Nutrition Core

The Nutrition Core is overseen by Technical Director, Colleen Tewksbury, PhD, MPH, RD, CSOWM, LDN.  Services provided by the Nutrition Core include:

Energy Expenditure 

• Indirect Calorimetry
  • Resting Energy Expenditure (REE, Fasting with inpatient admission to CHPS)
  • ParvoMedics Canopy and Hood (REE, Fasting)

Body Composition 

• Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)
• Basic Measurements (Height/weight)
• Circumferences (waist/hip)

Bone Health Assessment 

• Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA)
  • Scan Model: Hologic Horizon A; Weight limit: 500 lbs; Length: 77 in 
  • Whole Body Bone Density and Body Composition (including VAT)
  • AP Lumbar Spine
  • Dual Hips

Protocol Consultation 

Develop methodologies for research protocols including:

• Metabolic/controlled nutrient diet plans
• Monitoring plans during a controlled diet
• Food frequency questionnaires, food records, and nutrition data collection forms
• Special meals designed by protocol parameters
• Designed meals to send home with participants
• Duplicate, weighed meals for nutrient balance studies

Protocol-Specific Nutrition Education

We can provide customized nutritional counselling interventions for inpatient and outpatient research protocols.

Training

We can provide family and study participant training on proper methods for weighing and measuring food items for food recalls/records.

Calculated Research Meals for Controlled Studies 

The metabolic kitchen can provide numerous services including:

• Recipe development and modification
• Food product design and production for study interventions
• Calculation and serving of special research diets, including constant diets and regulated fluid intake

Dietary Intake Data Collection

• Telephone-based Food Recalls
• Food Records
• Food Frequency Questionnaires
• Participant Training for Food Intake Survey Data Collection

Nutrition Software for Meal and Diet Analysis 

• Nutrition Data Systems for Research - Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) is a Windows-based dietary analysis program designed for the collection and analyses of 24-hour dietary recalls, food records, menus, and recipes. Calculation of nutrients occurs immediately providing data per ingredient, food, meal, and day in report and analysis file formats. The software includes a dietary supplement assessment module so that nutrient intake from both food and supplemental sources may be captured and quantified.

Technical Director: Dietary Assessment Unit

Colleen Tewksbury, PhD, MPH, RD, CSOWM, LDN
215-746-5729
CTewks@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Lisa Basel Brown, MS, RD, LDN
215-662-7824
lisa@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Cheryl Milhoan, MS, RD
215-662-3180
cherylm2@upenn.edu

Metabolic Kitchen

215-662-2682
Nipsey Mitchell
Meghann Crouch