Department of
NUTRITION
University of California, Davis Fall 2004
initiative on Food and Health; we have just hired a new faculty member who
will teach in the area of Food Service Management (Heather Graham), and
will soon begin recruitment for a new faculty position. We are here to help. If
there is anything we can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to ask.
UCD Tops in Recent Information
Sciences Institute (ISI) Rankings Inside this issue:
In the category Numbers of Peer Reviewed
Papers, the ranking in three separate fields Graduate
was as follows: Student Spotlight 2
Carl Keen enjoys the fruits of Spain while attending a
conference there. •AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
University of California, Davis Alumni Spotlight 3
Message from the Chair University of Wisconsin
Carl Keen Cornell University
It is with great pleasure that we send you the University of Illinois
Iowa State University News Bites 4
Fall issue of our Nutrition newsletter to update you
on the people, programs and activities of the UC
Davis Department of Nutrition. First, our programs
in Nutrition and Food Sciences and our college •ECOLOGY / ENVIRONMENTAL
continues to be ranked at the top (see Rankings at SCIENCES International
right). However, the year has been one of numerous University of California, Davis Outreach 6
challenges as we dealt with significant budget cuts University of California, Berkeley
that threatened to undermine our teaching research Colorado State University
and outreach programs. In the past two years, funds University of Florida
Faculty Focus 10
to the Agricultural Experiment Station were cut 20% University of Minnesota
and to Cooperative Extension 30%. Consistent with
the philosophy of the College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences, we minimized personal •FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION Alumni Survey 11
hardships created by layoffs using reserves to University of California, Davis
preserve high-priority research and outreach University of Wisconsin
programs and shifted expenditures to non-state Cornell University Judith S. Stern
sources (e.g. extramural financial gifts from alumni University of Georgia Editor-in-Chief
and friends). As a result of the above, we were able jsstern@ucdavis.edu
University of Minnesota
to maintain strong teaching, research and outreach
Debora Hoelscher
programs. We truly appreciate the many individuals
Production Coordinator
who stepped forward with gifts to the department to And in the category Federally Financed dhoelscher@ucdavis.edu
help us emerge intact from the budget crisis. We also Research Expenditures (Agricultural
acknowledge the donors of gifts that have helped Sciences, 2002): Vita Cooper
us to establish new fellowships for graduate and Production Assistance
undergraduate students in nutrition. University of California, Davis
Story Contributors:
While the past year has presented many Mississippi State Andrea Bersamin
difficulties, the upcoming year is promising to be far Oregon State University Sandra Chavez
brighter. With only modest cuts to instruction and no University of Florida Alexandra Kazaks
further cuts to forecast in the areas of research and Belle Lenh
University of Missouri, Columbia Elisabeth Marsh
outreach, we view the future with high optimism.
We are poised to begin work on the new campus
Page 2 Fall 2004
Graduate Student Spotlight
Alaskan Yup’ik Eskimos A typical Yup’ik meal today consists of a highly caloric source of trans fats.
Andrea Bersamin (Nutrition Graduate canned corn, a high calorie cracker (pilot Nevertheless there is hope. Yesterday’s
Student) bread) topped with Crisco®, dried fish, seal oil aqutak is today’s Crisco® aqutuk
soda, and a candy bar. My first visit to and tomorrow’s will probably include
A little more than a year ago I boarded a village store left me with sticker shock something new. We hope to see the future
a bush plane (after waiting in the airport and a strong impression that despite a bring healthy diet choices to this unique
for a couple days for the weather to clear) strong nutrition education campaign, this population, and are confident that our
headed for Nunapitchuk to join a project population would be unlikely to meet research is a good start.
funded by the Center for Alaska Native the recommended five servings of fruits
Health Research, University of Alaska and vegetables a day. A “back-of-the- Aqutak (Eskimo Ice- Cream)
Fairbanks (UAF). The project’s goal is envelope” calculation showed that on my
to understand the alarming increase in 4 cups Crisco®
rates of diabetes and obesity seen among 3 cups berries
the Yup’ik. Under the direction of Prof. 2 cups sugar
Bret Luick of UAF (who will be taking a
1 cup mashed potato flakes
sabbatical at UCD Department of Nutrition
this winter) and my mentor Prof. Sheri 1 cup white fish
Zidenberg-Cherr, my specific role is Combine ingredients. Enjoy!
to document the dietary patterns of the
Yup’iks and to identify those patterns that Eskimo ice cream, or aqutak, is one of
offer a protective role in health. many culinary treats exemplifying the
changing dietary patterns among the
Yup’ik Eskimos of Alaska. Traditionally,
aqutuk was made with seal oil, fish
roe, and fresh berries, but as a more
western lifestyle is adopted, the
Fish comprise a major staple of
the Yup’ik Eskimo Diet. convenience of Crisco® and the taste of
added sugar are preferred.
own food budget I might be able to afford
Spam and soda (the most reasonably
priced items), but at $1.89 and $3.31 per
pound respectively, I would not be able to
buy the sprouted onion sitting on the shelf
nor the bruised apple in the otherwise
Andrea stands in front of the local
empty box.
school during a winter trip to the Yup’ik
village at Nunapitchuk, Alaska We suspect that the changing diet and
lifestyle of the Yup’iks contribute to the
increasing rates of diabetes and obesity.
