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Janet King
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USDA Beltsville Area Distinquished Lecture Series

"Early Development and Long-Term Health"

Janet King

 

Dr. Janet King

Professor of Nutrition and Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis; Professor of Nutrition, University of California, Berkeley; and Scientist, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI)

Building 003 Auditorium
March 20, 2006
10:30 AM



Dr. King's research focuses on metabolic adjustments to changes in nutrient intakes in humans; she is especially interested in metabolism and nutrient utilization of pregnant and lactating women. Nutrients of interest include zinc, calcium, and energy.

Dr. King has discovered that:

  • Increased needs for zinc and calcium during pregnancy are met, in part, by an increase in the efficiency of absorption
  • Individuals adapt to low intakes of zinc by increasing the efficiency of zinc absorption, reducing zinc excretion, and conserving tissue zinc in slowing turning over tissues such as the bone and muscle.
  • Excessive fat stores in women at conception alters hormonal concentrations and raises the rates of energy expenditure at rest.

To accomplish her studies of zinc metabolism, Dr. King developed tracer methods using kinetic models and stable (not radioactive) isotopes, which are now used world-wide. She employs similar techniques to study calcium, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism.