
- Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Departments of Nutrition & Internal Medicine
3217C Meyer Hall
Bio
Research Interests
Dr. Lönnerdal's research program is focused on bioactive components in breast milk, infant/pediatric nutrition and trace element metabolism. Current research topics include:
- Studies on factors affecting breast milk composition, including maternal nutrition, hormones and stage of lactation
- Mechanisms for nutrient uptake by mammary cells as well as expression of genes encoding human milk proteins
- Bioavailability of nutrients to infants and how this is affected by the mode of feeding, including receptor-mediated uptake mechanisms in the small intestine
- Iron, zinc, copper and selenium nutrition of infants, children and adolescents
- Bioactive factors in milk
- Trace element uptake and transport by biological membranes, including receptor-mediated uptake of trace elements by the placenta, intestine, liver and mammary gland
- Nutrient-nutrient interactions