Project Number: 1235-51530-008-07
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 15, 2002
End Date: Sep 14, 2007

Objective:
To investigate the role of nutrients in human health, to determine their bioavailability from foods and mixed diets, to investigate their biological activity, and to examine their effects on risk factors for chronic, degenerative diseases. To validate survey instruments used in estimating dietary intake in the U.S. in investigations such as NHANES.

Approach:
Diets designed to contain known amounts of essential and non-essential nutrients or foods such as vegetables high in specific phytonutrients, will be fed to human volunteers under controlled conditions of dietary intake, so that their effects on blood lipids, blood pressure, plasma constituents, urinary and fecal excretion, and measures of biological activity may be determined. Emphasis will be on determining role of nutrients and foods high in specific nutrients in maintaining health of adults through reduction of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other degenerative diseases in adults. In order to make recommendations for improving diets in the U.S., it is essential to monitor nutrient intake in a reliable manner. Dietary recall instruments used in estimating nutrient intake will be validated by comparing energy intake from foods reported with that determined by research techniques such as doubly labeled water.