Deeptha Sukumar, PhD, joined faculty in the Department of Nutrition Sciences as an assistant professor in September 2013. After completing her initial training in India, she moved to the U.S. and obtained a PhD from Rutgers University. Her doctoral and postdoctoral work largely focused on examining the relationship of obesity and weight reduction with bone metabolism. Her research has been published in several top impact journals such as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Annual Reviews of Nutrition and Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Sukumar is the recipient of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Young Investigator award in 2011.

Academic Distinctions

• Mentor/AHA Mentee Award ~ American Heart Association, 2016
• Research Excellence Award ~ American Heart Association, 2016
• ASBMR Young Investigator Award ~ American Society of Bone and Mineral Research Topical meeting, 2011
• ASBMR Young Investigator Travel Grant ~ American Society of Bone and Mineral Research Annual Meeting 2010
• Energy and Metabolism Research Interest Section Award ~ American Society for Nutrition 2010, 2009
• Best outgoing student
• Department of Foods and Nutrition for the year 2004, Queen Mary’s College, University of Madras.
• Department of Nutrition, Food Service Management and Dietetics for the year 2002, MOP Vaishnav College, University of Madras

Professional Society

Selected Publications

Sukumar, D., DeLuccia, R., Cheung, M., Ramadoss, R., Ng, T., Lamoureux, A. (2019). Validation of a Newly Developed Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess Dietary Intakes of Magnesium. Nutrients. 11(11).

Cheung, M. M., DeLuccia, R., Ramadoss, R., Aljahdali, A., Volpe, S. L., Shewokis, P. A., Sukumar, D. (2019). Low Dietary Magnesium Intake Alters Vitamin D – Parathyroid Hormone Relationship in Adults who are Overweight or Obese. Nutr Res. 69:82-93.

Sukumar, D., Becker, K. B., Cheung, M., Diamond, S., Duszak, R., Aljahdali, A., Volpe, S. L.,Nasser, J. A. (2018). Can bone-regulating hormones and nutrients help characterize the metabolically healthy obese phenotype. Nutr Health. 24(3):153-162.

Lotito, A., Teramoto, M., Cheung, M., Becker, K., Sukumar, D. (2017). Serum Parathyroid Hormone Responses to Vitamin D Supplementation in Overweight/Obese Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Nutrients. 9(3).

Cheung, M., & Sukumar, D. Vitamin D in Health and Disease. PSGCAS Search: A Journal of Science and Technology, 3 N:2 01-26.

Grant participation:

• Integrative intervention with creative arts and nutrition (I2CAN) for post-menopausal women’s health, Cell2Sociery aging research network award. Role: Co-PI ( May 2020- April 2021)
• Magnesium, Systemic Inflammation and Body Composition Trial (M-SiB Trial), CNHP Seed Grant, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University. Role: Principal Investigator (PI) (June 2018 ~ May 2019)
• Parathyroid Hormone and Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Obesity: Role of Magnesium and Vitamin D Supplementation, American Heart Association. Role: PI (January 2016 ~ December 2019)
• Determinants of Bone Mineral Density and Metabolic Syndrome in South Asian Indian Men, CNHP Seed Grant, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University. Role: PI (February 2016 ~ January 2017)
• Pilot Study: Metabolic Syndrome in Resident and Immigrant Indian Young Adults: Role of Diet and Other Factors, Centers for Global Advancement and International Affairs, Rutgers University. Role- Co-Investigator (Co-I); PI: Sue Shapses (January 2013 ~ December 2015)
• Diet and Metabolic Syndrome in Young South Asian Women, Institute for Women’s Leadership, Rutgers University. Role: Co-I; PI: Sue Shapses (June 2013 ~ August 2015)

Editorial review board membership:

Nutrients

PSGCAS Search

Research Interests

Obesity, Cardiometabolic Health, Bone Metabolism, Micronutrients

View Research Profile

PhD Nutritional Sciences ~ Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology track
September 2006 ~ May 2011
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

MSc Foods and Nutrition
June 2002 ~ May 2004
Queen Mary’s College
University of Madras, Chennai, India

BSc Nutrition, Food Service Management and Dietetics
June 1999 ~ May 2002
MOP Vaishnav College
University of Madras, Chennai, India