Dorothy J. Klimis-Zacas

Degree: Ph. D. 1982, Pennsylvania State University

Professional Interests: Nutritional Physiology and Biochemistry, Nutrition and Vascular Function and Metabolism, Berry bioactives and their role on chronic disease (Cardiovascular, Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome)

Teaching: FSN 101 Introduction to Food Science and Nutrition (on-line, Summer), FSN 420 Medical Nutrition Therapy II, FSN 510, Trace Mineral Nutrition and Metabolism, FSN 584, Lipids, Diet and Cardiovascular Disease

Research: Recent research in my laboratory targets the areas below, in an attempt to unravel mechanisms of bioactive compounds in berries in attenuating oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, the cause of several chronic diseases.

VASCULAR NUTRITION-NUTRITIONAL PHYSIOLOGY.  Role and mechanism of action of functional foods and food bioactives on vasomotor function and aortic glycosaminoglycan structure and metabolism as related to Cardiovascular Disase, Hypertension, Obesity-induced inflammation and the Metabolic Syndrome  with the use of biosensors

NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY-NUTRIGENOMICS.  Berry bioactives and their mechanism of action on systemic and local inflammation and gene expression related to the Metabolic Syndrome Role of anthocyanins and phenolics on cell migration, signaling, angiogenesis and vascular remodeling related to Cardiovascular Disease and Atherosclerosis.

CLINICAL NUTRITION.  Human interventions to study the role of food bioactives on Cardiovascular Disease, attenuation of oxidative stress, endothelial function, DNA protection and repair and alterations of gut microbiota.

Recent Publications:

Del Bo’, C.; Porrini, M.; Campolo, J.; Parolini, M.; Lanti, C.; Klimis-Zacas, D.; Riso, P. 2016. A single blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) portion does not affect markers of antioxidant defense and oxidative stress in healthy volunteers following cigarette smoking. Mutagenesis 31:215-214.

Vendrame, S.; Zhao, A.; Merrow, T. Klimis-Zacas, D. 2015. The effects of wild blueberry consumption on plasma markers and gene expression related to glucose metabolism in the obese Zucker rat. J. Med. Food. 18:619-624.

Taverniti, V.; Fracassetti, D.; Del Bo’, C.; Lanti, C.; Minuzzo, M.; Klimis-Zacas, D.; Riso, P.; Guglielmetti, S. 2014. Immunomodulatory effect of a wild blueberry anthocyanin-rich extract in human caco-2 intestinal cells. J. Agric. Food Chem. 62:8364-8351.

Vendrame, S; Kristo, A.S.; Schuschke, D.A.; Klimis-Zacas, D. 2014. Wild blueberry consumption affects aortic vascular function in the obese Zucker rat. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 39:255-261.

Vendrame, S; Daugherty, A.; Kristo, A.S.; Klimis-Zacas, D. 2014. Wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)-enriched diet improves dyslipidaemia and modulates the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in obese Zucker rats. Br. J. Nutr. 111:194-200.