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Ketone bodies are produced in the liver from the acetyl CoA derived from fatty acids that cannot enter the Krebs cycle. This is a sub-analysis of a larger study which had numerous outcome markers. This analysis focuses on the relationship between ketone blood levels and cognition. The study looked at the relationship between Time Restricted Feeding (TRF), a method of intermittent fasting. TRF is something that can be easily adapted into an individual’s lifestyle and has been shown to have multiple advantages. This 8-week study began with 23 enrolled participants, but due to COVID-19 only 11 participants could be tested for cognition and blood ketone levels after week 4. All participants had similar ranges of weight, height, age, BMI, hip, and waist measurements at baseline. Moreover, these demographic variables were not related to ketone levels or cognition. The data indicate that ketone bodies increased in participants practicing TRF and that the increase in ketone bodies in the blood, specifically β-hydroxybutyrate was strongly correlated to increased cognitive function. This is consistent with theories that elevated ketone levels allowed for early hunter-gather communities and other mammals to survive prolonged periods of nutrient deprivation while keeping high cognitive function.
ContributorsTaha, Basel Mahmoud (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Karen, Sweazea (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Abstract Ambrofit is a company I founded in February 2014 whose overarching goal is to bridge the gap between science and supplements. This thesis project is as an extension of, and upgrade to, Ambrofit's work. The project begins with a brief discussion of the supplement industry, motivating the problem which myself and Ambrofit are trying to solve. It addresses the shortcomings of the industry, its regulatory history, and the causal factors which create the industry's environment. As the main part of the project, I design and execute a systematic, evidence-based nutritional product formulation process to create an scientifically sound ergogenic aid which can reliably accelerate training adaptations. The methodology starts with a round of exploratory research to discover potential ingredients then systematically analyzes each ingredient in multiple rounds of effectiveness and safety screenings until the final formula can be synthesized. Ergogenics were the focus of this project because Ambrofit's current product is an ergogenic aid, but I will apply this same process to formulate Ambrofit's whole product line in the future. The second arm of the project is a clinical study protocol design - an evidence-based product created from secondary research is a good start, but ultimately, the formula must be validated by direct research. The protocol describes an 8-week study with well-trained subjects which would either support or reject the formula's ability to accelerate anaerobic training adaptations. The project concludes with a discussion and application of Ambrofit's marketing. This part of the project was done with boots-on-the-ground; Ambrofit is already operating commercially, so I was able test marketing ideas live and evaluate their performance.
ContributorsRoper, Jacob William (Author) / Denning, Michael (Thesis director) / Johnston, Carol (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
According to the CDC, diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S. and rates are continuing to rise nationally and internationally. Chronically elevated blood glucose levels can lead to type 2 diabetes and other complications. Medications can be used to treat diabetes, but often have side effects. Lifestyle and diet modifications can be just as effective as medications in helping to improve glycemic control, and prevent diabetes or improve the condition in those who have it. Studies have demonstrated that consuming vinegar with carbohydrates can positively impact postprandial glycemia in diabetic and healthy individuals. Continuous vinegar intake with meals may even reduce fasting blood glucose levels. Since vinegar is a primary ingredient in mustard, the purpose of this study was to determine if mustard consumption with a carbohydrate-rich meal (bagel and fruit juice) had an effect on the postprandial blood glucose levels of subjects. The results showed that mustard improved glycemia by 17% when subjects consumed the meal with mustard as opposed to the control. A wide variety of vinegars exists. The defining ingredient in all vinegars is acetic acid, behind the improvement in glycemic response observed with vinegar ingestion. Vinegar-containing foods range from mustard, to vinaigrette dressings, to pickled foods. The benefits of vinegar ingestion with carbohydrates are dose-dependent, meaning that adding even small amounts to meals can help. Making a conscious effort to incorporate these foods into meals, in addition to an overall healthy lifestyle, could provide an additional tool for diabetics and nondiabetics alike to consume carbohydrates in a healthier manner.