The Yup’ik Eskimos live in small For example, while the fats used in the
villages along an area of wetlands, traditional recipe for aqutuk are high in
stretching from the Bering Sea to 50 omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin A, the
miles inland. The area supports almost no current fat, namely Crisco®, is essentially L to R: Wiz Ruppert (CANHR), Andrea, and
agricultural crops and is sparsely populated Bret Luick
with large game animals, but well supplied
with fish, marine mammals, migratory Traditional Aqutak Today’s Aqutak
Traditional Aqutak
birds and an abundance of berries. The Serving size = Serving size =
villages are extremely isolated and roads Nutrient Facts
1 cup 1 cup
are limited to intra-village snowmobile
and four-wheeler traffic, depending on the Calories (kcal) 541 836
season. Bush planes are the only realistic
way of reaching the villages. Saturated Fat (g) 7.37 20.52
The traditional Yup’ik diet consisted Omega-3 fatty acids (g) 13.15 1.33
primarily of marine mammals, fish, and Trans fats (g) 0 13.93
game animals (moose and caribou),
supplemented with wild greens and berries. Vitamin A (RE) 977 9
Fall 2004 Page 3
Alumni Spotlight
Amy Myrdal, MS (Dietetics, 1994):
After completing her undergraduate degree from UCD in 1994, Amy Myrdal completed a 12-month dietetic
internship at the University of Minnesota in August 1995, and earned an M.S. in nutrition communication from
Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy in May 1997. Then, in December of 2000 she joined Dole,
first as a nutritionist. Within a year she was promoted to a nutrition communications manager, and last March was
promoted to her current position, Director of Nutrition Marketing & Education.
Her professional career began in public relations, first working as an independent consultant for food
and beverage clients including General Mills and Fresh Samantha Juices. She joined the Agrifoods Division
of Fleishman-Hillard in Kansas City where clients included Ocean Spray Cranberries and the Wheat Foods
Council. In 1998 she joined the Rippe Lifestyle Institute in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts as a senior research
dietitian and led nutrition intervention protocols for cardiovascular research studies and had co-authored a
nutrition cookbook, “The Healthy Heart Cookbook For Dummies.” In 1999 Amy was promoted to Director of
Marketing for the REWARD Project, a national weight registry coordinated by Rippe Lifestyle Institute.
When not traveling for work, Amy enjoys balcony gardening, golfing, cooking and reading. She lives with her
two cats (Linus Pauling and Lucy Fur) in Oak Park, California.
Amy G. Myrdal, MS, RD
Director, Nutrition Marketing & Education
Dole Food Company
Amy_Myrdal@NA.Dole.com
Changing Times: A New Twist on Dorm Food Preparation sections that will be serving fresh-made
Belle Lenh (2004) pizza from a wood-burning oven, desserts,
soups, and a Mongolian wok station and
Do you remember your food process in large 50 to 100 – gallon a “Euro station” which provides more
dining hall experience steam jacket kettles and stores the food in ‘upscale’ foods such as carved meats.
while living in the dorms? polyethylene bags (15-20 servings). The To prepare for the crowds of students
Remember waiting in bags are cooled to 40˚ F in an ice-cold for each meal period at the new Segundo
line for your meals with water tank and tagged for refrigeration Dining Center, food items will be taken
your friends, hoping and storage at 28-32˚ F. This allows for a as needed from refrigeration storage and
praying that they haven’t longer shelf life of food products by 5-14 re-warmed for serving, while retaining its
run out of the cheese days (depending upon the type of food). texture and flavor, optimizing the nutrient
burgers and trying to get your meal in time The benefit of the cook-chill process content. The result is a consistent product
to make it to your next class. The current is the elimination of holding cooked foods and an efficient flow for food production to
dining hall experience has not changed too for long periods of time. This minimizes handle the increase in meals being served.
much from that scenario. With the influx of the nutrient breakdown of the foods and Currently food is being cooked and held in
students being admitted during Tidal Wave reduces potential food safety hazards warmers, which is more time consuming
II, the problem only seems to get worse. (such as food-borne illnesses). and inefficient to meet the demands of
The university has also noticed this The new facility will offer a new twist hungry students.
particular problem and constructed a plan on the dorm-life dining experience, for With the use of the new Cook-Chill
similar to what is being used at UCLA more of a “restaurant feeling atmosphere,” system, there will definitely be a change
and UCSF to accommodate the growing and will be able to seat 1,800 students, (if and a new take on the dorm-life dining
student population. In 1997 the university necessary up to 2,200 students) for each experience when the new Segundo Dining
broke ground on a $20,000,000 plan (paid meal period in a setting similar to that of Center opens its doors this coming winter
by past and present student housing fees) to the sitcom “Friends.” The dining center’s quarter.
develop the new Segundo Dining Center main floor will consist of six areas called
with the latest foodservice system known platforms, which will serve different types Days: Mon. –Thurs.
