M.P.H. in Public Health Nutrition at Univ. of Michigan School of Public Health in 1978
Ph.D. in Human Nutrition at Cornell University in 1981
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES
R.D. in Dietetics in 1982
AWARDS AND HONORS
1997
Trout Memorial Lecturer
Michigan State University
1999
University Faculty Scholar
Purdue University
2000
Award of Merit for Research
Gamma Sigma Delta
2003
J.R. Vicker Lecturer
Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology
2004
Acorn Award
Purdue University
2005
Acorn Award
Purdue University
2006
Provost’s Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award
Purdue University
2008
Elaine R Monsen Award for Outstanding Research Literature
American Dietetic Association
DISCOVERY
The overall aim of work in our group is to better understand the independent and interactive influences of neural, genetic, metabolic, hormonal, cognitive, cultural and especially sensory factors on human dietary behavior, nutrient utilization and energy balance in healthy and clinical populations. Our approach involves naturalistic feeding studies to metabolic assessments with individuals spanning the life cycle. We are part of the Ingestive Behavior Research Center (IBRC) at Purdue.
Hunger, satiety and thirst have inherent and leaned components. These sensations influence food choice, meal patterns and probably energy balance. However, the factors that modify them are poorly characterized. Current studies in our laboratory are exploring the roles of various properties of foods and beverages (e.g., energy density, volume, weight, sensory characteristics, rheology, fiber and macronutrient content) as well as human characteristics (e.g., personality traits, BMI status, physical activity patterns) on these sensations. We are especially interested in rheological properties as findings from our group indicate that beverages elicit weaker satiety effects than solid foods. This work raises questions about the contribution of energy dense foods to the onset and maintenance of overweight/obesity. We are also exploring the effects of various products with purported appetite enhancing or suppressive properties (e.g., nuts, antioxidants, irritants). A better understanding of these issues should aid in dietary management of body weight.
It is widely accepted that the fat content of foods influences their overall sensory properties, palatability and consumption. Less well understood is the role of oral fat exposure on lipid metabolism. The prevailing view is that dietary fats are detected by their contribution to a food’s texture, appearance and, possibly, odor. Recently we have demonstrated that humans can detect free fatty acids by taste cues, challenging the view that there are only 4-5 primary taste qualities. Further, we find that these taste cues specifically alter postprandial lipid metabolism. The mechanisms of this effect and its nutritional implications for people consuming products that mimic the sensory properties of fats with reduced levels of the macronutrient are currently under study.
There is increasing evidence of health benefits associated with nut consumption. However, nuts are energy dense and high in fat leading to concerns that recommendations to increase their consumption may exacerbate the global problem of overweight/obesity. Work in our lab suggests this may not be a problem due to their high satiety value, inefficient absorption and possible stimulation of energy expenditure. Nuts may also help to modify post-prandial glycemia so aid in management of diabetes. In collaboration with partners in Brazil we are exploring the role of nuts in a healthy diet to better understand the influence of consumption of energy dense foods, generally, and nuts, in particular, on energy balance and disease risk.
Discovery Publications (selected)
Mattes RD. Oral thresholds and suprathreshold intensity ratings for free fatty acids on three tongue sites in humans: Implications for transduction mechanisms. Chem Senses 2009;34: 415-423.
Mattes RD. Brief oral Stimulation, but especially oral fat exposure, reliably elevates serum triglycerides in humans. Am J Physiol 2009;296:365-371.
Mattes RD, Campbell WW. Effects of food form and timing of ingestion on appetite and energy intake in lean and obese young adults. J Am Dietet Assoc 2009;109:430-437.
Mattes RD, Popkin BM. Non-nutritive sweetener consumption in humans: Effects on appetite and food intake and their putative mechanisms. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;89:1-14.
Allison DB, Mattes RD. Nutritively-sweetened beverage consumption and obesity: The need for solid evidence on a fluid issue. JAMA 2009;301:318-320.
Frecka JM, Mattes RD. Possible entrainment of ghrelin to habitual meal patterns in humans. Am J Physiol: Gastrointestinal Liver Physiol 2008;294:G699-G707.
Mattes RD, Kris-Etherton PM, Foster GD. Impact of peanuts and tree nuts on body weight and health weight loss. J Nutr 2008;138:1741S-1745S.
Hollis JH, Mattes RD. Effect of chronic consumption of almonds on body weight in healthy humans. Br J Nutr 2007;98:651-656.
Books, Chapters, and Monographs Publications
Mattes RD. Fat taste in humans: Is it a primary? In: Fat Detection: Taste, Texture, and Post Ingestive Effects, (Montmayeur JP & le Coutre J eds.), Frontiers in Neuroscience, CRC Press, 2010, Pp. 167-193.
Harris RBS, Mattes RD (Co-Editors). Appetite and Food Intake: Behavioral and Physiological Considerations. Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, FL., 2008.
Mattes RD., Cowart BJ. Research methods for human sensory system analysis and food evaluation. In: Monson, ER, Van Horn L. (eds.), Research: Successful Approaches. American Dietetic Association, Diana Faulhaber Pub. 2008, Pp. 249-266.
Mattes RD, Hollis JH. Research methods in appetite assessment. In: Monson, ER, Van Horn L. (eds.), Research: Successful Approaches. American Dietetic Association, Diana Faulhaber Pub. 2008, Pp. 267-278.
Mattes RD. Dietary approaches to exploit energy balance utilities for body weight management. In: Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease 2nd Ed, (Coulston CA, Boushey C eds.). Elsevier: San Diego, CA, 2008.
Mattes RD. Nutrition and the chemical senses. In: Shils ME, Olson JA, Shike M, Ross CA (eds.), Modern nutrition in health and disease 10th edition. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger 2005. Pp. 695-706.
Mattes RD. Alcohol, energy balance and obesity. In: Mela DJ (ed), Food, Diet and Obesity, Woodhead Pub 2005. Pp. 264-280.
Mattes RD. PROP status: Dietary modifier, marker or misleader. In: Prescott J, Tepper, BJ. Genetic Variation in Taste Sensitivity. Marcel Dekker, Inc: NY, 2004. Pp. 229-250.
Mattes RD. Nutritional implications of taste and smell. In: Doty RL (ed.), Handbook of Olfaction and Gustation 2nd Edition. Marcel Dekker, Inc: New York 2003. Pp. 881-903.
Mattes RD. Nutritional implications of taste and smell. In: Doty RL (ed.), Handbook of
Olfaction and Gustation 2nd Edition. Marcel Dekker, Inc: New York 2003. Pp. 881-903.
LEARNING
Courses
Sensory Evaluation of Foods (F&N 534) - Principles and methods of subjective evaluation of foods; statistical evaluation and interpretation of data; correlation of subjective and objective methods.
Human Feeding (F&N 640) - Critical review of the genetic, neural, metabolic, endocrine, sensory, cognitive, and cultural determinants of appetite, food selection, and energy balance.
Nutrition in the 21st Century(F&N 105) - Basic nutrition and its application in meeting nutritional needs of all ages.
Special Topics (F&N 590) - Advanced seminar on topics related to ingestive behavior.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
We are collaborating with researchers at the University of Vicosa in Vicosa, Brazil on a project exploring the effects of peanut consumption on appetite, food choice, energy balance and cardiovascular disease risk. The work is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
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Contact Information
Foods and Nutrition Purdue University 700 W. State Street West Lafayette, IN 47907-2059
