Carbon Isotope Ratios of Amino Acids As Biomarkers of Sugar Intake

In this episode of AJCN In Press, AJCN’s Inaugural Dennis M. Bier Young Career Editor, Kevin C. Klatt, PhD, RD chats with PhD candidate, Jessica Johnson, at the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Ms. Johnson is a member of the Diane M. O’Brien Laboratory and focuses her research on how we can utilize naturally occurring stable isotope ratios in circulating metabolites as biomarkers of dietary intake. In this episode, we discuss Ms. Johnson’s recent first author publication in AJCN, “The carbon isotope ratios of nonessential amino acids identify sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumers in a 12-wk inpatient feeding study of 32 men with varying SSB and meat exposures“. We dive deep into this really novel study, touching on stable isotopes, controlled feeding trials, essential and non-essential amino acids, and emerging biomarkers of intake for use in experimental and observational nutrition studies.

Previous related work from the O’Brien Laboratory published in AJCN may be of interest to readers, as well as a related commentary on the use of stable isotope ratios in nutritional epidemiology.

Be sure to connect with us on Twitter: Dr. Klatt and AJCN. Find all of the publications from the American Society for Nutrition (@nutritionorg; @jnutritionorg) at our website.

Related article:

The carbon isotope ratios of nonessential amino acids identify sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumers in a 12-wk inpatient feeding study of 32 men with varying SSB and meat exposures