Introduction
	Medical Nutrition Resources
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	Other NAA Awardees
	About the Faculty

University of Washington

UW Box# 359720
Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: 206-341-4400

PI: Robert H. Knopp, MD
Email the University of Washington NAA

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON NAA: INTRODUCTION

The Nutrition Academic Award (NAA) is an award from the National Institutes of Health in response to national and public recommendations to enhance the nutrition education of health care providers. Despite these recommendations, nutrition education in medicine remains fragmented and inconsistent. The NAA faculty at the University of Washington have embarked on a program to augment medical-nutrition education , such as education on disease prevention and health promotion. Research at the UW focuses particularly on arteriosclerosis and its outcome cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Many physicians have an impression that diet is ineffective in preventing CVD and other diseases of public health significance. However, poor nutritional status is estimated to account for at least a two-fold increase in CVD, America's number one cause of mortality.

Multiple dietary factors effect the occurrence of CVD and other diseases, including the classical fat sources, saturated fat and cholesterol. Other less well recognized nutrients affecting CVD include omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins, vitamins affecting homocysteine levels, and phytonutrients such as isoflavones, carotenoids, plant estrogens, soy, salt, trace minerals and alcohol.

At the University of Washington the NAA program is directed at the education of medical students at several levels, as well as postgraduate physicians and allied healthcare professionals. The members of the University of Washington Nutrition Academic Award faculty are committed to conducting nutrition related research of national and international significance.

This page last reviewed July 11, 2003

Nutrition Academic Award Program