Joanne Curran-Celentano, Ph.D.
Professor
Kendall Hall, Room 407
(603) 862-2573
Email: joannec@cisunix.unh.edu
Educational Background:
Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana, 1982
M.S., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 1978
B.S., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 1976
Courses Taught:
Food Fundamentals (NUTR 474), Food Science: Principles and Practice (NUTR 550)
General Area of Interest and/or Specialty:
Food science and food technology, food studies with a focus on the multidisciplinary issues around eating. Carotenoid bioavailability and tissue deposition from fruits, vegetables and dietary supplements; special interest in lutein bioavailability and prolonged vision.
Description of current research and/or professional activities:
Why do diets rich in fruit and vegetables decrease risk of chronic disease? Our research is focused on role of dietary carotenoids, a class of fat-soluble phytonutrients, in health promotion and/or disease prevention. Currently we are investigating the relationship of diet and macular pigment density. Macular pigment is found in the human retina and is composed of carotenoids of dietary origin. It is possible that macular pigment is important in the healthy functioning of the retina. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of visual impairment in aging. Epidemiological data suggests that diets rich in plant foods, in particular those high in lutein containing vegetables, are associated with a decreased risk of AMD. We are testing the hypothesis that diets rich in fruit and vegetables may decrease the risk of AMD by increasing the density of the macular pigment. We have volunteers come to our lab where we can measure macular pigment, serum and dietary carotenoids in a variety of research protocols.
Representative Publications:
Cooper DA, Curran-Celentano JM, Ciulla TA, Hammond BR, Danis RB, Pratt LM, Riccardi KA, Filloon TG. Olestra Consumption is Not Associated with Macular Pigment Optical Density in a Cross-sectional Volunteer Sample in Indianapolis. J Nutr 130:642-647,2000.
Hammond BR, Fuld K, Curran-Celentano JM. Macular Pigment Density in Monozygotic Twins. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 1995; 36:2531-2541.
Hammond, BR, Curran-Celentano JM, Judd SG, Fuld K, Krinsky NI, Wooten BR, and Snodderly DM. Sex Differences in Macular Pigment Optical Density: Relation to Serum and Dietary Patterns. Vision Research 1996; 36: 2001-2012.
Rock CL, Curran-Celentano JM. Nutrition management of eating disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 1996; 19:701-713.
Additional Information:
Dr. Celentano's professional associations include the American Society of Nutritional Sciences, American Dietetic Association and Institute of Food Technology. She has been active in the Carotenoid Research Interactive Group (CARIG), and the CARIG forum originated in and is managed through her lab at CARIGforum@list.unh.edu.
