient densities, with low concordance for nuts (pc=.26) and meat (pc=.21). Dairy showed moderate agreement between measures (pc=0.52). Paired t-test showed significant differences between measures for added sugar (p=<0.001), meats (p=<0.001) and carbohydrates (p=0.001). BMI was a significant negative moderator of differences between measures for added sugar and sweets (p = 0.05 and p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: These data suggest that electronic food purchasing data collected from a supermarket loyalty card may not be a useful tool for characterizing the quality of overall dietary intake. Further research with a larger sample and inclusion of food purchasing data from restaurants and other sources is warranted to confirm these findings.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2022, Biological Sciences (Arts and Sciences)

Morphological, functional, and performance traits combine into a hierarchical sequence that determines how well an organism performs a behavior and interacts with its environment, and as such link to selective pressures and adaptation These three nonindependent, hierarchical levels of traits set up an operative sequence connecting selective pressures to organismal form. The ultimate goal of this dissertation is to describe and quantify the interactions within this trait sequence using the feeding apparatus of Testudines as a model. Chapter 1 introduces the framework, goal, and model of the dissertation. Chapter 2 examines the morphological effect of the possible selective pressures from physiological diet, feeding mode, and feeding medium on the testudine skull across crytpodires. In more detail, this analysis investigates how the physical and mechanical properties of food items (operationalized through a novel method of categorizing diet data), as well as the feeding behaviors used by turtles, correlate with skull shape. This work is the first to fully and unrestrictively sample 3D testudine skull morphology with auto3DGM, resulting in novel support of previously hypothesized functional characteristics and their strong correlation to the direct pressure of cryptodire diets. Chapter 3 presents the direct effects of food properties on the intraspecific disparity of feeding morphology. This study compares two sexually dimorphic species: Trachemys scripta, which displays sexual size dimorphism but consume undifferentiated diets; and Malaclemys terrapin, which displays sexual size dimorphism as well as trophic sexual dimorphism in which the sexes inhabit different dietary niches. This chapter reveals that adductor chamber dimensions scale with head size, and that this scaling occurs both intraspecifically and interspecifically. This scaling relationship differentiates male and female M. terrapin jaw adductor muscle size, indicating that ontogenetic (open full item for complete abstract)

MS, Kent State University, 2020, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Health Sciences

Aim: The purpose of this study was to look at the differences in fat-related diet habits of college students of varying BMI statuses and sex at a large mid-western public University. Sample: It was a quantitative study with cross-sectional design. Convenient sampling was used. Materials: An online survey was conducted via filling out a fat-related diet habits questionnaire. Statistical analysis: Demographic data was summarized and presented in table of distribution frequencies, mean and standard deviations. To test the hypotheses, multifactorial two-way ANOVA was used for the main part of the questionnaire. Any p value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Outcomes: The p-values of the summary scores for sex, and different BMI categories was 0.48 and 0.31 respectively. The scores fell between “often” and “sometimes”. Similar patterns were observed between males and females and varying BMI categories. There were no significant differences found in the fat-related diet habits between sex and varying BMI statuses. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that no differences were observed between fat related diet habits of college students between males and females, and between varying BMI statuses. However, it also provides evidence of improvement in the nutritional status and dietary habits, especially fat consumption of young adults.

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2019, Allied Medicine

American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) experience higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, overweight/obesity, and metabolic syndrome than other ethnicities. American Indian women in particular suffer from these conditions more than both AI/AN men and African American, Asian, Caucasian, and Hispanic women. Increased healthcare burdens and poor health outcomes related to unemployment, low socioeconomic status, location, and lack of insurance are frequently experienced by AI/AN women. While the epidemiology of these chronic conditions is multifaceted, diet is strongly correlated with them. The pre-contact diet of American Indians was based on a hunter-gatherer lifestyle with limited agriculture. It consisted of largely of wild game, plants that could be foraged, and several crops such as beans, corn, squash. This resulted in a nutrition profile that was high in protein, low in fat, and had moderate fibrous carbohydrates. Periods of feast and famine were regularly experienced by the tribes. Research into a `thrifty gene' has led some researchers to believe that American Indians are genetically designed to thrive in these circumstances. This benefit may have become a disadvantage once the AI/AN diet experienced a transition. Westward expansion resulted in the relocation of tribes to unfamiliar territory, the decimation of wild game populations, and the creation of reservations. Their diet then shifted to one based on the reliance on commodity foods. These foods such as flour, lard, and beef began to form the basis of the modern AI/AN diet. Previous studies found that current AI/AN diets are often high in calories, fat, sugar, and processed foods while being low in protein, fruits, and vegetables. Some tribal members feel that their people were healthier before contact with white settlers and that returning to the `old ways' and a `traditional diet' would be beneficial. However, little is known about how a t (open full item for complete abstract)

