2023 December Board Book

well-being, health, and physiological function in older adults. As life expectancy increases, maintenance of well-being and health become increasingly important. Nutrition plays an essential role in the health, function, and well-being of older adults. Several studies have identified dietary protein as a key supportive nutrient for skeletal muscle health in older adults. Optimal protein intake can help maintain energy balance, reduce cardiometabolic risk, and promote overall wellbeing. Nutrients found in whey protein are associated with outcomes of health and wellbeing such as physical and cognitive function, lean body mass, and mood in older adults. Preliminary data from this lab suggest that increasing protein in the diet as the potential to improve markers of wellbeing, such as mood and sleep, in older females. The proposed work will set out to determine the effect of whey protein consumption for 8 weeks on markers of wellbeing, such as sleep, mood, and quality of life in a general population of U.S. adults aged 50 years and older. Industry Benefit: Linking regular consumption of whey protein, as part of a healthy dietary pattern, with positive health benefits related to overall health and wellbeing could lead to increased whey protein (and dairy) consumption and profit for the dairy industry.

2024 – 2026 Dairy Intake During Pregnancy and Infant Neuro Outcomes* Researcher: Dr. Naiman Khan, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health 2024 Budget: $45,947; CMAB REQUEST $34,460 (Total Budget $183,787) 2025 Budget Request: $47,204 (Total Budget $188,817); 2026 Budget Request: $53,119 (Total Budget $212,477) *Project is co-funded 25/75 with National Dairy Council (NDC). NDC will manage the project. Background: The majority of pregnant women in the U.S. have dairy intakes below recommended levels. This is concerning since dairy is a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds known to confer neurosupportive effects in utero and during infancy, including iodine, choline, and ganglio sides. Through this study, researchers will conduct a randomized controlled trial among pregnant women to improve their dairy consumption during the second and third trimesters. The impacts of higher dairy intake on neurodevel opmental outcomes between birth and 12 months will be assessed. The central hypothesis is that the offspring of mothers who participate in the dairy intervention group, relative to the control, during pregnancy will exhibit greater improvements in neurodevelopmental outcomes and neurophysiological markers of brain function until

12 months after birth.

Industry Benefit: Dairy foods offer a wide variety of nutrients with importance for both physical and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Given the perpetually low diet quality among U.S. adults, especially among women of childbearing age, the relevance of dairy foods has only become more prominent. This is particularly concerning for shortfall nutrients in the current proposal including iodine, choline, and gangliosides. Success ful completion of the proposed work stands to benefit the California dairy industry by contributing vital knowl edge supporting the need to maintain adequate dairy during pregnancy for neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants, increasing the need for dairy among consumers.