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Nutrition Research Core and Body Composition Laboratory
- Assistance with protocol development
- Nutrition Studies
- Development of protocol-specific diets
- Nutrition Assessment
- Dietary Intake Analysis
- Staffed Research Kitchen
- Screening, ongoing evaluation and counseling
- Measurements of body composition and energy expenditure in the Body Composition Lab
- Basic data management
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We help investigators develop protocols and carry out nutrition and body composition studies.
Our staff includes research dietitians and research dietetic technicians, as well as a body
composition technician who operates the DXA machine and other equipment in the Body Composition
Lab. Since our Research Kitchen is located on the GCRC, we can accommodate inpatient and
outpatient studies.
Read on for more information or skip to the steps to get started. If you
are looking for details to include in a grant application, check our
copy-paste page.
Nutrition Studies
Using specialized software (ProNutra), we
plan a wide variety of research diets of known nutrient content, including formula,
weighed, controlled nutrient, constant, and metabolic balance diets. We can accommodate
both inpatients and outpatients. In addition to screening subjects and explaining your
study's dietary requirements, we conduct nutrition assessments and determine food preferences
and energy requirements.
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We help investigators select the most appropriate dietary assessment method,
including:
- Nutrition history
- Food records
- Food frequency questionnaires
- 24-hour recalls
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Nutrition Research staff provide instruction, clarification, and analysis of food records.
Customized nutrient analysis services are available using the
University of Minnesota Nutrient Data System for
Research.
In the Nutrition Research Kitchen, our trained staff prepare precise diets calculated to
control a wide variety of nutrients. All foods are accurately weighed on Mettler scales,
as are returned foods on constant diets. We develop and test recipes to ensure palatable
menus for unique diets. Subjects may pick up meals daily, twice weekly or three times weekly
for outpatients. Subject compliance is monitored.
When it is part of the study protocol, nutrition counseling is provided, for example for an
experimental group on a Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) diet for prevention of Type II
diabetes with diet and exercise treatment. All study participants receive educational
materials and counseling to help them understand and follow dietary protocols.
Body Composition Laboratory
Located on the GCRC, the Body Composition Laboratory provides resources for the measurement of
body composition and energy expenditure, including:
- Anthropometric Measurements
- Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for measurement of body composition
- Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) for measurement of body composition and bone mineral density
- Indirect Calorimetry for energy expenditure
- VO2max testing using treadmill with metabolic and ECG measurement capabilities
- Accelerometers for measurement of physical activity
- Pedometers
- Physical Activity Questionnaires
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Contact Danielle Yancey for more information about the Body Composition Lab
(email; 598-0260).
Nutrition Research staff provide personalized educational opportunities for university dietetic
students, dietetic interns, and high school students exploring career choices. The GCRC offers
many other educational
opportunities as well.
Steps to getting started:
Consult us before you seek NIH or other funding
Let us help you with your grant. We can:
- help you select appropriate diet and nutrition methodologies
- conduct a review of pertinent literature
- assist with grant budget development.
For new
investigators, we also offer help with study design and nutrition resources.
Contact Holly Callahan, MS, RD, the Nutrition Research Manager (email;
598-4529). If your needs exceed our staffing capacity, you may need to budget additional
support in your grant. We encourage you to take advantage of the GCRC's other available
consultations
as well.
Submit an application.
In addition to the main
application, make sure to download
the appendix form for the Nutrition Research Core and Body Composition Lab. Please contact
us if you have any questions while filling out the form.
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