UCDavis University of California

Education

• Ph.D., University of California, Davis

Research Interests

A major focus of Dr. Zidenberg-Cherr´s research program is the study of the impact of an individual's nutritional status on their response to diverse physiologic stresses. These stresses can range from pregnancy to exposure to environmental toxicants during various stages of the life cycle. Current topics of investigation include the examination of nutritional status of children at risk for lead toxicity. As part of this study, methods of dietary assessment which can be used to determine dietary intake in young children are being developed and refined.

Another aspect of Dr. Zidenberg-Cherr's program involves the development and testing of new approaches to educate the public such as through the education of primary targets for consumer questions, i.e.. physicians. Along these lines, a study is currently in progress to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of physicians concerning lead toxicity in children, with an emphasis on iron deficiency, given both its reported high prevalence in California and its relationship to lead toxicity.

Nutrition education methodologies are currently being employed to provide target groups including adolescents and young children with programs emphasizing the importance of diet and lifestyle for optimal health and well-being. The role of nutrition on pregnancy outcome is also an active area of research in Dr. Zidenberg-Cherr's program.

Dr. Zidenberg-Cherr prepares a bimonthly publication called "Nutrition Perspectives" that is designed to provide research-based information on ongoing nutrition and food-related programs.

Publications

• Zidenberg-Cherr, S., P. A. Benak, L. S. Hurley, and C. L. Keen. Altered mineral metabolism: a mechanism underlying the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in rats. Drug-Nutrient Interactions 1988;5: 257-274.
• Dubick, M. A., S. Zidenberg-Cherr, R. B. Rucker, and C. L. Keen. Superoxide dismutase activity in lung from copper- and manganese-deficient mice exposed to ozone. Toxicology Letters 1988;42: 149-157.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S., J. Rosenbaum, and C. L. Keen. Influence of ethanol consumption on maternal-fetal transfer of zinc in pregnant rats on day 14 of pregnancy. Journal of Nutrition 1988;118: 865-870.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S., J. Rosenbaum, and C. L. Keen. Altered mineral metabolism as a mechanism underlying the expression of fetal alcohol syndrome in rats. In: Trace Elements in Man and Animals (TEMA) - 6. Hurley, L. S., Keen, C.L., Lönnerdal, B., and Rucker, R. B., eds. Plenum Publishing Corp., New York, pp. 613-614, 1988.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S., M. S. Clegg, N. J. Parks, and C. L. Keen. Localization of bismuth radiotracer in rat kidney following exposure to bismuth. Biological Trace Element Research 1989;19: 185-194.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S., D. Dreith, and C. L. Keen. Copper status and adriamycin treatment: Effects on antioxidant status in mice. Toxicology Letters 1989;48:201-212.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S., Perinatal Nutrition. Book Review, (B.L. Lindblad, ed.), Journal Of Nutrition 1989119: 1747.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S., C. H. Halsted, K. L. Olin, A. M. Reisenauer, and C. L. Keen. The effect of chronic alcohol ingestion on free radical defense in the miniature pig. Journal of Nutrition 1990;120: 213-217.
• Keen, C. L. and S. Zidenberg-Cherr. Manganese. In: Present Knowledge in Nutrition (Brown, M. L., Ed.). International Life Sciences Institute, Nutrition Foundation, Washington, DC, pp. 279-286, 1990.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S. and C. L. Keen. Trace elements as antioxidants. In: Trace Elements, Micronutrients and Free Radicals. Dreosti, I. E. (ed.), The Humana Press, Inc., pp. 107-127, 1991.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S., K. L. Olin, J. Villanueva, A. Tang, S. D. Phinney, C. H. Halsted, and C. L. Keen. Ethanol-induced changes in hepatic free radical defense mechanisms and fatty acid composition in the miniature pig. Hepatology 1991;13: 1185-1192.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S., B. Han, M. A. Dubick, and C. L. Keen. Influence of dietary induced copper and manganese deficiency on ozone-induced changes in lung and liver antioxidant systems. Toxicology Letters 1991;57: 81-90.
