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Dr. Melough is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition. She is a nutritional epidemiologist and studies the interrelationships of nutritional and environmental factors influencing human health. Dr. Melough’s work aims to identify dietary approaches to promote health or mitigate the harmful effects of environmental chemicals. Her research focuses on populations with greatest vulnerability to nutritional inadequacies or harmful chemical exposures such as those in key developmental life stages and historically disadvantaged communities. Dr. Melough’s current research projects examine the roles of endocrine disruptors in the development of obesity, the influences of maternal nutrition on childhood outcomes, and novel dietary approaches to reduce chemical exposures or their associated health consequences.

Nutrition

Epidemiology

Public Health

Molecular Epidemiology

Cancer Epidemiology

English

University of Delaware Faculty Profile

Google Scholar Citations

Low Vitamin D in Pregnancy Tied to More Behavioral Problems in Children

Higher levels of vitamin D during pregnancy linked to fewer behavioral problems in offspring

How to Avoid Lead and Cadmium in Chocolate

The Dark Side Of Dark Chocolate: Why It Is Bad For Your Health?

Should I Avoid Dark Chocolate? What to Know About Heavy Metal Risks

vitamin-d-in-pregnancy-may-boost-kids-brainpower

Assistant Professor, Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences

 You don't need a scientist to tell you that milk is good for babies. But a new study led by the University of Delaware's Melissa Melough sheds  light on the power of prenatal nutrition — specifically vitamin D— as a key contributor to children’s brain development. The research found that children whose mothers had higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy scored better on tests of memory, attention and problem-solving skills at ages 7 to 12 compared with those whose mothers had lower levels.

 
Melough wrote about the study in a piece for The Conversation. Vitamin D deficiency affects 42% of U.S. adults and about a third of pregnant women, but the average American woman consumes just 168 international units of vitamin D daily (the recommended amount is 600 ID). Many prenatal vitamins contain only 400 IU.

One promising finding could result in the solution of a racial disparity in nutrition. The study found a link between prenatal vitamin D levels and childhood cognition was strongest among Black families, who also face higher rates of vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation could be a low-cost strategy to support brain development while reducing racial disparities.

 
Melough is available for interviews about the study, and can also speak to the following topics:

• Nutritional and environmental factors influencing human health.
• Populations at risk for nutritional inadequacies or harmful environmental exposures.
• The roles of endocrine disruptors in the development of obesity.
• The influences of maternal nutrition on childhood outcomes 
• Novel dietary approaches to reduce chemical exposures or their associated health consequences.

To arrange an interview with Melough, visit her profile page and click on the "contact" button, or send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu. 

Vitamin D in pregnancy may boost kids’ brainpower

is-dark-chocolate-really-the-healthier-choice-new-study-reveals-concerns

For those who love chocolate, dark chocolate is often seen as the "better" or "healthier" option. But is it really?

This past December, Consumer Reports analyzed 28 dark chocolate bars from a variety of brands and found that 23 of them contained concerning levels of lead, cadmium or both.

 Melissa Melough, an assistant professor of behavioral health and nutrition at the University of Delaware, recently told The New York Times: “If you’re a regular consumer of these dark chocolates, I would be concerned."

This concern is especially heightened if one is pregnant, breastfeeding or have a child who enjoys dark chocolate. 

For more on why dark chocolate may be concerning, reach out to Melough by clicking on her profile. 



Is dark chocolate really the healthier choice? New study reveals concerns

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