Hours: Price:
as “the Cook-Chill system.” of meals that are prepared in front of the Breakfast 6:30 - 10:15 Breakfast $6.20
According to Sam Marotto, Facility students. These platforms will provide Lunch 11:00 - 2:00 Lunch $6.60
Dining and Planning Director for Sodexho food items prepared by the Cook-Chill Dinner 4:45 - 8:00pm Dinner $8.70
food service, this is a food production process and convenience items such as Late Nite 9:00-12:00am Late Nite $6.25
process for cooking, chilling and packaging the “Grab and Go Meals” which contain Segundo Dining Center is located Northeast of the
high volumes of food in less than two salads, sandwiches and drinks (for ARC (Rec Hall) next to lot #25 on La Rue
hours. The Cook-Chill System begins its students who are on the ‘go’). There are
Page 4 Fall 2004
News Bites
public domain. “In some cases, data on reports on less than half of one percent
Report Offers Science-Based an ingredient’s safety in humans are scant of all adverse events associated with
Process and Guidelines to or nonexistent,” Schneeman said. “Our supplements.
Evaluate Safety of Dietary report describes how other types of data To further boost reporting, supplement
Supplements -- such as the results of tests in animals, or labels should include a toll-free number
information on similar substances -- can for consumers and health professionals to
“While most be used in a science-based approach to call in health problems or concerns related
of the 29,000 determine whether a supplement poses a to the product, the committee said. Labels
supplements significant risk to human health.” also should include the name and place
available to FDA does not need direct evidence of of business of both the distributor and
Americans are harm to humans to take action. FDA must the manufacturer so that problems can be
safe, questions show that a product poses an unreasonable traced.
have been raised risk to users. Historical use is not enough Annual dietary supplement sales in
about FDA’s to prove safety, even if a supplement has the USA approach $16 billion. An average
resources to been consumed for centuries or used in of 1,000 new products are developed each
identify and folk medicine. Since changes in ingredient year. Although manufacturers are restricted
Barbara Schneeman, Ph.D address the formulation or processing raise potential from claiming that using their products
occasional for new adverse effects, a reformulated leads to therapeutic benefits, surveys
p r o b l e m ingredient should be subject to the same show that many people take supplements
products,” said Barbara Schneeman, regulatory oversight as a new one. for purposes such as treating colds or
Professor of Nutrition, Food Science, and The report recommends that alleviating depression. According to other
Internal Medicine. Dietary supplements manufacturers and distributors be survey data, the majority of consumers
are regulated like foods. Supplements are required to report adverse events to FDA believe these products to be either
considered safe unless proved otherwise in a timely fashion to facilitate safety reasonably or completely safe.
and are not required to be clinically tested evaluations. Supplement manufacturers
before they are marketed. An Institute of do not have to conduct pre-market safety More information is available from the
Medicine and National Research Council tests, they also are not required to collect National Academies Press: 800-624-6242,
report, chaired by Schneeman, outlines and report any health problems that they http://www.nap.edu.
a science-based process for assessing discover once the products are on the For the complete article go to
supplement ingredients. FDA determines market. Lack of reporting significantly http://nutrition.ucdavis.edu/news.htm
whether a particular substance is harmful hampers the agency’s ability to actively
based upon information available in the monitor supplement safety. FDA receives
Grants awarded: September 2004: Visiting Prof. David Prophet-Zeman Scholarship
Prof. Kenneth H. Brown: Bristol-Myers McCarron: International Award in Update
Squibb grant to apply innovative genetic Modern Nutrition.
technologies to address international Jastro-Shields Research We have raised $6,000 of our $10,000 goal!
nutrition problems. Please help us realize our goal to fund the
Prof. Peter J. Havel received an NIH Scholarship Award: outstanding
graduate students in recognition of their Prophet-Zeman Undergraduate Scholarship.
grant to support his research on fructose. It is welcomed and appreciated! (please see
potential to carry out research projects
related to the missions of the College of page 12 for contact information).
Honors Agricultural & Environmental Sciences.
March 2004: Prof. Kay Dewey: President- Thank you!
elect of the International Society for Congratulations to the Jastro-Shields We appreciate the recent contributions from
Research on Human Milk and Lactation recipients for 2004-05! the following alumni:
April 2004: Prof. Barbara Schneeman:
Michael Ballou, Tracy Brockman, Rose Pamela Ching (1981)
appointed as Director of the Office of
Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Giordano, Bakhtiar Hossain, Sergio Stacey Dunn-Emke (1989)
Supplements in FDA’s Center for Food Juchem, Swati Kalgaonkar, Katherine Judy Fields (1966)
Safety and Applied Nutrition. Kavanagh-Prochaska, Nadine Donna-Marie Lera (1989)
June 2004: Prof. Judith S. Stern: Kirkpatrick, Jeemin Lee, Malcolm Sara Malone (1976)
Secretary’s Honor Award from the USDA. McPhee, Tony Momma, Benjamin Denise Ney (1986)
August 2004: Prof. Carl L. Keen: Renquist, Lauraine Rivier, Papinya Timothy Pietro (1978)
Award of Distinction from the College of Sirimongkolkasem, Jennifer Smilowitz
Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. and Zhenyu Yang
Fall 2004 Page 5
News Bites
Interview with Vice Chancellor Barry Klein
Clara Lau (2003)
The last quarter of my undergraduate more nervous than I was the first time. and apprehension had disappeared as the
college career was coming to a close. I was He was still at the computer, but once interview progressed. There were times
taking the last required class to graduate he noticed that I was back, he stopped when I even forgot that there was a tape
with a Nutrition Science major. Prof. Judy what he was doing and joined me at the recorder there. It was as if we were just
Stern was teaching the “Journalism in conference table in his office. I set up carrying on a normal conversation.
