Section: Research

Barbara Olendzki, RD, MPH, Director of Nutrition

Academic Role: Research Assistant Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Medicine
   Preventive and Behavioral Medicine

Research Interests

• Effect of diet and other lifestyle factors on obesity, diabetes, and heart disease
• Nutrition and cardiovascular disease and diabetes
• Improving methods of dietary assessment in epidemiological studies

Sample of Research Studies

Principal Investigator

IRG 93-033, American Cancer Society. 4/07-9/08     

Finding a simple message to improve dietary quality for cancer and heart disease prevention, “Can Do Study” (Cancer Dietary Objectives Study).This is a three-arm, randomized, controlled pilot study to test whether a single dietary recommendation in comparison with a more complex message (either low saturated fat, or high fiber, or combination) may have a synergistic beneficial effect on other areas of diet.    This study is currently in analysis.

Co-Investigator

1R21 AT02522-01A1   NCCAM (J. Ockene) 8/05-07 
Soy Isoflavones for Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms
A randomized, placebo-controlled 15-week feasibility study of 180 menopausal women with moderate to severe VMS to examine a isoflavone dose ranges and dosing frequencies of isoflavone capsules containing the primary isoflavones.  Nutrition and physical activity assessment and analysis are a part of this study. 
Role:  Senior Nutritionist

NIDDK Pilot and Feasibility Program at UMass Medical School (DERC) (Y. Ma) 04/05-03/07 
Applicability of a Low Glycemic Index Diet in Diabetes 
Randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of the glycemic index vs. the ADA standard carbohydrate counting in type 2 diabetes mellitus.  Outcome measures are HgbA1c, and compliance with study protocol.
Role:  Co-Investigator

R01 AT00309-01A2  NIH/NCCAM (R. Zurier) 08/01/03 - 07/31/07 
Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Marine and Botanical Oils
The major goal of this project is to determine whether treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with a combination of fish oil and borage seed oil is superior to treatment with either oil alone.
Role: Senior Nutritionist

1 R21 HL074895-01  NIH, NILBI (Y. Ma)  4/1/04 – 3/31/06
Dietary Glycemic Load, Body Weight, and Blood Lipids
The overall goal of this 2 year proposal is to examine the association of glycemic load (GL), derived from 24-hour dietary recalls, with body weight and blood lipids (including total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides), and to study seasonal and short-term variation of GL in a free-living healthy population.
Role: Senior Nutritionist

1 R18 DK067549-01  NIH, NIDDK (I. Ockene) 07/01/04-03/31/09 
Translational Research for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes
Lawrence Latino Diabetes Prevention Project
The goal is to implement and evaluate a diabetes prevention program for low income, Latino patients at high risk of developing diabetes.

1 R18 DK065985-01A  NIH, NIDDK (M. Rosal) 08/01/04 – 07/31/08 
Diabetes Management for Low-Income Hispanic Patients
The overall goal of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) is to test the efficacy of an educationally-and culturally-tailored cognitive-behavioral intervention (CBI) designed to enhance adherence to diabetes self-management behaviors and thus improve glycemic control (HbA1c) among low-income Hispanic individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).  The proposed study has been successfully pilot-tested in the target population and preliminary results are promising.
Role: Senior Nutritionist

R01 HL073912  NHLBI (MM McDermott) 7/01/05  – 06/30/09
Reducing Risk Factors in Peripheral Artery Disease
This randomized controlled clinical trial will test the ability of a health-counselor mediated telephone-counseling intervention as compared to normal care to reduce LDL-C levels in patients with peripheral artery disease.

NIMH, 1R01MH078012-01A1, (PI: Sherry Pagoto). 4/07-3/12.

Depression and Obesity study.   Building on the earlier AICR pilot study, this study tests the sequential effect of treating depression before engaging in a lifestyle intervention for weight loss, vs. simultaneous treatment. 

Office: Shaw Building Second Floor
Phone: 508-856-5195
E-mail: Barbara.Olendzki@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Behavioral Medicine, Diabetes, Nutrition, Obesity

More on Barbara Olendzki's Research Research | Publications | Biography View All Sections on One Page