Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Research Project: Mineral Intakes for Optimal Bone Development and Health

Location: Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Project Number: 5450-51000-039-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Aug 01, 2005
End Date: Jul 30, 2010

Objective:
Enhance the quality of life through establishing mineral intakes that support optimal bone health. Specifically, determine the amount of dietary calcium needed to maximize calcium retention and minimize bone resorption in postmenopausal women; determine the extent to which dietary protein, specific mineral elements (zinc, copper, magnesium, and boron) and prebiotics (inulin) interact with dietary calcium to affect bone metabolism.

Approach:
Studies will utilize human subjects and animal models. Human studies will use the Mobile Nutrition Research Laboratory, the in-house Community Studies Unit, and the Metabolic Research Unit to conduct epidemiological supplementation, fortification, and controlled feeding experiments, respectively. In each case, subjects will be fed diets containing marginal to high amounts of mineral elements to determine how specific minerals, and interactions among them, affect bone structure (as determined by light microscopy, biomechanical assessment, and densiotometry) and biomarkers [urinary deoxypyridinoline, hemoglobin A1c, and C-reactive protein]). When relevant, the modifying influence of selected hormonal (e.g., estrogen deficiency) or diet compositional (e.g., inulin) factors will be examined.

   

 
Project Team
Cao, Jay
Nielsen, Forrest - Frosty
Combs, Gerald - Jerry
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Human Nutrition (107)
 
 
Last Modified: 01/23/2010
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House