Nutrition” class and we were given our the tape recorder and microphone on the At home, I emptied out the tape
final article assignment. One-third of my table, along with my sheet of questions. recorder from my backpack to start
grade was riding on this article, so I wanted I discovered that he went to college transcribing the interview. I rewound the
to make sure that it was my best work yet. with Simon and Garfunkle. He told me tape and then started to play it back. There
I decided to interview the VC for Research, that he did better than they did in school, was nothing on the tape! In disbelief, I
Prof. Barry Klein. I had been a student but that they obviously had more fun than fast forwarded the tape and played it back
assistant for about a year but I had never he. Interestingly, he was independent at again. Still nothing. Out of desperation,
had the opportunity to talk with VC Klein, the age of 18 and he put himself through I turned the tape over and listened to see
until now. school. VC Klein worked as a short if anything was recorded on that side. I
The night before my interview, I came order cook at a restaurant comparable to knew that it wasn’t going to play back
up with a list of questions that I wanted to Denny’s, while attending school so that anything, but at this point, I was willing to
ask VC Klein and borrowed my boyfriend’s he could pay for tuition and housing. try anything: Just as I thought, nothing!
tape recorder so that I could record the He still enjoys cooking very much and My heart began to race and I had to
interview. He also let me borrow a told me that when he and his siblings get remind myself to just breathe. This article
microphone to hook up to the recorder. together, they try to replicate their mom’s was the last assignment of the class and
The microphone looked rather intimidating dishes. They still haven’t perfected her worth one-third of my grade! It took me a
because it was one of those big ones like roast beef, but he assured me that he’s while to muster up enough courage to write
reporters use, but he convinced me that this working on it. an e-mail to Prof. Stern to explain what had
microphone would pick up the sound better Over the past year, I’ve noticed that happened. I didn’t know how she would
than the one on the tape recorder. VC Klein is always busy. His days are react, but I sent off the e-mail hoping for
The day had come. I set the interview packed with meetings upon meetings and the best. To my relief, Prof. Stern was
up to coincide with my work schedule at he must be absolutely exhausted by the end very sympathetic about the situation and
the office of Research. In the minutes of the day. With this in mind, I asked him took steps to help me work through this
before my interview with VC Klein, I what kept him going from day to day and disaster.
became quite nervous, took another look he replied that he loves his work. He loves
over my list of questions and plugged in interacting with so many different people
the microphone into the tape recorder. from day to day. In fact, he has managed
As I approached his large, corner office, to find time in his busy schedule to teach
I peered through the crack between the a freshman seminar at UCD this quarter
open door and his office wall to find VC entitled, “Physics in the 20th Century:
Klein typing vigorously at his computer. The Advent of the Nuclear Age.” On the
I felt very bad for interrupting his work, few occasions when he is not at work or
because from my experience at the office, teaching, VC Klein enjoys reading and
it never seems like he has any time to sit is a huge fan of the performing arts. He
down in between his meetings. Regardless, frequents the recently opened Mondavi
I knocked at his door. He shouted, “Come Center on campus to listen to classical
in,” while still quite absorbed in his work music, his favorite, along with watching
on the computer. I told him that I had plays and listening to guest lecturers.
set up an interview at this time, but that I As I concluded my interview, I asked
could come back later or even reschedule him what the best advice he has to give
the interview time. Looking back now, it people and his reply was to have integrity
seems as though everything that came out in everything that you do. He explained
of my mouth was all jumbled together. I that you don’t want to regret any of your
must have been speaking a mile a minute. actions later, and that you want to keep
He was very polite about the whole yourself responsible for the decisions that Vice Chancellor Barry Klein
situation and asked me to come back in a you make and actions that you take.
few minutes. I left VC Klein’s office feeling proud of
I returned back to his office even the interview. The feelings of nervousness
Page 6 Fall 2004
International Outreach
tips about where to get the best food and
nightly entertainment in Davis.
Toward the end of their stay the
students voted to do some extra research
into polyphenolic compounds. The whole
group spent an afternoon exploring the Napa
Valley and visiting two wineries to learn the
proper way to taste and describe wine. Even
though there was puzzlement about the
Korean translation for such descriptions as
“raspberry,” “tannic,” and “full-bodied,”
the students said they enjoyed this typically
Californian experience.
The Inje University website declares
Within the group of Korean students are pictured: (far right) Hyunju Choi Lee, PhD (1986); “…our students and professors go to
(next to Dr. Lee) J.S. Stern, ScD. ; (1st row, far left) A. Kazaks, PhD Candidate; S Hansen, MS schools in the United States, China, Japan,
(2nd row, second from the left); (back row left) J. Coffman UCD Extension and other countries to pursue their academic
mission in the era of globalization.” We
Students from Korean University Become Fluent in have been delighted and proud to share in an
Discussing Nutrition Issues Alexandra Kazaks, Nutrition Graduate international “academic mission” with these
Last winter quarter 10 students from project that illustrated the relationship students from Inje University.
