News
Our research not only influences the scientific community, but the general public as well. We strive to share our discoveries with everyone. Read some of our latest articles on what is happening at the Nutrition Research Institute.
Leptin’s Role in Cancer Susceptibility
August 30, 2018 – While the link between obesity and breast cancer risk is well known, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Obesity alters many conditions in cells and within the body, and it is not easy to determine which of these conditions are important to the obesity-cancer link. Consequently, it is very difficult to identify potential therapeutic targets.
Cheatham Lab Memory Game Pilot Study
August 30, 2018 – The Cheatham Nutrition & Cognition Lab at the NRI is undertaking a new pilot study with 12- and 24-month-old children called the Memory Game Pilot Study. In this study the lab seeks to validate the props used in the elicited imitation paradigm, a nonverbal means of assessing recall memory in preverbal children. The props, which have been designed and produced in the Cheatham lab, will be implemented with a group of young children of the same ages in an already-planned, collaborative study with Emory University.
A Chance I Might Discover Something
This article was published originally in July/August 2018 Carolina Alumni Review. July 31, 2018 – From his lab in a textile mill-turned-food research center, a UNC scientist has brought an important nutrient to the world’s attention. Dr. Steven Zeisel wants to make...
Salad – It’s in the Bag
July 31, 2018 – From our neighbors at the Dole Nutrition Institute comes helpful information about a healthful summertime dining option.
Bagged salads are just what you need when you have unannounced guests or for those times when you just don’t want to turn on the oven! It’s the one item that should always be in your fridge so you can take advantage of recipes like our Chipotle Spring Rolls, a real crowd pleaser! This month we’re setting the record straight on this mealtime shortcut by answering your questions and addressing concerns about bagged salads and salad kits.
Prenatal Calories More Important than Alcohol Exposure in Obesity
July 31, 2018 – Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) impairs fetal neurodevelopment and ultimately causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). PAE has also been associated with low birthweight and a higher risk for development of childhood obesity and metabolic dysfunction including glucose intolerance and cardiovascular disease.
Offspring Brain Health Determined by Maternal Diet and Genes
December 12, 2018 – The importance of choline to brain development and function was first demonstrated in the 1980s, but because choline has multiple fates and functions within the body, the question of how choline levels specifically impacted neural development has remained unanswered. In research just published in The FASEB Journal, NRI director Steven Zeisel, MD PhD, and NRI assistant professor Natalia Surzenko, PhD, make a major contribution towards answering this question.
Your doctor may not be the best source of nutrition advice
This article was published originally by The Washington Post. By Rachel Cernansky When Americans hear about a health craze, they may turn to their physician for advice: Will that superfood really boost brain function? Is that supplement okay for me to take? Or they...
Eggs May Enhance Infant Brain Development, Researchers Find
June 29, 2018 – Early introduction of eggs boosts infant blood concentrations of several key indicators of brain development, a recent study in Ecuador found. The results could have implications for infant nutrition in both the developing and developed worlds.
Genetic Factors in Determining Bone Mass
June 29, 2018 – Osteoporosis is a serious public health concern and causes significant economic burden. Currently, about 54 million people in the United States have osteoporosis or low bone mass. It is projected that by 2025, the incidences of bone fracture will be 3 million, resulting in about $25 billion in medical costs each year. Among different ethnicities, Hispanics are estimated to have the most rapid increase in osteoporosis burden by 2025.
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By donating to the Nutrition Research Institute, your money targets the root of most American disease. Our scientists focus on how our genes respond to food so that soon medical practitioners will be able to guide people in their health from childhood through old age. Our critical research depends on the generosity of people like you.