ContributorsJimenez, Gabriela (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Lespron, Christy (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
Height is an essential measure for the evaluation of an adult's health, and especially important for the measure of children's health.4 Lasers have been popularly used in many areas such as construction, engineering, government for defense purposes, and for equestrians. Lasers are depended on for their accuracy, reliability, and ease of use.8, 9 It can be reasoned then that lasers should be a reliable way of measuring height, proving to be accurate and easy to use. Currently, stadiometers are the standard way of measuring height. For the study a laser tool was created to measure the volunteers' heights. Volunteers were recruited from a total of four various public sites in different cities. Participants were categorized into three groups, children (ages 2-12), adolescents (13-18), and adults (19+). A total of 128 participants were measured. Results showed a strong positive correlation between measurements of the stadiometer and the laser (figure 3). While there were limitations to this study, results show that a laser may be a validated tool to measure height accurately
ContributorsGarcia-Turner, Vanessa Marie (Author) / Mayol-Kreiser, Sandra (Thesis director) / Johnston, Carol (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
The purpose of this thesis is to create an informational book on gluten-free living. It is our hope that by the end of the book readers will have a better understanding that living with a gluten intolerance or auto-immune disorder does not control one's life. Someone just needs to put in a bit more planning and time in order to travel or eat out. The book goes into detail on every condition on the gluten-sensitivity spectrum. It also goes in-depth on medicines, recipes, and travel.
ContributorsSnodgrass, Allison (Co-author) / Snodgrass, Amanda (Co-author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Jacobs, Mark (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
The development of the Diabetic Physiological state is influenced by the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE). This receptor was discovered in 1992, and the accumulation of research on this subject has been extensive. Structural characterization studies of the RAGE protein have shown that it is a transmembrane protein that binds a number of different motile ligands. The diversity of ligands that can attach to the binding domain is the primary factor that allows for RAGE to exhibit its wide-range effects on host cells. Two different studies were completed: one study dealt with the role of IAPP in beta cell death, and the second study was related to RAGE influence on cardiomyocytes and, more specifically, it was related to cardiac cell death. After the completion of the two studies, a comprehensive report was written for each topic. The two papers were merged into a single document. Molecular studies are important for understanding the underlying mechanisms that motivate pathophysiological presentation. In addition to a molecular understanding of the development of diabetes, a clinical research study was completed through the examination of appropriate literature sources. This clinical aspect allowed for the progression of different phases in the research process. A relationship between vinegar and lower plasma glucose was found. The exact mechanism behind this relationship will be studied in the future.
ContributorsGonzalez, Matthew Joseph (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Collins, Michael (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
The objective of this randomized, single-blind crossover study was to examine the effect of vinegar on the blood glucose response to meal ingestion. This study was associated with a companion study Is Apple Cider Vinegar Effective for Reducing Heartburn Symptoms Related to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Glucose meters were utilized to measure blood glucose levels immediately prior to, and at four ½ hour intervals following meal ingestion. Previous studies have demonstrated that vinegar modulates the meal-time glucose response. Hence an alternative hypothesis was used: that a significant difference will be observed between the control and the vinegar groups. The results from the study were not significant likely due to a small sample size. The test meal eaten with a drink composed of vinegar diluted in water appeared to be most effective at decreasing the overall change in postprandial blood glucose. The vinegar drink also played a role in decreasing the peak glucose level at 30 minutes post-meal.
ContributorsPadgitt-Cobb, Lillian Katelyn (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Redding, Kevin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
Physical activity as a health or nutrition related intervention might stimulate appetite and increase hunger due to increased energy expenditure. This study analyzed the effect of a postprandial 15-minute walk on the hunger and energy intake of 10 obese, pre-diabetic adults. Subjects participated in three 4-hour trials: a walk treatment (consume highly glycemic meal, walk for 15 minutes at a moderate pace, and rest for 4 hours), a fiber treatment (consume highly glycemic meal enriched with soluble fiber and rest for 4 hours), and a control treatment (consume highly glycemic meal without fiber and rest for 4 hours). The effects of each treatment on hunger and energy intake were measured using a Likert scale analysis (ranging from "completely satisfied" to "extremely hungry") at 4 hours post-treatment and pre/ post 24-hour dietary logs. The results showed no significant increase or decrease on hunger or energy intake for both the walk and the fiber treatment compared to the control treatment. This denies the idea that physical activity might increase short-term hunger, and supports the use of physical activity as a viable nutrition related intervention tool.