Inje University in Korea traveled to UC between dietary fat and a particular Prof. Stern was presented a plaque of
Davis with a mission to improve their disease. They produced outstanding appreciation for her efforts and contributions
English language skills and enhance their projects on cardiovascular disease, dietary at the 2003-2004 International Winter
knowledge of nutrition science by attending influence on LDL, breast cancer, prostate Training Program at Inje University.
lectures and seminars and participating in cancer, obesity, and proposed benefits
lab activities. of liposuction. The visual and oral
Prof. Julie Lee, a professor at Inje presentations were clever and blended
University who is a former graduate student Asian and Western thought regarding good
of Prof. Judith Stern initiated the visit for health and nutrition. Each presentation
juniors and seniors from the School of included a question and answer session
Biomedical Science and Engineering. that generally involved frequent use of
The opportunity was sponsored by the electronic handheld translators.
Inje University Education Enrichment
Extracurricular research
Program Abroad program in collaboration
with James Coffman, UC Davis Extension Two students worked in the Stern-
Director of International English and Havel lab with Sue Hansen, who not only
Professional Programs. gave them valuable experience with lab
techniques but also provided them with A field trip dedicated to the study of polyphenolic
How does one know what to eat for a compounds.
healthful diet?
The students focused their studies on Obesity Experts Form Interna-
the question: “How does one know what to tional Team to Evaluate Scientific
eat for a healthful diet?” Research
The Korean visiting scholars worked at In an effort to help medical
discovering the basis for a healthful diet by professionals,policy-makers, researchers,
taking the Nutrition 10 class, followed by a the news media and the general public
discussion section led by nutrition graduate evaluate the quality and usefulness
student Alexandra Kazaks. They put new
of obesity research, a group of
English skills into good practice as they
international obesity experts has formed
were challenged to distill Dr Applegate’s
the Collaborative Obesity Research
lectures into two or three main ideas.
In addition, they read research papers Evaluation Team (CORET), co-chaired
that supported the lecture topics on proteins,
While the US currently uses a by Prof. Judith Stern and George
Food Guide Pyramid, Koreans
carbohydrate and fiber and dietary fats. can base their food choices on
Bray, that will review and evaluate
Finally, they created an individual a food guide pagoda. published research papers in the field of
continued next page
Fall 2004 Page 7
International Outreach
from previous page recounting of a long, conversational in three provinces of Ecuador, including the
obesity. Prof. Wim Saris of Universiteit feast. During each course, dinner guests coastal rain forest and rural (Latacunga) and
Maastricht will be working with UCD to were asked to pinpoint where the best urban (Quito) sites in the Andean highlands.
jointly review papers. of Mediterranean foods were being The purposes of the study are to: 1) define
Funding for this project has been produced, using Roman and Greek the minimum safe and effective dose of
provided through an unrestricted gift from citations. zinc supplementation for young children
a consortium of food-industry companies “There were 1,500 ancient works 1-3 years of age at risk of zinc deficiency;
represented by an industry science panel cited by author and title, but fewer than and 2) determine whether copper should
and administered through the Grocery 15 percent of those still exist,” Grivetti be given along with zinc. After baseline
Manufacturers of America (GMA) and says. “However, we’ve found that by censusing and anthropometric assessment,
the Confederation of European Union looking at the existing sources, they stunted children are treated for anemia and
were cited correctly, for the most part. randomly assigned to treatment with daily
Food and Drink Industries (CIAA).
With the computer assistance of masked supplements containing 0, 3, 7 or
Maps Created that Pinpoint colleague Matthew Lange, Grivetti will 10 mg of zinc, or 10 mg of zinc with 0.5 mg
Ancient Food Snobs’ Best Bets document, among other foods, 500 to copper. The children are visited 3-5 times
600 ancient wines with appellations per week by a community health worker
A UC Davis food geographer and a to supervise supplementation and record
by district. He will also trace superior
computer technologist are creating maps to morbidity histories. Clinical exams and
breads, cakes, fruits and vegetables to
the best cheeses, wines, breads and assorted dietary, anthropometric, and biochemical
their classical bakeries and gardens.
delicacies throughout the Mediterranean, assessments are repeated at intervals.
The maps will show the tastiest
but there’s a catch. Biochemical analyses include plasma zinc
water and most original breads in the
These are maps based on the eight- and copper, ceruloplasmin, ferritin, HDL
shapes of animals came from the district
volume “The Deipnosophists,” written by and total cholesterol, hemoglobin and
of Attica, which included Athens, while
Egyptian author Athenaeus 1,800 years erythrocyte SOD. Metallothionein mRNA
Sicily boasted the choicest cheese and
ago. The book, according to ancient-food and certain zinc transporters are being
Cyprus the sweetest pomegranates.
expert, Prof. Louis Grivetti, is what measured in a sub-population. To date,
Grivetti’s book, due in 2005, will also
might be considered the bonus edition of 467 children have been enrolled, and 204
allow for comparisons between ancient
“Gourmet” magazine circa A.D. 200. have completed the study. An additional
Mediterranean food patterns and today’s
Grivetti discovered that the most
Mediterranean diet, considered one of
sublime olive oil was produced in the
the healthiest in the world.
southern Italian town of Thurii, the most
superior milk goats were raised on the Department Supports
Greek island of Scyros and the cuisine
on Chios, an Aegean island off the coast International Efforts To Control
of Turkey, “was best known for its dainty Zinc Deficiency
dishes.” The Program in International Nutrition
“Back then it was the guidebook to the (PIN) and the
known world, from Iberia to central Europe Department of
to India and North Africa,” Grivetti says. Nutrition hosts
Grivetti is producing his own 21st- the Secretariat of
century book that draws from Athenaeus’ the International
Zinc Nutrition Sara Wuehler measures the length of a child
Consultative in Latacunga, Ecuador.
