Research Areas
- Pharmacotherapy Interventions for Addictions
- Alcohol Use and Nutrition Deficiency
- Opioid Dependency
Scientific Achievements
- Authored first time publications regarding the role of nutrition in alcohol use disorder (AUD).
- Developed laboratory models that demonstrated patterned feeding reduces alcohol drinking.
- Assessed the impact of dysregulated kappa/opioid receptor system in alcohol use disorder.
- Research Continuance Award, NIGMS-NIH. SCORE-SC3: The Impact of Patterned Feeding of a Palatable Diet on Excessive Alcohol Drinking.
Funding
RCMI Funding: 5U54MD007595-18, NIH/NIMHD: Pilot Project “Modeling alcohol-related health disparities by examining the impact of emotional stress on alcohol drinking following patterned feeding of a high-fat diet”
Scientific Advance
A Complex Interplay between Nutrition and Alcohol use Disorder: Implications for Breaking the Vicious Cycle
Published in Curr Pharm Des. 2024;30(23):1822–1837, PMCID: PMC12085226 NIHMSID: NIHMS2078037 PMID: 38797900.
Published in Curr Pharm Des. 2024;30(23):1822–1837, PMCID: PMC12085226 NIHMSID: NIHMS2078037 PMID: 38797900.
This study reviewed and investigated alterations in the nutritional status of people with addictive disorders, in addition to the underlying brain functions and clinical implications regarding the role of nutritional intervention in recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD). Findings from the investigation indicate malnutrition and alcohol use disorder further exacerbates AUD symptoms. Proper diet and herbal supplementation, nutritional education, and mindfulness practices, along with prescription medications, could break the cycle of alcoholism.
National Institutes of Health NIH/NIGM-S-SCORE # 5 SC3 GM127173–04
