The overarching goal of the research of Deeptha Sukumar, PhD is to understand the interplay between bone metabolism and energy metabolism. Her research focuses on how hormones and proteins inherent to bone metabolism influence obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Her current interests are in understanding whether novel dietary interventions can influence bone-regulating hormones, bone mineral density, pro-inflammatory cytokines and energy metabolism.

Principal Investigator

Deeptha Sukumar, PhD
Associate Professor - Nutrition Sciences

Health Sciences Building, 11th Floor, Room 11W33
60 N 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Phone: 267.359.5854
Email: ds3535@drexel.edu

Publications

PubMed

Parathyroid Hormone and Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Obesity: Role of Magnesium and Vitamin D Supplementation

Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and several hormonal alterations may contribute this higher risk. For example, obesity is associated with higher levels of serum parathyroid hormone (sPTH) that is an independent risk factor for CVD. This study is examining whether dietary interventions to decrease sPTH levels will be associated with reductions in CVD risk. One hundred and twenty three participants aged 30-60 years will be enrolled in a 12-week clinical trial, and participants will be randomized to one of the three treatment groups consisting of vitamin D, magnesium or placebo. This approach will provide a non-pharmacological, non-surgical, cost effective and simple means to reduce sPTH levels in the obese population, thereby lowering their cardiovascular risk.

Magnesium as a Mediator of Bone and Vitamin D Metabolism in Patients on Antiepileptic Drug Therapy

Antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy in patients with seizure disorders is often associated with changes in bone metabolism. Patients with epilepsy have a two- to six-times greater risk of fracture than the general population that is typically accompanied by lower 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) and higher parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation is recommended to patients on AEDs, however clinical studies do not consistently report reductions in fracture risk and/or improvements in bone mineral density (BMD) with these. Magnesium (Mg), an intracellular cation, is an important cofactor for several metabolic reactions in the body. This study will examine Mg status (Serum Ionized Mg concentrations, Red Blood cell Mg concentrations) in patients on EIAEDs and Non EIAEDs, and we propose that magnesium status is an important contributor of vitamin D and bone metabolism in patients on AEDs and should be routinely monitored in patients on AED therapy.

Determinants of Bone Mineral Density and Metabolic Syndrome in South Asian Indian Men

South Asian Indians (SAI) comprise the largest subgroup of the increasing minority population in the United States. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and low bone mineral density (BMD) are important health concerns in the minority population, especially the SAI group. Hormones, bone proteins and cytokines that play an important role in bone metabolism are also altered in MetS, suggesting that both of these conditions share a common etiology. The primary goal of this study is to assess whether bone metabolism is altered in the South Asian population, specifically the SAI population, in the United States and whether hormones or other proteins regulating bone influence MetS outcomes in SAIs. We propose to examine SAI men between the ages of 30 and 50 years, using resident white men as controls. We further propose that common biochemical and metabolic alterations will underlie both low BMD and MetS outcomes in the SAI population but not in the white population. Identification of common determinants will help us design a single interventional trial that will target both MetS and bone health in the SAI population.

Doctoral Students

• May Cheung
• Abeer Aljahdali
• Rittane Dustak

Research Collaborations

• Patricia Shewokis
• Stella Volpe
• Juan Muniz
• Carla Lo Pinto Khoury