UC Davis
Program in International Nutrition Group (IZiNCG), 150-200 children will be enrolled before
whose objective the study is completed in May, 2005.
is supporting global efforts to reduce zinc Joanne Arsenault is carrying out
deficiency, especially in lower income a study in a low-income, peri-urban
countries. The Steering Committee of community in Trujillo, Peru to examine
IZiNCG is chaired by Prof. Kenneth H. the effect of zinc, given either as a liquid
Brown. Two UCD doctoral students, supplement or as a fortified-cereal.
Sara Wuehler and Joanne Arsenault, Outcomes that are being monitored
are currently conducting research abroad include infant growth, morbidity, body
to solve applied questions regarding the composition, energy intake, and hormones
optimal dose of zinc supplements for that affect appetite. Infants are enrolled at
children at risk of zinc deficiency and the 6-8 months of age. Currently, 175 children
best routes of delivery of additional zinc.
Professor Louis Grivetti hard at work. PIN page 9
Sara Wuehler is conducting a study
Page 8 Fall 2004
Starved including children, have eating disorders.
Elisabeth Marsh (2004) The Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating
Disorders, Org. (ANRED) estimates one Anorexia Nervosa
P O I S O N ! in every five college-aged women suffers
D A N G E R ! • Refusal to maintain body weight
from some sort of eating disorder. Is this at or above a minimally normal
Warning: If any happening to someone you love? weight for age and height
food is swallowed, Have you recently noticed your 16- (e.g., weight loss) leading to
if conscious, year-old daughter, best friend, or sister maintenance of body weight less
immediately
than 85% of that expected; or
induce vomiting. failure to make expected weight
Over-exposure Instead of buying food, I gain during period of growth,
may cause weight gain and bloating. buy myself flowers. Food leading to body weight less than
Daily ingestion may cause Central 85% of that expected
Nervous System depression and ‘distorted is depressing, but flowers
body image.’ Lisa S. make you happy. • Intense fear of gaining weight
Lisa S, as we shall call her, is a Junior or becoming fat, even though
at UCD. Despite the very real epidemic of underweight
obesity in North America, there are many picking at her food? Your son jokes she’s
young men and women who, like Lisa S, on another diet, and you notice her eating • Disturbance in the way in which
are dying because of eating disorders such less and less meat. Her father jokes, “You one’s body weight or shape is
could use some more meat on your bones.” experienced, undue influence
as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
She growls back that she had a feast for of body weight or shape on
The media saturates us with stories about
lunch at school and she is not hungry. self-evaluation, or denial of the
“unrealistic body expectations” and
When she gets up to escape to her room, seriousness of the current low
whether or not the latest Hollywood starlet body weight
is “too thin.” Advertisements send out you notice her jeans, although stylish,
conflicting messages: eat more, yet weigh look baggier than normal. As a parent, • In postmenarcheal females
less, Super-size your burger, but look like should you pass it off as an adolescent (women who have not yet
Calista Flockhart. It doesn’t add up. In phase or should you be concerned? gone through menopause),
the meanwhile most of us are worrying You have every right to be concerned. amenorrhea (the absence of at
According to the American Academy of least three consecutive menstrual
about swimsuit season or counting carbs.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, anorexia cycles
Many don’t realize that these very real
psychological diseases are affecting the nervosa and bulimia nervosa are increasing Bulimia Nervosa
lives of millions every year. among teens and kids, especially women.
The average age of diagnosis is 14 or • Recurrent episodes of binge
While working at the Activities and
15. Some of the behavioral signs can be: eating characterized by an
Rec Center, The ARC, (formerly Rec Hall), excessive amount of food within
I see cases of eating disorders daily. In fact, obsessive exercise, calorie and fat gram
a discrete amount of time and by
I have been involved with a few cases of counting, starvation and restriction of
a sense of lack of control over
food, self-induced vomiting, the use of
eating during this time
diet pills, laxatives or diuretics to attempt
Anorexia is my phantom. controlling weight, and a persistent • Recurrent inappropriate
concern with body image. I found from
It covers all reason like a talking to several victims that what they
compensatory behavior in order
to prevent weight gain, such as
blanket...suffocates my soul. hunger for most is achievement, control, self-induced vomiting or misuse
It controls my thoughts. I and acceptance, but they thirst for a of laxatives, diuretics, enemas,
freedom from their own bodies. or other medications (purging);
am uncomfortable in my In addition, your own body image fasting or excessive exercise
own skin. Do you know what may influence your child’s body image.