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2019, Allied Health Sciences: Nutrition

Abstract Dietary patterns are modifiable risk factors for the development of several diseases, such as obesity, heart disease, stroke and cancer. College years have been described as a time in which young adults begin to establish autonomous decision making in terms of lifestyle choices, and these behaviors can affect long term health and chronic disease risk.1 Numerous studies have evaluated the dietary patterns of college students, and various forms of nutrition interventions and education programs have been designed to improved eating habits of students in college. The majority of research in this area has targeted traditional students. There is limited data, however, about non-traditional groups such as first-generation students. First-generation college student populations differ from traditional college students in several ways. They are more likely to be ethnic minorities, working while attending school, taking care of other family members, and come from a lower socioeconomic background.2 These unique characteristics position first-generation students to be at risk for nutrition compromise. The goal of this study was to evaluate the dietary habits of first generation college students, as well as determining effective interventions that are feasible within the constraints of finances and time. The design of this intervention was a pre-test/post-test. All participants were first-year students residing in the Gen-1 Theme House at the University of Cincinnati. After screening and consent for the study was completed, students completed questionnaires covering topics such as self-efficacy in meal planning, shopping and cooking, as well as food safety practices, eating patterns and food choices. Participants then completed the intervention, which consisted of both online and hands-on learning experiences. The online component involved completing seven self-paced modules related to nutrition, meal planning and food preparation. Participants completed two han (open full item for complete abstract)

MA, Kent State University, 2018, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology

Zoo-housing of orangutans is beneficial to conservation efforts, but captive life is inherently different than wild, as specifically seen in dietary content and feeding behavior. A commercial primate food ("biscuits") largely supplements the diet of zoo-housed orangutans, and this creates a wide discrepancy between the fiber content of captive and wild diets. This discrepancy may play a role in the behavioral abnormalities, such as regurgitation and reingestion (R/R), and health issues such as cardiovascular and respiratory disease, weight problems, and glucose regulation issues, common of captive apes. The present study aimed to explore this by examining the effects of fiber content on the health and behavior of a group of zoo-housed Bornean orangutans. This study implemented a diet change that eliminated the biscuit entirely, and increased overall fiber. Data collection included behavioral observations focused on feeding time, space use, undesirable behaviors, and overall time spend active, and blood samples to monitor physiological markers of potential health problems. The change in diet was related to a more diverse space use pattern in all subjects, a decrease in R/R, and a marked improvement in the health markers of two subjects.

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2017, Allied Medicine

Ingestion of food has been widely documented to trigger symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)1. In recent years, the low FODMAP diet has been gaining high-quality evidence of efficacy in controlling symptoms of IBS.2 The diet eliminates foods high in poorly absorbed carbohydrates including fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) for a period of 2-8 weeks, followed by planned systematic re-introduction to assess tolerance.2 However, this novel therapy remains in need of further research to form a sound evidence-based application strategy. Of concern is the diet's nutritional adequacy given its highly restrictive nature and lengthy elimination period. This pilot study assessed changes in nutrient intake following initiation of the diet, and examined diet adequacy in view of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of nutrients. Five patients with severe to moderate IBS were enrolled. After collection of a health questionnaire, an IBS-SSS, a Bristol Stool Form Scale, and a 3-day diet record, subjects attended a nutrition education class on the low FODMAP diet and were asked to follow it for 6 weeks. On week two of the diet, subjects filled another 3-day diet record. Results showed that in the majority of subjects, total caloric intake fell within estimated needs. While percent of total calories from fat remained stable, percent of total calories from protein decreased but remained within the acceptable macronutrient distribution range. Percent of total calories from carbohydrates increased, but remained below acceptable range- similar to pre-study status. Intake of vitamin D, calcium, and folate decreased, while intake of vitamin C, iron and fiber increased. However, these micronutrients were all at levels below RDA. Our findings agree with reported lower intakes of protein and calcium, and stable intake of fiber in those following the diet. However, our results differ from findings of lower caloric and carbohydrate con (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2017, Allied Medicine