• Rosenbaum, J. S., S. Zidenberg-Cherr, and C. L. Keen. Influence of copper status on the response to acute ethanol exposure in rats. Alcohol 1991;8: 473-479.
• Peters, J. M., L. M. Wiley, S. Zidenberg-Cherr, and C. L. Keen. Influence of short-term maternal zinc deficiency on the in vitro development. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1991;198: 561-568.
• Peters, J.M., L. M. Wiley, S. Zidenberg-Cherr, and C. L. Keen. Influence of Periconceptional Zinc Deficiency on Embryonic Plasma Membrane Function in Mice. Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 1993;13: 15-21.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S. A nutritionist uses chemistry. In: General Chemistry (Umland, J. B.), West Educational Publishing. 2pp., 1993.
• Keen, C.L. and Zidenberg-Cherr, S., "Manganese: Properties and Analysis" in The Encyclopedia of Food Science, Food Technology and Nutrition, ed. R. Macrae, Academic Press, Limited, London, 1993.
• Keen, C.L. and Zidenberg-Cherr, S., "Manganese Toxicity in Humans and Experimental Animals" in Manganese in Health and Disease, ed. D.J. Klimis-Tavantzis, CRC Press, Inc. Boca Raton, FL, 1993.
• Keen, C.L. and Zidenberg-Cherr, S., Should Vitamin-Mineral Supplements Be Recommended For All Women With Childbearing Potential? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1994;59: 532S-9S.
• Keen, C.L., Zidenberg-Cherr, S., and B. L`nnerdal. Nutritional and toxicological aspects of manganese intake: An overview. In: Risk Assessment of Essential Elements (W. Mertz, co. O. Abernathy, S.S. Olin, eds.). ILSI Press, Washington, CD, pp. 221-235, 1994.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S. Lead poisoning continues to pose threat. California Agriculture, 48:8-9 (letter), 1994.
• Peters, J.M., Wiley, L. M., Zidenberg-Cherr, S., and C. L. Keen, Periconceptional zinc deficiency affects uterine 3H-Estradiol Binding in Mice. Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 1994;15: 23-31.
• Zidenberg-Cherr, S. Trace Elements and Free Radicals in Oxidative Diseases (ed. A. E. Favier, J. Neve, and P. Faure) Book Review American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1995.
• Neyman, M. R., S. Zidenberg-Cherr and McDonald, R., Nutritional status of elderly participating and not participating in congregate site meal programs. Journal American Dietetic Association 1995;96: 475-483.
• Keen, C. L. and Zidenberg-Cherr, S. Trace element and vitamin interactions in free radical defense. In: Nutrition in a Sustainable Environment (Eds. M.L. Wahlquist, A.S. Truswell, R. Smith and P. J. Nestle), Proceedings of the XV International Congress of Nutrition, Adelaide, 1994, published 1996.
• Keen, C. L. and Zidenberg-Cherr, S. Manganese. Present Knowledge in Nutrition (eds E.E. Ziegler and C.J. Filer), ILSI Press, Washington, pp. 334-343, 1996.
• Hanna, L. A., Peters, J. M., Wiley, L. M., Zidenberg-Cherr, S., & Keen, C. L. Enhancing effect of maternal zinc deficiency and 137Cs gamma-irradiation on the frequency of fetal malformations in mice. Teratog Carcinog Mutagen 1997; 17: 127-137.
• Neyman, M. R., Block, G., Johns, M., Sutherlin, J. M., McDonald, R. B., & Zidenberg-Cherr, S. Effect of participation in congregate-site meal programs on the energy and nutrient intakes of Hispanic seniors. J Am Diet Assoc 1998; 98: 1460-1462.
• Morris, J. L., Briggs, M., & Zidenberg-Cherr, S. Nutrition to grow on: a garden-enhanced nutrition education curriculum for upper-elementary schoolchildren. J Nutr Educ Behav 2002; 34: 175-176.
• Morris, J. L., & Zidenberg-Cherr, S. Garden-enhanced nutrition curriculum improves fourth-grade school children's knowledge of nutrition and preferences for some vegetables. J Am Diet Assoc 2002; 102: 91-93.