that feels like? “The Effects of Eating Disorders,” an • The binge eating and
article found at the National Institute of inappropriate compensatory
Health website (www.NIH.gov) suggests behaviors both occur, on
anorexia, bulimia and exercise abuse first that parents have a tremendous impact on average, at least twice a week for
hand. They are silent killers; fatal ways of their kid’s attitudes. It explains, “If you 3 months
self-expression, and their presence is all too constantly say ‘I’m fat,’ complain about
often ignored. The National Association exercise, or practice ‘yo-yo dieting,’ your • Self-evaluation is unduly
of Anorexia Nervosa estimates that five son/daughter may feel that it is normal to influenced by body shape and
million women and one million men, weight
Starved, page 9
Fall 2004 Page 9
Could Clever Marketing to eat breakfast because two to three kids Education, and American School Food
of Nutritional Outreach per class at around 10 a.m. complain of Service Association-- Nutrition Services:
Programs Make Kids Want stomach or head aches each day because an essential component of comprehensive
they are hungry. Their teachers send school health programs” [JADA, April
to Eat the Free Breakfast at them to the nurse, who in turn, sends
School? them to the cafeteria staff for a bowl of
cereal. This is disruptive to the class and PIN continued 2004].
Sandra M Chavez (2004)
the child’s education.” With very little have completed the six-month study and
Could social marketing do for funding available to promote the school about 89 more children are due to complete
nutritional programs what it has done for breakfast campaign in the Sacramento the study by the end of November, 2004.
the anti-smoking campaign? City Unified School District, Dr Cassidy http://www.nutrition.ucdavis.edu/pin.
I had no idea what social marketing tries out a previously used campaign
was until I received a job bulletin from that was developed and implemented in
the Nutrition Undergraduate Advising Southern California. How this works is
office looking for students who wanted really quite simple.
a short-term research position. Social For four weeks you draw attention to
marketing has been described to me as the free breakfast program by making it
using business marketing strategies to fun for the children to attend. You begin
improve the success of social programs. by putting up a banner that says “Free
Who doesn’t remember the anti- breakfast every day” and you make sure
smoking commercial with the woman the time of the breakfast is displayed
smoking through her tracheotomy or the on the banner so parents are also aware
hundreds of babies abandoned on a street of when it is served. With today’s busy Joanne Arsenault holding a child in Trujillo,
Peru, while his mother feeds a fortified
corner by their moms who died from schedule parents need a little help to porridge.
lung cancer. The anti-smoking campaign remind them that services are available
paints a vivid picture that is tough to to help them raise healthy well-fed kids.
duplicate in nutritional causes. Why? Then you invite the parents to join their
Because the enemy is multifaceted: child for breakfast one day that month Starved continued
unlike tobacco, it doesn’t just have one so parents become more aware of what’s have a distorted body image.”
face to hate or point the finger at, so offered at breakfast. Next, you create a You can help. First, illustrate a healthy
we have to be that much more creative buzz around school by giving away lifestyle to your kids. NIH recommends:
in order to make our causes stick in the prizes such as pencils and rulers that “Involve your child in the preparation of
minds of our target audience. How do they can only win by eating breakfast healthy, nutritious meals on a regular
we become so creative that our cause is at school. Next you have a “school basis. Let your child know it is OK to eat
remembered? when you’re hungry and refuse food when
breakfast is great” poster contest and
We try to make our campaign you’re not.” If you are concerned with
hang the winning posters in the cafeteria
someone you love, talk to your physician
appealing to our audience much like Prof. during the parent breakfast. Lastly, you
or a nutritionist for help to steer you in the
Diana Cassidy does when she tries to get invite all the teachers to have breakfast right direction.
kids from low-income neighborhoods with their students so the kids see that
to eat their schools’ free breakfast. breakfast is an important component Useful websites:
Prof. Cassidy runs a social marketing in the learning process. What’s great National Institutes of Health (NIH)
department at the UCD Medical School about this campaign is that it can be www.nimh.nih.gov
Division of Epidemiology and Clinical implemented, with little added cost, Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating
Nutrition. She has been hired by the by the school staff when the number Disorders (ANRED) www.anred.com
Department of Education to get kids of students eating breakfast starts to American Psychological Association
from these Provisional II schools to take decline. (APA) www.apa.org
advantage of the free breakfast offered to This research project is still in Resource Books: www.gurzebooks.com,
all children at these schools. She says: progress. We need to evaluate the www.bulimia.com
“Many kids are not eating breakfast success of the program in the months to Academy for Eating Disorders (AED)
and it’s become such a problem that the come. For ideas of how to improve your www.aedweb.org
Department of Education is looking for elementary schools’ breakfast program
creative ways to make kids want to come read: Position of the American Dietetic
to school and eat breakfast. We need them Association, Society for Nutrition
Page 10 Fall 2004
Faculty Focus
Selected 2004 Faculty Publications BO LONNERDAL
Ashida K, Sasaki H, Suzuki YA,
LINDSAY ALLEN ROBERT HACKMAN Lonnerdal B. 2004. Cellular
Ramos MI, Allen LH, Haan MN, Green deVere White RW, Hackman RM, internalization of lactoferrin in intestinal
R, Miller JW. 2004. Plasma folate Soares SE, Beckett LA, Li Y, Sun B. epithelial cells. Biometals. 17:311-5.
concentrations are associated with 2004. Effects of a genistein-rich extract ROGER MCDONALD
depressive symptoms in elderly Latina on PSA levels in men with a history of Coppola JD, Horwitz BA, Hamilton
women despite folic acid fortification. J, McDonald RB. 2004. Expression
prostate cancer. Urology. 63:259-63.
