Welcome to the Beltsville Human Nutrition
Research Center Virtual "Online" Field Trip

 

This field trip is made up of links, narrative and streaming audio, steaming video clips of the actual scientists and facilities of the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center (BHNRC). To view the streaming audio/video of the BHNRC, you need to download a free version of "real player". To do this, go to www.real.com and click on "free real one player" directly uner the bar at the top of the page. You will then see a page where you need to click on "download the free real one player only" link. Follow instructions to download this free tool.  

 

To begin our field trip, check out the BHNRC web page to get an introduction to this important research center.

Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center web page

To begin our field trip, here is an introduction by Jim Seale.

Video of Dr. Seale describing the research center

In order to do research in energy metabolism, a researcher must be able to assess a person's energy expenditure as accurately as possible. We can measure energy expenditure through direct calorimetry and indirect calorimetry. Direct calorimetry measures the amount of heat produced by a individual and uses this information to calculate energy expenditure. Indirect calorimetry estimates energy expenditure by determining the oxygen consumed and carbon dioxide released over time. We can measure this using a mouthpiece that person breathes through or by placing the individual into a room where the ventilation is tightly controlled and oxygen consumption as well as carbon dioxide released can be measured. While many hospitals measure energy expenditure using the portable mouthpiece, the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center is one of approximately a dozen sites in the country that have an indirect calorimetry room or chamber. . In the clip below, Dr. Seale will describe how this room is used in his research.

Video of Dr. Seale describing the indirect calorimetry chamber

So what types of studies have been done using this expensive and impressive indirect calorimetry room?  In the next clip, Dr. Seale describes two studies that his research team carried out and shares with you their interesting findings. Any surprises?

Video of Dr. Seale describing studies done using the indirect calorimetry chamber

You may be wondering at this point about how the air flow can be tightly controlled and measured in the indirect calorimetry room. After all, as described in the clip above, individuals may need to stay in the room for 2 or 3 days at a time. How do they get their food, etc?  Dr. Seale describes the means by which they accomplish this in the clip below.

Video of Dr. Seale describing the regulation of airflow in the chamber

Another valuable tool for energy research is the DEXA machine. This machine is well known for its ability to measure bone density but it  can also measure percent body fat and lean body mass. The DEXA machine is a standard measurement tool when studying the effect of weight loss regimes and the influence of food and activity on body composition.

Video of the DEXA machine and description of its use

Another trademark of the BHNRC is their feeding studies. This research center has the capability to run tightly controlled feeding studies. Study participants come to the center for their meals and skilled foodservice professionals measure out the food to be consumed individually for each subject..  In the clip below, Dr. Seale discusses the mechanics of the feeding kitchen and describes a typical study conducted using this facility.

Video of the feeding kitchen and how meals are prepared and packaged

Video of Dr. Seale describing the types of studies done using the feeding kitchen

As you can see, lots of valuable research is conducted by the research scientists at the USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. Keep your eyes open for new and interesting findings coming out of these prestigious nutrition laboratories!

Questions to answer:

 

1. What type of research does Dr. Seale do?  (summarize in one sentence)

2. What department of the government is the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center housed in?

3. What two specific things does the room calorimeter measure and what can be determined from those two measurements?

4.  What is an example of a study done using the room calorimeter?

5.  How do researchers deliver food into the indirect calorimetry room?

6.  What does Dr. Seale use the DEXA machine for?

7.  What unit of measure is used when weighing out foods in the feeding kitchen (pay close attention to the video to determine this)?

8.  How are individuals fed on the weekend when the center is closed?

9.  What is an example of a study Dr. Seale has done using the feeding kitchen?

10.  Design a study of your own using at least two of the three tools (indirect calorimetry room, DEXA machine and/or feeding kitchen) and discuss how you would carry this study out. (keep this brief...just outline the research question, how you would conduct the study and what your outcome measures would be).