Clinical Research Dietitians are available to consult with intramural investigators regarding the planning, design, and implementation of nutrition-related components of proposed research protocols. Dietitians recommend optimal methodologies to assure valid and reliable data and can assist with data collection, analysis, interpretation, and manuscript preparation. Dietitians advise on the benefit and appropriateness of adding nutrition services to existing research protocols.
Nutrition Research Services that are provided for use in research protocols:
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Controlled Nutrient Diets and Test Meals
Controlled nutrient diets and test meals are provided using controlled preparation techniques and precision weighing. These research diets may be used for the investigation of human metabolism, to control for diet variability, or to determine taste preferences and appetite changes. Calculation of diet composition and actual patient intake can be made available as part of the research service. -
Body Composition Analysis
Changes in body composition as related to disease progression, treatment course, or as a predictor of outcome are commonly assessed in studies of child health, obesity, cardiac disease, HIV, and cancer. Procedures offered by the nutrition research team include bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), anthropometric measurements, including circumferences and skinfold measurements. -
Dietary Intake Assessment
Estimation of dietary intake in subjects is used to quantify typical or acute intake of specific nutrients. Food records, recalls, and questionnaires are used to assess intakes of energy, macronutrients, calcium, fatty acids, isoflavones and other nutrients. -
Nutrition Counseling
Nutrition research staff provides standardized nutrition education and individual or group counseling based on research protocol goals.