Martha Belury

Professor, Human Sciences | College of Education and Human Ecology The Ohio State University

  • Columbus OH

Professor Belury conducts biological and nutritional research into how diet and lifestyle alter obesity, diabetes and metabolic disorders

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The Ohio State University

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Biography

Martha Belury earned both her degrees at the University of Texas, Austin. She received her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics and her doctoral degree in the Department of Biological Sciences. She has been at The Ohio State University since 2002 as a professor in the Department of Human Sciences. Her research interests include the following: 1) Modulation of insulin action under conditions of hepatic insulin resistance such as during type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome; 2) Fatty acid modulation of gene expression and signal transduction to modulate metabolism in the liver, and; 3) dietary fatty acids and other dietary bioactive components.

Industry Expertise

Education/Learning
Professional Training and Coaching
Research

Areas of Expertise

Dietary fats
Metabolism
Insulin Resistance
Diabetes & Stabilizing Blood Sugar
Diabetes
Nutrition (Eating Emotionally)
Nutrition & Wellness
Nutrition & Lifestyle Changes
Nutrition & Disease Prevention
Nutrition

Accomplishments

Robert H. Herman Memorial Award for Outstanding Research

American Society of Nutrition (ASN), Presented at Experimental Biology, San Diego, CA
2014

Award for Distinguished Scholarship

College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
2012

Education

University of Texas, Austin

Ph.D.

Biological Sciences

1992

University of Texas, Austin

B.S.

Nutrition

1987

Affiliations

  • Speaking of Food President

Media Appearances

Which diet plan is best for you? Here are the pros and cons of 4 popular options

The Los Angeles Times  

2017-02-01

Oils: These fall into two categories: heart-friendly and heart-not-so-friendly. The best oils — including canola, safflower, peanut, olive and mixed vegetable oils — are packed with polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats that, according to the American Heart Assn., can help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. Polyunsaturated fats also seem to ward off diabetes by increasing sensitivity to insulin, said Martha Belury , professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University. “There’s definitely a place for healthy oils in a good diet,” she said

Belury recommends avoiding cooking with tropical oils such as palm oil and coconut oil — these have more saturated fat, which in large amounts can lead to clogged arteries. And one more thing: Belury and other nutrition experts recommend that we increase our intake of oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help protect the brain as well as the heart. Good sources are fatty, cold-water fish as well as nuts and seeds...

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Is your metabolism really the master of your weight? Expert tips to get your system running smoothly

Parade  

2016-12-27

Stress less. A study at Ohio State University found that women who reported one or more stressful events the day before—such as getting a traffic ticket or disagreeing with the boss—had a slower metabolic rate than those who didn’t, burning an average of 104 fewer calories after eating the same meal. That could translate into an 11-pound weight gain over a year, says study co-author Martha Belury. Steer clear of large meals if you’re tense, she advises, and seek out stress management techniques that can take the pressure o in the long run...

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Olive oil 'may not be best' for heart health - but should you use THIS instead?

Express  online

2016-03-07

The study by The Ohio State University looked at the health effects of the two fatty acid as well as long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish including salmon and tuna.

It found inflammation decreased as blood levels of all these fatty acids rose.But higher levels of oleic acid or long-chain omega-3s did not appear to have any relationship to body composition or signs of decreased diabetes risk despite longstanding recommendations that people eat more of these “healthy” fats.

Professor of human nutrition Martha Belury said: “It really kind of popped out and surprised us.”

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Research Focus

Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention

Dr. Belury and her lab are interested in the study of whole body energy metabolism as regulated by interactions between adipose and muscle tissues. Canonical mechanisms of energy metabolism involve insulin-dependent and –independent pathways in each of these tissues. In addition, adipose secretes adipokines that regulate metabolism and inflammation in non-adipose tissues. We seek to understand how the availability or lack of availability of energy substrates and bioactive compounds (e.g., adipokines and dietary components) modulate metabolism and tissue function of adipose and muscle. Energy deprivation induces atrophy of muscle and adipose using some overlapping mechanisms including altered metabolism, inflammation, proteolysis and cell death-associated signals. Our work with muscle involves identifying the steps of atrophy related to insulin-resistance, proteolysis and cell death.

Recent Research

A tough day could erase the perks of choosing ‘good’ fat sources, study finds

The Ohio State University

2016-09-20

“We know that a less-healthy meal is going to have adverse effects on markers of inflammation, but we wanted to look at this meal type with different types of fat,” said researcher Martha Belury, co-author of the study and a professor of human nutrition...

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Time to rethink your vegetable oil?

The Ohio State University

2016-03-07

This finding could have obvious implications in preventing heart disease and diabetes, but also could be important for older adults because higher lean body mass can contribute to a longer life with more independence, said Ohio State’s Martha Belury, a professor of human nutrition who led the research.

But there’s a catch. Low-cost cooking oils rich in linoleic acid have been disappearing from grocery shelves, fueled by industry’s push for plants that have been modified to produce oils higher in oleic acid...

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In study, skipping meals is linked to abdominal weight gain

The Ohio State University

2015-05-19

“This does support the notion that small meals throughout the day can be helpful for weight loss, though that may not be practical for many people,” said Martha Belury, professor of human nutrition at The Ohio State University and senior author of the study. “But you definitely don’t want to skip meals to save calories because it sets your body up for larger fluctuations in insulin and glucose and could be setting you up for more fat gain instead of fat loss.”...

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