The Department of Nutrition is one of six departments at the School of Public Health. While nutrition was always part of the curriculum at the university, the department was initiated when the School of Public Health was begun in 1963.
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Nut Studies
The Department of Nutrition is notable for its landmark research on the health and nutrition properties of nuts. Department Chair Dr. Joan Sabaté discovered the link between nut consumption and protection from the risk of cardiovascular disease. The outcomes of his research were published in 1993 in the New England Journal of Medicine. In 2010, findings from a pooled analysis of 25 intervention trials with nuts, compiled by Dr. Sabaté, was published by the Archives of Internal Medicine. This confirmed the original research and established that the consumption of nuts improves blood lipid levels and provides heart health protection. The department has conducted research on almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts and nuts in general and includes both clinical intervention studies and epidemiological studies. Results from 19 separate inquiries are available at the department website on their nut studies.
Vegetarian Research
The Department of Nutrition at Loma Linda University has dedicated extensive research to examining the nutrition and health effects of plant foods and plant based diet patterns. Research also includes assessing the safety, adequacy and optimacy of vegetarian eating patterns as well as assessing the potential impact of animal vs plant foods on nutrition, microbial contamination and sanitary concerns, and on the environment. Every five years, beginning in 1992, Loma Linda University sponsors the International Congress on Vegetarian Nutrition. The 5th congress, held March 4–6, 2008 was attended by over 700 research and health professionals from over 40 countries. Dr. Joan Sabaté has chaired the last two congresses and Nutrition Department faculty have served as chair of the scientific program. Proceedings from these congresses have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and are available through the congress website.
Two vegetarian resources have been produced from department research. Dr. Joan Sabaté is editor of the book Vegetarian Nutrition. This book contains expert summaries of various aspects of a plant-based diet. It provides not only ethical, moral, and religious viewpoints from different periods of history but also modern perspectives on health promotion and disease prevention. The department has also produced a Vegetarian Food Pyramid, a 4-page brochure that includes guidelines for healthful vegetarian diets, serving guides and other recommended lifestyle habits.
Academics
The Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Department of Nutrition provides programs leading to the Master of Public Health (MPH) and the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degrees. These two degress include a field practicum component and prepare students to sit for the registration examination of the Commission on Dietetic Registration to become a registered dietitian. The department also offers the Master of Science (MS) degree in nutrition through the Faculty of Graduate Studies in the areas of nutritional science and clinical nutrition.