Office: 430 West Health Sciences Drive
University of California
Davis, CA 95616
Phone: (530) 754-5844
E-mail: dustin.burnett@ars.usda.gov
Our mission is to support the Western Human Nutrition Research Center scientists and investigators in their efforts to improve the health of all Americans by providing essential food production resources that are needed to conduct both well-controlled human feeding and dietary behavioral counseling studies
Our vision is to be recognized as an indispensable research support service that efficiently provides the feeding component to both well-controlled human feeding and dietary behavioral counseling studies
A core support service at the USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center (WHNRC) is the Metabolic Kitchen and Human Feeding Lab (MK&HFL). Together with leading scientists and investigators, the MK&HFL staff collaborates, designs, produces, delivers, and monitors well-controlled feeding and dietary behavioral counseling studies. In 2008 we provided 12,592 meals to study participants, and are projecting a similar number for 2009. Our current labor force includes 9 staff, 1 graduate intern, 19 undergraduate interns, and 6 volunteers.
In well-controlled feeding studies, participants are expected to eat only the nutrient-controlled foods and meals that are accurately and precisely produced in the Metabolic Kitchen. Well-controlled feeding studies enable scientists to determine true biological effects of dietary intervention on a metabolic gamut of risk factors and health consequences. (Most et al, 2003) pub
Conversely, in dietary behavioral counseling studies, participants are expected to self-select foods using dietary counseling and established guidelines. Behavioral counseling studies enable scientists to understand the efficacy of dietary interventions in a “free living” environment. (Most et al, 2003)
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Key functions of the MK&HFL include the following:
· Design, produce, deliver, and monitor nutrient-controlled meals for human feeding studies
· Counsel and educate individual participants and groups on the dietary requirements of studies
· Supply pre- and post-procedure meals and snacks
· Provide a controlled environment for feeding study participants
· Monitor, document, and counsel to maximize dietary adherence
· Observe on-site participant feedings through camera surveillance
· Accommodate food preferences of participants within study constraints
· Supply free-living participants with foods packed “to go”
· Collect, code, and summarize nutrient intake data |
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