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects patients worldwide. A diet low in fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) has shown to improve symptoms of a majority of patients with IBS. Current literature is insufficient to provide guidelines for how long patients should follow the elimination phase of the diet. Methods: Patients attended a low FODMAP diet education class and were followed for six weeks. Every two weeks, patients completed the validated IBS-Symptom Severity Scale questionnaire. Patients also completed checklists of all high FODMAP foods consumed daily, to measure adherence. Results: Five patients participated in this study. By week two, all 5 patients had composite symptom scores classified at least one severity level lower than baseline. By week six, 1 patient's symptoms had returned to baseline severity classification, indicating an 80% response rate overall. Patients were non-adherent to the diet on 24/210 total patient days (11.4%). Adherence was directly related to symptom severity. Conclusion: Some patients may benefit from a shortened elimination phase of the low FODMAP diet, while some may require the full six weeks for best effect. Adherence to the diet ensures likelihood of symptom improvement.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2016, Human Ecology: Human Nutrition

Abstract Diet is one environmental factor contributing to the etiology of cancer [1], and our ability to make effective public health recommendations depends on the expert committees appointed to evaluate a rapidly growing body of literature. To this end, we trust experts to review, evaluate, and synthesize the published, peer-reviewed food and nutrition research to develop guidelines which provide the basis for our federal food and nutrition policy and education initiatives [2]. In recent decades, much of the data used to define guidelines are derived from large epidemiological cohort studies. The value of such studies depends upon the accurate quantification of their dietary and nutritional exposures using dietary assessment tools. The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is one of the most commonly used nutrition assessment tools because of its low cost compared to other dietary assessment tools, as well as its ability to reach a wide demographic and to simultaneously assess a multitude of dietary variables. There is significant data to suggest that carotenoid rich foods may play a role in human health and disease prevention. For example, tomato derived lycopene is hypothesized to be beneficial for the prevention of prostate cancer, and some epidemiologic studies using FFQs have shown a risk reduction associated with this carotenoid intake, while others have found no relationship. These inconsistencies have prevented public health guidelines from being developed and the FDA from approving a submitted “health-claim” for lycopene-rich foods in men for prostate cancer prevention [3]. In this dissertation, we will address the question of whether there is a difference in the ability of the most commonly used FFQs to estimate carotenoid intake and whether a carotenoid-specific FFQ can be developed for improved carotenoid intake estimates compared to conventional FFQs. Our findings may help explain why diverse results have been reported in large cohort studies usin (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2015, Allied Medical Professions

The female athlete triad and the recent introduction of the relative energy deficiency in sports (REDS) classifications define the negative consequences of the relationship between energy availability and overall physical health in athletes. The current triad paradigm considers the spectrum of energy availability of the athlete that can range between appropriate exercise with adequate fueling to more extreme weight loss methods such as restriction and over-exercising that may be associated with low energy availability (LEA) or a formal eating disorder. Eating disorders are typically characterized by restriction in dietary intake affecting total calories, macronutrients, and micronutrients consumed. In order to determine the diet composition, diet records and food frequency questionnaires are the two most common recording methods. However, their reliability and ability to be replicated in the female athlete population remains unclear. Furthermore, the macronutrient distribution of the female athlete's diet has been given little attention to establish if this distribution plays a role in the presence of LEA and skews total energy intake found in diet records. This study assessed the validity and reliability of diet records compared with an on-line food frequency questionnaire in recreational female runners. The two dietary tools used, three day food record analyzed by ESHA food processor and Vioscreen FFQ, produced similar intakes for calories, protein, and fat with correlations of .500, .59, .366, and .468 respectively, but ESHA consistently estimated calories and macronutrients higher compared to Vioscreen. In describing macronutrient contribution to the difference between the two tools, fat contributed 71.1% of the variability to the difference in caloric intake with carbohydrate contributing 22.1% and protein 2.1%. The macronutrient distribution from these two tools was then compared to current guidelines and assessed within the LEA framework. Of the (open full item for complete abstract)

MS, Kent State University, 2014, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Health Sciences

