Advancing Nutrition Science, Improving Human Health
The food we eat influences our health in many ways. At the Ragle Human Nutrition Center at UC Davis, researchers investigate how foods, nutrients, and dietary patterns interact with the human body to deepen our understanding of health, wellness, and disease prevention.
By bringing nutrition researchers together and supporting clinical studies with human participants, the center helps advance scientific discovery and build evidence that can inform future approaches to improving human health.
Turning Nutrition Questions into Scientific Discovery
Scientists in the UC Davis Nutrition Department conduct clinical trials with human subjects to investigate relationships of food components and essential nutrients to health and wellness promotion.
Mission
- Our mission is to facilitate the ability of investigators to conduct clinical trials with human subjects to investigate relationships of food components and essential nutrients to health and wellness promotion.
Research Across the Field of Nutrition
Nutrition research spans many disciplines, from understanding biological processes inside cells to investigating the role of food in communities and populations.
For Study Participants
Monday to Friday
7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
We are located in 1283 Academic Surge in the UC Davis campus.
Parking:
- Parking is available in Lot 46 in Special Permit spots located in the Northwest corner.
- Please provide your license plate number to research staff for 2-hour parking.
- Enter through the West door of Academic Surge.
Directions
For Researchers
Ragle Clinical Study Initiation and Approval Form
Courier service to the UCDMC Pathology Lab
- A pathology courier picks up specimens from the Ragle HNC (1283G Academic Surge) for transport to the UCDMC Pathology Laboratory, Monday-Friday at approximately 4:00 pm.
- The courier carries dry ice if samples must be kept frozen.
- Need more information or to establishing a Bulk Account, lab requisitions, and procedures prior to dropping off specimens for pick-up? Contact the Ragle Coordinator
Selected Research Publications
Spanning more than a decade of research, these studies examine how foods, nutrients, and dietary patterns influence metabolism, cardiovascular health, muscle function, the gut microbiome, and health across the lifespan. Through innovative research and collaboration, this work contributes to a growing body of evidence that informs nutrition science and helps guide future approaches to improving human health.
- Mendez J L, et al. Daily consumption of polyphenol-rich grape powder improves muscle strength markers in postmenopausal women. Food and Function, 2025 Jun 16(2):4719. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo01523e
- Mostofinejad A, et al. Postprandial Responses to a High-Fat Meal: Dependence of Metabolic and Genomic Alterations on the Magnitude of Hypertriglyceridemia in Healthy Young Adults. Journal of Nutrition, 2025 Jul 5:S0022-3166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.06.023
- Holt R R, et al. Short-Term Cardiometabolic Response to Mango Intake in Postmenopausal Women. Journal of American Nutrition Association, 2025 Sept-Oct 44(7):627. https://doi.org/10.1080/27697061.2025.2478937
- Radtke M D, et al. Validation of Diet ID™ in Predicting Nutrient Intake Compared to Dietary Recalls, Skin Carotenoid Scores, and Plasma Carotenoids in University Students. Nutrients, 2023 Jan 13, 15(2):409. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020409
- Kang J W, et al. Multi-Omic Analyses Reveal Bifidogenic Effect and Metabolomic Shifts in Healthy Human Cohort Supplemented With a Prebiotic Dietary Fiber Blend. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2022 Jun 17:9:908534. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.908534
- Zuh C, et al. Whole egg consumption increases plasma choline and betaine without affecting TMAO levels or gut microbiome in overweight postmenopausal women. Nutrition Research, 2020 Jun 78:36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2020.04.002
- Sawrey-Kubicek L, et al. Whole egg consumption compared with yolk-free egg increases the cholesterol efflux capacity of high-density lipoproteins in overweight, postmenopausal women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2019 Sept 110(3):617. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz088
- Bardagjy A S, et al. Effects of grape consumption on biomarkers of inflammation, endothelial function, and PBMC gene expression in obese subjects. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2018 May 646:145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abb.2018.04.003
- Reverri E J, et al Black Beans, Fiber, and Antioxidant Capacity Pilot Study: Examination of Whole Foods vs. Functional Components on Postprandial Metabolic, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Adults with Metabolic Syndrome. Nutrients, 2015 Jul 7(8):6139. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7085273
- Reverri E J, et al. Soy provides modest benefits on endothelial function without affecting inflammatory biomarkers in adults at cardiometabolic risk. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 2015 Feb 59():323. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201400270
- Wong W W, et al. Soy isoflavone supplementation and bone mineral density in menopausal women: a 2-y multicenter clinical trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2009 Nov 90(5):1433. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2009.28001