Dr. John Carbone – Improving our military’s nutrition through scholarly research!

A photo of Dr. John Carbone
Dr. John Carbone – Associate Professor of Dietetics and Human Nutrition
A photo of Dr. John Carbone

Dr. John Carbone – Associate Professor of Dietetics and Human Nutrition

John Carbone, an Associate Professor of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at EMU, has been collaborating with Dr. Stefan M. Pasiakos, a Research Physiologist at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), as part of his Scholarly Agenda.

Drs. Carbone and Pasiakos’ past research collaborations have led to multiple publications in high impact, peer-reviewed journals, including two highly cited manuscripts in the FASEB Journal. Additionally, they’ve coauthored an invited book chapter on mechanisms of protein synthesis and an invited review article on assessment of muscle protein breakdown and the regulatory response to nutrition and exercise, along with two poster presentations at the American Society of Nutrition’s annual meeting. Their research provided fundamental evidence that contributed to updated nutritional policy and recommendations regarding the efficacy of higher protein diets on muscle preservation during periods of severe military operational stress. Their data serves as the basis for several USARIEM clinical- and field-based nutritional research studies designed to identify strategies to optimize nutritional intake and protect muscle integrity of Warfighters operating in austere environments under extreme stress.

Dr. Carbone and USARIEM are currently in the process of researching the effects of acute and chronic exposure to high altitude and underfeeding on muscle mass and physical performance, specifically focusing on dietary protein and carbohydrate interventions to prevent muscle wasting and attenuate declines in physical performance that typically occur with exposure to hypoxia (insufficient oxygen). They are hoping that the results of their research will enable the formulation of new, evidence-based recommendations to improve combat rations and field feeding recommendations for service men and women operating at high altitude.

The research collaboration has been highly productive and beneficial to both EMU and USARIEM. Without the support that they’ve received from EMU and USARIEM, their research would have been impossible. The funding they receive helps cover the cost of analytical measures and expensive lab reagents needed to conduct their studies.