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Research Interests
Dr. Nielsen has been studying factors affecting the needs for essential nutrients involved in bone health, cardiovascular function, and neuropsychological function. He is transitioning to a research focus on the effects of inflammatory stress on iron, magnesium and zinc metabolism, with the aim of determining the influences on inflammatory processes related to bone health of dietary factors affecting the metabolism of these nutrients.
Dr. Nielsen is currently conducting research to determine whether a low dietary intake of zinc is a stressor of oxidative metabolism involving copper sufficient to increase the risk of cardiovascular dysfunction. He is also determining whether low dietary intakes of magnesium impair neurologic function/development in ways that are influenced by dietary fatty acid source. This involves the tracking of effects on release of pro-inflammatory neuropeptide release and prostaglandins, and determining changes in brain fatty acid metabolism that impair eye and brain development and altered behavior. Dr. Nielsen also is determining whether improved magnesium status can affect sleep behavior in older adults.
Dr. Nielsen's future research will address the effects of dietary omega-3 fatty acids on oxidative and inflammatory stress detrimental to bone health induced by sub-clinical magnesium deficiency, and the effects of sub-clinical deficiencies of magnesium and zinc increase inflammatory stress inducing detrimental to cardiovascular and bone health.
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Research Accomplishments
Senior member of the team that produced evidence that boron is an essential nutrient for higher animals. Found that inadequate boron exacerbates bone changes induced by low dietary cholecalciferol. Subsequently, showed that boron enhances the effects of omega-3 fatty acids which have been found beneficial for bone formation, turnover and strength, and for eye and brain development.
Produced the first evidence showing that boron is bioactive element that has beneficial, possibly essential, actions in humans. Found that supplementation of a low boron diet with an amount of boron commonly found in diets high in fruits and vegetables improved cognitive and psychomotor functions, modified calcium and magnesium metabolism, and enhanced and mimicked some of the effects of estrogen therapy.
Produced the first evidence suggesting that nickel has an essential function in higher animals. Found that nickel deprivation affects the response of the rat to deficient intakes of vitamin B12 that can affect central nervous system function. Subsequently found that nickel possibly is involved in a cyclic nucleotide gated channel function that affects vision, olfaction and taste. Also found that nickel deprivation can increase blood pressure and exacerbates the response of rats to a high salt intake.
Led the research effort showing for the first time that experimentally significant effects other than decreased urinary magnesium excretion occur in healthy humans consuming relevantly low magnesium. Magnesium deprivation caused electroencephalogram changes indicative of central nervous system hyperexcitability, heart rhythm abnormalities, and energy inefficiency during controlled exercise.
Led the research team that was first to show that low dietary zinc is of more concern than a moderately high intake of zinc for cardiovascular health when dietary copper is low. A combined moderate zinc deficiency and marginal copper intake induced heart rhythm abnormalities, increased serum cholesterol, and induced changes in oxidative metabolism markers indicating increased oxidative stress in postmenopausal women.
Led the research effort that showed silicon enhances wound healing and confirmed that silicon is involved in collagen metabolism. Found that silicon affects mainly trabecular bone turnover and structure, apparently through affecting collagen and cytokine metabolism.
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