Welcome to the first edition of "CCTS In Focus: Bionutrition," a monthly feature dedicated to exploring the vital role of nutrition in clinical research. In this inaugural article, we delve into the rich history and ongoing contributions of the CCTS Bionutrition Unit.

How it Started

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), the administrative home of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Partner Network, has a long tradition of research excellence and an unwavering commitment to cutting-edge scientific capacity. Responsive to emerging health challenges observed in the community and recognizing scientific opportunity, UAB was among the first academic health centers to establish resources to support nutrition-related investigation, including dietitians, a research kitchen, biostatistical and computing support, nursing staff and more. The metabolic kitchen provided nutritious meals for many research participants, with research dietitians identifying nutritional needs, contributing to the design of controlled diets and offering anthropometric services.

This innovative research ecosystem has enabled transformative research insights. For instance, Alvarez et al. (2010) examined the role of Vitamin D intake on insulin sensitivity among African American and European American women. This study partnered with the metabolic kitchen to provide two weeks of controlled diets, ensuring participants maintained consistent macronutrient intake and weight status during the study period. Similarly, St-Onge et al. (2009) studied the effects of low-fat and high-polyunsaturated fat diets on C-reactive protein levels, finding that individuals with higher baseline CRP concentrations might benefit from a moderate-fat, high-polyunsaturated diet. The research kitchen developed and provided three different diets varying in fat percentage and type for this research.

Today's Bionutrition Unit

Today, the CCTS Bionutrition Unit continues to offer a variety of capacities and expertise to investigators in nutrition-related research. Our dietitians assist in planning, designing, and implementing the nutritional components of research protocols, recruiting and screening research participants, and collecting and analyzing dietary intake data. The Metabolic Kitchen's research cooks are experts in preparing specially formulated research diets with precision and quality.

The impact of the Bionutrition Unit's support continues to be seen in numerous studies. For example, Li (2022) found that low-carb, high-protein diets might improve the metabolic profile of people living with spinal cord injury. Gupta (2023) demonstrated that low-sodium diets can improve baseline blood pressure in individuals with and without hypertension. Additionally, Mitchell (2019) showed that low-oxalate diets could reduce the frequency and severity of kidney stone formation.

The CCTS Bionutrition Unit aims to continue supporting research investigators in developing and implementing their dietary protocols, translating study results into evidence-based nutrition education to improve the health and well-being of patients and communities. Stay tuned for more insights and educational resources from the CCTS Bionutrition Unit in future features of "CCTS In Focus: Bionutrition" in the CCTS Digest. We look forward to supporting your research endeavors and promoting the importance of nutrition in health and disease prevention.