Bionutrition Services
Understanding nutrition and nutrient metabolism is vital to many types of research protocols. The CRC staff and facilities support a wide range of nutrition-related research needs. Available services range from simple, convenient food service for study subjects to expert planning, implementation and monitoring complex metabolic balance studies.
The CRC uses computerized nutrient analysis to both evaluate subjects’ nutrient intake and to plan study diets that meet exact specifications. The center offers a variety of measurement techniques to asses the nutritional status, estimate the nutritional needs, or evaluate the dietary habits of study participants. The CRC maintains a fully equipped metabolic kitchen, dedicated to the preparation, storage, and dispensing of precision study meals.
The Bionutrition Unit’s professional staff consists of Jennifer Kilkus, RD, LDN, Bionutrition Research Manager; and three full-time registered diet technicians: Gayle Averyheart, Rosemary Burson, and Rowena Marks. The Bionutrition Unit assists investigators in planning and conducting the nutritional components of protocols, including literature review, protocol writing, data collection and organization, and reporting results.
Protocol Consultation Services
- Assist with study design, protocol development and implementation
- Assist with grant and manuscript preparation of nutrition-related studies
- Literature reviews related to nutrition methodologies
- Design various types of metabolic/controlled-nutrient research diets
- Assist with selection of appropriate methods of data collection and develop data collection forms
Metabolic Kitchen Services
- General hospital meals for inpatients
- General meals for outpatients prepared by the metabolic kitchen
- Calculated and weighed research meals using standard foods (e.g. 30 kcals/kg with 50% CHO, 35% fat and 15% protein) or modified standard foods (e.g. brownies baked with added drug/placebo)
- Weighed research ad lib buffet meals using standard foods (e.g. 3 double-portion entrees, 2 desserts, etc.)
- Calculated and weighed research diets using standard (e.g. 6 g Ensure/kg for use in glucose tolerance test) or modified commercial enteral formulas (e.g. 1200 kcals Glucerna/day with 20 g added protein)
- Calculated and weighed research diets using elemental nutrients (e.g. amino acid beverage with/without tryptophan)
- Recipe development and/or modification
- Monitoring and/or control of fluid intake
- Nutrient controlled weighed diets are specially prepared to promote consistency and accuracy
- Collection and analysis of dietary intake for weighed meals provided by the metabolic kitchen (calculation and analysis of nutrients must be specified)
- Meal aliquot preparation and analysis (analysis is conducted by outside lab)
- Meals can be served at specified times, if requested
Diet History Data Collection and Analysis
- 24-hour dietary recalls (in person or via phone)
- Food records/diaries
- Food Frequency Questionnaires (general or nutrient-specific)
- Computerized analysis and interpretation of diet history data using ESHA Food Processor
Clinical and Anthropometric Measurements
- Height and weight
- Body mass index
- Circumference measurements (waist, hip, neck, arm, etc.)
- Skinfold measurements
- Hand grip strength
- Bio-electrical impedance (non-invasive method of determining total body fat, total body water, fat mass and fat free mass using the Quantum X by RJL Systems)
Indirect Calorimetry
- Resting energy expenditure using the Sensormedics Vmax Encore Metabolic Cart (this is best measured doing a 45-minute fasting measurement)
- Assess the thermic effect of food using a controlled-nutrient diet
- Determine substrate utilization in conjunction with urinary nitrogen measurements
Diet Education and Counseling
- Provide instruction for research diets
- Protocol-specific nutrition education on diet compliance
- Individual and group nutrition education for long-term nutritional health and lifestyle change
- Development of nutrition education materials
The Bionutrition Research Manager is available to educate and counsel study participants on nutrition-related matters. For more information, you may reach the Bionutrition Research Manager at 773-702-3012 or jkilkus@bsd.uchicago.edu.