Bionutrition

Facilities
A state-of-the-art metabolic kitchen is being built on JT15 with a projected opening date of early 2010.  Temporary food preparation facilities on 9 MEB and 15JT are being utilized until that time.

A multi-purpose conference room is available for nutritional studies that require on-site feeding.

Equipment
--Tanita body composition analyzer TBF-310 and BC-418
--Scaletronic digital scale – weighs to 500 pounds
--Biodynamics BIA 310e – bioimpedance analyzer
--Stadiometer – electronic height
--Lange calipers - skinfolds
--Metler balances - weighs food in grams
--Metabolic cart – used by nurses to measure RMR

Software - Nutrient Data System for Research (NDS-R) license for 8 copies

Services
The Bionutrition Core of the PCIR offers a variety of services to investigators with approved protocols. Currently, almost half of active protocols have nutrition components.  The Director of Bionutrition Research, Betty Darnell, is available to assist with planning and designing the nutritional components of research protocols and can assist with implementing the protocol, recruitment/screening of research participants, and data collection and analysis of dietary intake.  Ms. Darnell is a registered dietitian who has been with the GCRC/PCIR for 32 years.  Suzanne Choquette, PCIR Research Dietitian, and three nutrition PhD graduate students (who are also registered dietitians) are available to assist investigators with their protocols.

The Metabolic Kitchen provides specially designed meals for participants on both inpatient and outpatient studies to meet protocol requirements.  There are four research cooks and one diet technician on staff with 50 years of combined experience.  They are trained in preparing research meals for participants.  A Metabolic Kitchen is under construction on JT 15.  During this time, the Kitchen on 9 MEB is being used, along with space on JT 15 for food storage and serving participants. 

Services offered by Bionutrition:
Research Protocol – Consultation for Design, Development, and Implementation
--Consult on initial study design of nutrition portion of research protocol
--Determine role of PCIR Bionutrition and assist with study start-up
--Assist with participant recruitment and retention
--Develop nutrition data collection forms and provide data for investigator’s database
--Assist with data collection
--Assist with data analysis and interpretation
--Assist with manuscript preparation

Controlled Feeding Studies/Monitoring Participants on Controlled Diets
--Determine calorie level and calculate research diet for participant
--Provide research menus and meals for participants as required by protocol
--Meet regularly with participant to ensure compliance with research diet
--Obtain data from participants as required by protocol, e.g., anthropometrics, food records
--Provide feedback to participants

Nutrition Education
--Provide nutrition education to participants on research studies as requested and needed by study. This includes, but is not limited to, information about the protocol diet, help with a particular diet prescription, and encouragement to maintain the research diet.
--Offer individual or group counseling for nutrition education

Body Composition Measurements
--Anthropometric Measurements:
   --- Standardized height with digital stadiometer 
   --- Standardized body weight on electronic scale 
   --- Skinfold thickness with Lange calipers 
   --- Body circumferences at different locations on the body and waist-to-hip ratio
--Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA) – a body composition testing that is low-cost and uses Tanita Body Composition Analyzer TBF-310.  Results include body mass index (BMI), baseline metabolic rate (BMR), fat mass, fat free mass (FFM), total body water (TBW), percent body fat, and impedance.

Energy Expenditure Measurements
--Metabolic Cart - used to measure resting metabolic rate (RMR) which includes oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production.  Test is performed by research nurses after the participant rests.

Nutrient Intake Data
The Minnesota Nutrition Data System for Research (NDS-R) software program is used to obtain nutritional analysis of research participant’s food intake records, recalls, and weighed food intakes.
--Food Recalls – 24-hour recalls in person or by phone
--Food Records – 3 or 4 day food records of foods eaten at home
--Weighed Food Intake – exact intake can be measured by weighing food before it is served and then by weighing any leftovers

Currently, the PCIR holds the license for eight copies of NDS-R. Investigators who wish to have their own copy can obtain one through the PCIR license.

Calculated Research Meals for Feeding Studies
Diets can be designed to meet specific criteria required by protocol. Examples of research diets available:
--Timed meals or food
--Calorie modification – low calorie such as 800 kcals/day
--Weight maintenance – calorie needs calculated using basal energy expenditure (BEE)
--Lipid modification
--Low Sodium (e.g, 9 mEq)
--Low glycemic, high glycemic
--Modifications of micronutrients
--Others that have been designed specifically to meet protocol requirements

Meal Services for Other Research Participants
--Regular meals – provided for a research participant who is here for extended time
--Breakfast and snacks - provided for a research participant who came fasting for a study procedure

Things to consider when developing the nutrition components for a new protocol:
--Type of diet (regular, therapeutic, controlled nutrient(s), research specific)
--Number of subjects on diet
--Number of subjects that will be fed at one time
--How long the participant will be on the diet?
--Are outpatient meals required?
--Does the research diet need to be specially designed to meet protocol needs?
--Do you need nutrition education for the participant?
--Do you need analysis of research participants’ food intakes?
--Do you need anthropometric measurements for the participants?

For further information please contact:
Betty Darnell, MS, RD, LD, FADA
PCIR Bionutrition Research Director
bdarnell@uab.edu or 975-8972