ContributorsTerrell, Alayna Franci (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Vega Lopez, Sonia (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
With the rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes, novel treatments to help mitigate or prevent symptoms of these conditions are warranted. Prior studies have shown that fossilized plant materials found in soil lowers blood sugar in a mouse model of diabetes. The goal of this study is to determine whether a similar organometallic complex (OMC) could prevent insulin resistance in the skeletal muscle brought on by chronic high fat intake by examining the protein expression of key enzymes in the insulin signaling pathway and examining glucoregulatory measures. Six-week-old periadolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=42) were randomly chosen to be fed either a high fat diet (HFD) (20% protein, 20% carbohydrates [6.8% sucrose], 60% fat) or a standard chow diet (18.9% protein, 57.33% carbohydrates, 5% fat) for 10 weeks. Rats from each diet group were then randomly assigned to one of three doses of OMC (0, 0.6, 3.0 mg/mL), which was added to their drinking water and fasting blood glucose was measured at baseline and again at 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, rats were euthanized, and soleus muscle samples were isolated, snap-frozen, and stored at -80°C until analyses. Fasting plasma glucose was measured using a commercially available glucose oxidase kit. Following 6 and 10 weeks, HFD rats developed significant hyperglycemia (p<0.001 and p=0.025) compared to chow controls which was prevented by high dose OMC (p=0.021). After 10 weeks, there were significant differences in fasting serum insulin between diets (p=0.009) where levels were higher in HFD rats. No significant difference was seen in p-PI3K expression between groups. These results suggest that OMC could prevent insulin resistance by reducing hyperglycemia. Further studies are needed to characterize the effects of diet and OMC on the insulin signaling pathway in skeletal muscle, the main site of postprandial glucose disposal. This study was supported by a grant from Isagenix International LLC as well as funds from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University, Tempe Campus.
ContributorsStarr, Ashlee (Author) / Sweazea, Karen (Thesis director) / Johnston, Carol (Committee member) / Hyatt, JP (Committee member) / Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
The purpose of this cookbook was to provide students that live in the Barrett dorms with easily accessible nutritious meals that prevent total reliance on the dorm's dining hall throughout the year. Limitations of this research included staying within budget, the availability of near-by grocery stores, meal preparation time, and the types of appliances which can be used in dorms. While living in dorms many students may find that dining halls have a large variety of food offerings that are consistently available. Although there are many options, they are not necessarily the healthiest choices. In addition to health these options rarely change. For safety reasons students are limited to dorm room appliance options that include a mini-fridge and a microwave. There is not a lot of cooking you can do with just a microwave, but with the proper knowledge it is surprisingly enough to make a great meal. In addition to appliances students can utilize cutting boards, plates, and plastic utensils, but if students are not educated about cooking diverse meals it is easy to venture toward unhealthy meal choices. Attending college can be costly. Expenses of tuition, books, supplies and living fees can add up quickly. Students are always in need of healthy meal options that are also healthy for their bank accounts. This cookbook contains affordable, healthy, and quick to make recipes. Virtually everyone who has ever been a student usually has a weekly/monthly budgetary amount to spend and cooking their own meals in the dorms will turn out to be much cheaper alternative to having dining hall meals every day. It was interesting to create a week full of meal preps for breakfast, lunch and dinner- including snacks with various alternatives. Not every student has a vehicle in which they can get necessary ingredients for cooking; Therefore, this cookbook has a grocery store map that includes address and store hours to aid students in choosing closer more convenient locations. In college, the journey to a healthy lifestyle is not easy. There are many ways to keep on track and follow the routine which works for both the body and the mind. Following the easy recipes within this cook book will minimize the risk of freshman 15 weight gain and decrease the time spent on both cooking and coming up with healthy meal ideas. These meals are uncomplicated, affordable, and take little to no effort. Barrett CookBook for Dorms main mission was to provide students with a foundation for a nutritional, flexible, and stress-free dining environment without the added stress of constantly thinking about what goes into their bodies.
ContributorsCherkaskykh, Alisa A. (Author) / Grgich, Traci (Thesis director) / Johnston, Carol (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05