• Consultation on initial study design and writing of nutrition component of proposals and/or scientific papers
• Identification of metabolic and clinical resources
• Continual evaluation of protocols as research team member
• Development of nutrition data collection forms and preparation of data for inclusion in investigator's database

The body composition laboratory is happy to assist you with the following:

Body Composition Measurements

• Anthropometric Measurements – which includes weight, height, skin-folds, and circumferences.
• Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) – measures bone density and determines body fat and fat-free masses and appendicular muscle.
• Hydrostatic Weighing - determines body composition by weighing subjects underwater and measuring pulmonary residual volume by nitrogen dilution. This methodology is available through collaboration with the Vanderbilt Kim Dayani Center.
• Bod Pod - measures body composition using an air displacement method. Based on the same principles as hydrostatic weighing, this technique is superior because it requires less time to complete an assessment (approximately 10 minutes) and it does not require submerging the participant under water.
• Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) - provides an easy, low-cost alternative for body composition testing suitable for large-sample population studies.

• Whole Room Indirect Calorimeter - is an airtight environmental room utilized to assess 24-hour energy expenditure. This room provides facilities for daily living and bridges the difference between laboratory and free-living environments. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) are calculated by measuring the changes of oxygen and carbon dioxide contents of the air inside the room calorimeter and by the flow rate of the purged air multiplied by its concentration of gases. Our whole room indirect calorimeter can consistently achieve the highest accuracy and fastest response time reported by similar room calorimeters.
• Metabolic Cart – a mobile unit that measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. This equipment utilizes a mouthpiece and a noseclip to capture the patient’s air for analyses.
• Activity Monitors – (Tri-Trac accelerometer, Actiwatch accelerometer, and Polar heart rate watch) utilized in the free-living environment to determine energy expenditure and physical activity. Activity monitors can be used in conjunction with the whole room indirect calorimeter for the most accurate results available.

• Metabolic and Controlled Nutrient Diets limiting one or more nutrients
• Regular and Therapeutic Diets
• Subject Screening and Research Diet Instructions
• Measurement of nutrient intake using Food Records/Food Diary, 24-hour recall, and Food Frequency Questionnaires
• Diet Analysis and data management with NDS-R
• Inpatient Guest Tray Policy
• Outpatient Meal Policy

• Screening for Nutrition Risk
• Nutritional Assessment and Documentation
• Nutrition Care Planning and Implementation
• Patient Education
• Nutrient Intake Analysis