The purpose of this study was to determine differences in diet quality of exercising and non-exercising obese, overweight, normal weight, and underweight male and female college age individuals. Demographic, body measures, physical activity, and dietary data of college age individuals 18 to 25 years old were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. A 2X2X4 factorial ANOVA using gender, physical activity status, and BMI respectively was performed to analyze the variables effect on diet quality. Numerous significant differences in dietary data existed between male and female college age individuals, mainly from increased nutrient intake. A significant difference in individual's opinion of their diet health existed between weight statuses, although very little difference existed between actual dietary patterns. Overall, all groups had diets well below recommendations in fiber, fruit, and vegetable consumption, and well above sodium and saturated fat recommendations. While significant differences exist between gender, weight status, and physical activity status of college age individuals, the diet quality of each group remains equally poor. Future health interventions and initiatives should focus on college age individuals and the unique circumstances affecting the quality of their diet.

MS, Kent State University, 2013, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Biological Sciences

TOPACIO, TRACEY KAREN, M.S., DECEMBER, 2013 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES CIRCADIAN DISRUPTION, DIET, AND EXERCISE (88 pp.) Director of Thesis: Eric Mintz Circadian rhythms studies in rodents are conducted using a wide range of housing conditions, with animals housed in cages of different sizes that may or may not have a running wheel for assessing locomotor activity. I examined whether housing conditions influence the core clock gene mechanism that drives circadian rhythms. C57BL/6J mice were maintained under 12:12 LD in either small cages, large cages, or large cages with a running wheel. Mice were euthanized at four, equally spaced time points throughout the 24-hours. The brain, liver, lung, and heart tissue were collected and analyzed by real-time PCR to assess the expression of Per1, Per2, Clock, and Bmal1 at each time point. Gene expression varied with a daily rhythm as expected in each tissue. Significant differences in Clock and Bmal1 expression between housing conditions were observed in the liver, lungs, and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), but not the heart. Differences were observed in the middle and end of the night and were mostly a result of differences in cage size rather than by the presence or absence of a running wheel. These data suggest that the size of the cage appreciably alters Clock and Bmal1 expression in the liver, lungs, and SCN primarily during the active time points, and that care should be taken when comparing the results of studies using different housing conditions. Circadian disruption can have a variety of negative physiological consequences including metabolic impairment. I asked whether weight gain on a high fat diet (HFD) would be increased under simulated chronic jet lag conditions. Male C57BL/6J mice were housed in cages with running wheels and given either normal or HFD for 7 weeks. After the first week, animals were kept in 12:12 LD, or the lights were either advanced (PA) or delayed (PD) by 6 hours (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2009, Biological Sciences

Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus culture extracts are used for skin testing, immunotherapy and research studies. There is a need to develop an effective culture method so that standardized extracts and allergens can be produced. The purpose of this study was to examine if different diets effect mite population growth and the amount of allergen produced in cultures. Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were cultured on diets A and B. The density of mites, life stage composition and allergen concentration was determined at two week intervals. Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assays (ELISA) were used to assess group 1 and group 2 allergen concentrations. This study showed that diet is an important factor for culturing of mites. Diet B was found to be better suited to culture Dermatophagoides farinae whereas diet A was better for culturing of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Diet A cultures of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus produced greater concentrations of group 2 allergen than diet B.

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2012, Medicine: Epidemiology (Environmental Health)

There is increasing research support for an association between food hypersensitivities and ADHD symptoms. Eleven clinical trials of the Few Foods Diet therapy have been published using within subject crossover or controlled designs. Each trial reported statistically significant symptom improvement across a variety of measures. Egger treated children with hyperactive food reactions using Enzyme Potentiated Desensitization (EPD). A statistically significant ability to reintroduce previously reactive foods, using double blind placebo controlled protocols, was demonstrated after 3 EPD Treatments. EPD is a cell mediated immunotherapy utilizing injections of very low dose antigen mixtures combined with a complex protocol of environmental exposure management, including diet restrictions. The American Clinical Trial of Enzyme Potentiated Desensitization (ACTEPD) provided EPD Treatment for a variety of symptoms. The outcome measure of Satisfaction was defined as a minimum of 50% improvement in symptom severity. The purpose of this study was to explore the longitudinal trends of Satisfaction with ADHD symptom severity specific to children in the ACTEPD. A maximum of 12 Treatments were analyzed per subject, including modeling of Minimal, Moderate and Long Term Treatment periods. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) methods were used to develop predicted probabilities of Satisfaction, which adjusted for Treatment Level, Initial Severity, Gender and Stimulant Medications. Statistical tests of Satisfaction were highly significant within each treatment period, including Treatment 6 (p < 0.002), Treatment 9 (p < 0.0001) and Treatment 12 (p < 0.0007). Satisfaction increased with an increase in the Number of Treatments. There was a highly significant association of Satisfaction at Last Treatment with an increase in Treatment Levels (p < 0.0008). Repeat measures of Satisfaction increased with an increase in Treatment Number during the Minimal (p < 0.05) and Moderate (p < 0.0 (open full item for complete abstract)