Am J Clin Nutr. 80:1024-8. of NPY Y1 and Y5 receptors in the
CHARLES HALSTED
KENNETH BROWN hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus
Halsted CH. 2004. Nutrition and
Mendoza C, Peerson JM, Brown of aged Fischer 344 rats. Am J Physiol
KH, Lonnerdal B. 2004. Effect of a alcoholic liver disease. Semin Liver Dis.
Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 287:R69-
micronutrient fortificant mixture and 24:289-304.
75. Epub 2004. Mar 25.
2 amounts of calcium on iron and MARJORIE HASKELL PATRICIA OTEIZA
zinc absorption from a processed food Haskell MJ, Jamil KM, Hassan F, Verstraeten SV, Oteiza PI, Fraga CG.
supplement. Am J Clin Nutr. 79:244-50. Peerson JM, Hossain MI, Fuchs GJ, 2004. Membrane effects of cocoa
SHERI ZIDENBERG-CHERR Brown KH. 2004. Daily consumption procyanidins in liposomes and Jurkat T
Graham, H., Feenstra, G., Evans, A., and of Indian spinach (Basella alba) or sweet cells. Biol Res. 37:293-300.
S. Zidenberg-Cherr. 2004. Davis school potatoes has a positive effect on total- ROBERT B. RUCKER
program supports life-long healthy body vitamin A stores in Bangladeshi Cui CT, Uriu-Adams JY, Tchaparian
eating habits in children. California men. Am J Clin Nutr. 80:705-14. EH, Keen CL, Rucker RB. 2004.
Agriculture 58:200-205.
PETER J. HAVEL Metavanadate causes cellular
GARY CHERR
Pender C, Goldfine ID, Tanner CJ, accumulation of copper and decreased
Tollner TL, Yudin AI, Treece CA,
Overstreet JW, Cherr GN. 2004. Pories WJ, MacDonald KG, Havel lysyl oxidase activity. Toxicol Appl
Macaque sperm release ESP13.2 and PJ, Houmard JA, Youngren JF. 2004. Pharmacol. 199:35-43.
PSP94 during capacitation: The absence Muscle insulin receptor concentrations JUDITH S. STERN
of ESP13.2 is linked to sperm-zona in obese patients post bariatric surgery: Bacon L, Stern JS, Keim NL, Van
recognition and binding. Mol Reprod relationship to hyperinsulinemia. Int J Loan MD. 2004. Low bone mass in
Dev. 69:325-37. Obes Relat Metab Disord. 28:363-9. premenopausal chronic dieting obese
ANDREW CLIFFORD M.J. HEINIG women. Eur J Clin Nutr. 58:966-71.
Burri BJ, Clifford AJ. 2004. Carotenoid Heinig MJ, Doberne K. 2004. Weighing BARBARA SUTHERLAND
and retinoid metabolism: insights from the risks: the use of low-carbohydrate Lowe NM, Woodhouse LR, Sutherland
isotope studies. Arch Biochem Biophys. diets during lactation. J Hum Lact. 20: B, Shames DM, Burri BJ, Abrams SA,
430:110-9. Review. 283-5. Turnlund JR, Jackson MJ, King JC.
KATHRYN G. DEWEY 2004. Kinetic parameters and plasma
LUCIA KAISER
Dewey KG. 2004. Impact of zinc concentration correlate well with
Melgar-Quinonez HR, Kaiser LL. 2004.
breastfeeding on maternal nutritional net loss and gain of zinc from men. J
status. Adv Exp Med Biol. 554:91-100. Relationship of child-feeding practices
Nutr. 134:2178-81.
STEVE DUEKER to overweight in low-income Mexican-
MARILYN TOWNSEND
Lin Y, Dueker SR, Follett JR, Fadel JG, American preschool-aged children. J
Horowitz M, Shilts MK, Townsend
Arjomand A, Schneider PD, Miller JW, Am Diet Assoc. 104:1110-9. MS. 2004. Eat Fit: a goal-oriented
Green R, Buchholz BA, Vogel JS, Phair CARL L. KEEN intervention that challenges adolescents
RD, Clifford AJ. 2004. Quantitation of Borchers AT, Keen CL, Gershwin to improve their eating and fitness
in vivo human folate metabolism. Am J ME. 2004. Mushrooms, tumors, and choices. J Nutr Educ Behav. 36:43-4.
Clin Nutr. 80:680-91. immunity: an update. Exp Biol Med JANET URIU-ADAMS
LOUIS GRIVETTI (Maywood). 229:393-406. Review. Cui CT, Uriu-Adams JY, Tchaparian
Grivetti LE, Corlett JL, Gordon SHANNON KELLEHER EH, Keen CL, Rucker RB. 2004.
BM, Lockett CT. 2004. Food in
Chowanadisai W, Kelleher SL, Metavanadate causes cellular
American History, Part 6-Beef (Part
Lonnerdal B. 2004. Maternal zinc accumulation of copper and decreased
1): Reconstruction and Growth Into the
20th Century (1865-1910). Nutr Today. deficiency raises plasma prolactin levels lysyl oxidase activity. Toxicol Appl
39:18-25. in lactating rats. J Nutr. 134:1314-9. Pharmacol. 199:35-43.
Fall 2004 Page 11
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