Focus on Nutrition and Nutrition Science

Latest Episodes:

Incorporating Nutrition Into Clinical Practice Apr 24, 2009

Show notes

Host: Amy Hendel, R-PA
Guest: Ruth Frechman, MA, RD

Poor nutrition and lifestyle habits are common drivers of chronic health problems such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. What do physicians and other healthcare providers need to know about providing effective lifestyle changes for their patients, as well as for themselves? Host Amy Hendel speaks with Ruth Frechman, a registered dietician and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, about how to navigate today's nutritional landscape in clinical practice.

A Closer Look at the Health Claims Behind Berries Mar 18, 2009

Show notes

Host: Cathleen Margolin, PhD
Guest: Gary Stoner, PhD

Reports on the medicinal properties of foods are often of interest to the general public, with the hope of finding or maintaining better health through proper nutrition. For many years, the relationship between the consumption of berries and cancer prevention has been studied in lab animals, with results from these scientific studies interpreted for their potential applications in daily life. What does current research tell us about the potency of raspberries, blueberries and other berries toward preventing cancer and can we yet issue any practical indications for humans? Dr. Gary Stoner, professor emeritus in the division of hematology and oncology within the department of internal medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, joins host Dr. Cathleen Margolin to help us provide clear guidance to our patients who inquire about the nutritional value of these fruits.

Ketogenic Diet for Refractory Epilepsy: Beyond Anecdotes Mar 02, 2009

Show notes

Guest: Douglas Nordli, MD
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP

The ketogenic diet has been used as a therapy for refractory epilepsy in children since the 1920's. It was only recently, however, that a randomized, controlled study confirmed it to be effective in reducing seizures. Is there a role for the ketogenic diet as first-line therapy for epilepsy? Which patients stand to benefit the most from this diet, and what are some of its potential adverse effects? Dr. Douglas Nordli, associate professor of neurology and pediatrics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, and the Lorna S. and James P. Langdon Chair of Pediatric Epilepsy, offers details on this trial and explores mechanisms through which we may generate more timely results in our research for patients with epilepsy. Dr. Jennifer Shu hosts.

Treating Obese Women Feb 27, 2009

Show notes

Guest: Emily Merrill, PhD, RN
Host: Lisa Mazzullo, MD

Imagine going into a doctor's office, putting on a gown and finding that it won't wrap around your body. Or, having your blood pressure taken when the cuff doesn't fit around your arm. These are just a few of the problems obese women deal with as medical patients. Dr. Emily Merrill, department chair for nurse practitioner studies at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, discusses with host Dr. Lisa Mazzullo the challenges, stigmas and frustrations associated with treating obese women. They also discuss the attitudes and perceptions of doctors, medical students and nurses when it comes to treating overweight women.

Could Grapes Replace Blood Pressure Medication? Dec 09, 2008

Show notes

Host: Matthew J. Sorrentino, MD, FACC, FASH
Guest: Steven F. Bolling, MD

Grapes and other fruits high in phytochemicals, such as flavanols, are thought to have a protective effect on blood pressure and cardiac function. Dr. Steven Bolling, director of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Center at the University of Michigan School of Medicine in Ann Arbor, describes his research in a hypertensive animal model that indicated that the addition of grape extract lowered blood pressure, improved cardiac function and reduced inflammation at a dose that would equal the intake of a handful of grapes per day. Hosted by Dr. Matthew Sorrentino.

Addressing the Rise in Pediatric Kidney Stones Dec 01, 2008

Show notes

Guest: Bruce Slaughenhoupt, MD
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP

Once considered to be a problem of adulthood, kidney stones are being more regularly documented in children as young as age five. What factors are responsible for the increasing prevalence of this condition, and what can we do to reverse this emerging pattern of childhood kidney stones? Dr. Bruce Slaughenhoupt, assistant professor of urology and co-director of the pediatric kidney stone clinic at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, evaluates the clinical implications of this trend with host Dr. Jennifer Shu.

A Family Practice Perspective on Nutrition for Diabetics Nov 05, 2008

Show notes

Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Guest: Jill Grimes, MD

Primary care physicians have an active role in the care of diabetes, from optimizing medical treatment and coordinating care with specialists, to providing basic guidance on nutrition. Why should nutrition be a high priority for this chronic disease, and how can we counsel our patients with diabetes on the importance of nutrition? Dr. Jill Grimes, a practicing board-certified family physician in Austin, Texas, and an associate editor for the 5-Minute Clinical Consult textbook, shares tips on the best ways to get an accurate nutrition history from our patients and on the optimal time to refer them to a registered dietitian. Dr. Jennifer Shu hosts.

Bariatric Surgery and a Baby on Board? Oct 24, 2008

Show notes

Host: Lauren Streicher, MD
Guest: Coleen Kelly, MD

More than 150,000 obese American people undergo bariatric surgery annually. Many of these patients are women who will become pregnant. Dr. Colleen Kelly, a gastroenterologist at Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, joins host Dr. Lauren Streicher to discuss this growing patient population. The two discuss which surgical option is best for a woman who wants to conceive, along with nutritional guidlines, complications, and of course the health of the baby.

Adding a Ketogenic Diet to Chemo: Improved Outcomes? Sep 24, 2008

Show notes

Guest: Thomas Seyfried, PhD
Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD

Brain tumors are a near-certain death sentence, and the treatment process is notoriously arduous and unrelenting. Yet there is evidence to suggest that there may be a way for us to alleviate some of the pain and other treatment-related symptoms for patients. Dr. Thomas Seyfried, professor of biology at Boston College and associate editor of the journal Nutrition and Metabolism, joins host Dr. Bruce Bloom to explore the possibility of combining chemotherapy with a calorie-restricted ketogenic diet, as a means to extend and improve the lives of brain cancer patients.

Ketogenic Diets: An Effective Therapy for Brain Cancer? Sep 24, 2008

Show notes

Guest: Thomas Seyfried, PhD
Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD

Caloric restricted ketogenic diets have become a standard of care in epilepsy. Join host Dr. Bruce Bloom and his guest, Dr. Thomas Seyfried, professor of biology at Boston College and associate editor of the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, as they talk about the lab and mouse research that is pointing to caloric restricted ketogenic diets for brain cancer therapy.