Research Projects

Dietary Nitrates & the Enterosalivary Pathway

Similar to the gut microbiota, the oral cavity has a diverse array of bacteria that give rise to the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide (NO) enterosalivary pathway. This pathway results in systemic generation of the vasodilatory molecule NO from dietary nitrate, a bioactive compound found most commonly in green, leafy vegetables. As such, the enterosalivary pathway is vital to blood pressure regulation and overall cardiovascular health. Acknowledging that typical dietary patterns are deficient in nitrates, this study aims to optimize a common oral hygiene product for delivering nitrates and antioxidants to support the enterosalivary pathway for oral and vascular health.
  • Funding for this mentored graduate research proposal was awarded to Katelyn E. Senkus, MS and the Crowe-White Redox Lab by the Colgate-Palmolive Company and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.

Carotenoid Research: Lycopene

Lycopene is a potent lipophilic antioxidant with singlet oxygen quenching abilities. As such, this carotenoid may mitigate excess levels of oxidative stress and disrupt the ensuing dysfunction of an excessive energy burden. Recent studies:
  • Obesity's Influence on Lycopene Bioavailability -  Through investigation of lycopene deposition, as well as redox balance, within adipose tissue (AT), this study advances the current understanding of AT biology and carotenoid supplementation. 
  • Lycopene and Adaptive Thermogenesis - Although it is known that certain carotenoids influence brown adipose tissue development, lycopene's ability to metabolically activate adaptive thermogenesis has yet to be evaluated. The purpose of this study is to assess AT development and metabolic profiles of Sprague-Dawley offspring from mothers fed normal and high fat diets supplemented with lycopene during the suckling and post-weaning periods.