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2011, Allied Health Sciences: Nutrition

Purpose. To determine whether major food sources of calcium, magnesium and potassium differ between adolescents with pre-hypertension and hypertension who received a behavioral nutrition intervention that focused on fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods (the DASH-4-Teens Intervention) compared to those that received usual hospital-based nutrition care. Methods. Fifty-seven adolescents with hypertension or pre-hypertension were randomly assigned to a dietary intervention, DASH-4-Teens, (n=29) or the usual, one visit, hospital-based nutrition care (UC) (n=28). Dietary intake was collected through the use of 24-hr dietary recalls that were obtained over three days on three separate time points: baseline, post-treatment (3 months after baseline), and a three month follow-up. The nutrient content of participants' diets were analyzed using the Minnesota Nutrient Data systems Software in conjunction with food label codes generated by the Nutrition Data Systems summary file. Individual foods were classified into 135 food groups and percentages for nutrient composition and average nutrient intake were generated for each. Results. The DASH4-Teens intervention was related to a sustained increase in percent contribution of unprocessed fruits and vegetables as major food sources of potassium. This finding did not hold true with the UC group. Unexpectedly, fast foods were a significant contributor to potassium, magnesium and calcium intake in the diets of teens in both intervention groups. However, among DASH participants, intake of these foods decreased in response to the intervention, whereas consumption did not decrease in the UC group. In addition, more low-fat dairy foods were used to increase calcium, potassium and magnesium intake in the DASH group compared to the UC group. Conclusion. DASH-4-Teens can help hypertensive adolescents make informed decisions resulting in sustained intake of unprocessed fruits and vegetables, lower intake of fast foods, and greater low-f (open full item for complete abstract)

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2009, Allied Health Sciences : Nutrition

Introduction In pregnancies of obese women, increased expression of nutrient transport proteins in the placenta via unknown mechanisms may be leading to fetal overgrowth.Objective and Hypotheses The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of obesity, a high-fat diet, and adiponectin infusion on placental mTOR, STAT3, and AMP-K signaling and fetal growth. The following hypotheses were tested: (1) Placental mTOR and STAT3 signaling pathways are activated and AMP-K signaling is depressed in response to obesity and consumption of a high fat diet, thereby up-regulating placental nutrient transporters; (2) Adiponectin infusion activates placental AMP-K and inhibits mTOR signaling pathways and decreases fetal growth. Subjects and Animals Human placental samples from obese (N=6) and lean (N=9) women who delivered at term, previously collected from a Swedish population and an American population, were used for analysis. Mice (C57/BL6) obtained from Jackson laboratory, were kept on standard lab chow or one of four diets (control, high-fat, high-sugar, high-fat/high-sugar) for 8 weeks prior to mating and throughout pregnancy, and studied close to term. Methods The activity of three key signaling pathways was determined by measuring expression of phosphorylated S6K (an indicator of mTOR activity), AMP-K, and STAT3 using western blot in placental homogenates of human and murine samples. Serum levels of adiponectin and leptin were measured in mouse maternal samples. Fetal growth at embryonic day 18.5 was recorded for all mouse samples. Results In the Swedish cohort, a significant decrease in phosphorylated AMP-K expression (-30%, p<0.05) was observed in obese women giving birth to large babies. Mice on HF diet with large fetuses showed no significant changes in the expression of AMP-K, STAT3, or S6K. Mice who received adiponectin infusion had on average 36% (p<0.05) decreased phospho-S6K expression and 18% (p<0.05) smaller fetal weights versus controls. Serum leve (open full item for complete abstract)