Jessica Alvarez PhD, RD
Overview
Dr. Jessica Alvarez is a registered dietitian with a master's degree in clinical nutrition and a PhD in nutrition sciences from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
Dr. Alvarez's research focuses on the role of nutrition and body composition on metabolism in chronic diseases, including cystic fibrosis and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease.
Her research integrates state-of-the-art metabolomics with many aspects of nutrition research including rigorous clinical trials, body composition analysis, biomarker assessment, analysis of dietary intake and physical activity. Specific research foci include:
1) use of plasma high-resolution metabolomics, redox and bioenergetic assessment to identify targets for nutritional intervention to optimize health in adults with cystic fibrosis and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes,
2) role of vitamin D in sulfur/disulfide thiol redox, insulin sensitivity, vascular function, and clinical outcomes in the general population and various clinical diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis and chronic kidney disease,
3) role of diet, body composition, and energy metabolism in ethnic health disparities of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease,
4) role of diet in sulfur/disulfide thiol redox-mediated pathophysiology.
Dr. Alvarez is currently supported by a NIH/NIDDK K01 grant entitled, "Integration of Nutritional Metabolomics with Bioenergetics in Cystic Fibrosis.
Academic Appointment
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine
Education
Degrees
- PhD from University of Alabama at Birmingham
- MS from University of Alabama at Birmingham
Research
Publications
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Obesity and its management in primary care setting.
J Diabetes Complications Volume: 39 Page(s): 109045
04/19/2025 Authors: Ibrahim M; Ba-Essa EM; Alvarez JA; Baker J; Bruni V; Cahn A; Ceriello A; Cosentino F; Davies MJ; De Domenico F -
The impact of childhood maltreatment, HIV status, and their interaction on mental health outcomes and markers of systemic inflammation in women.
Biol Sex Differ Volume: 16 Page(s): 21
03/28/2025 Authors: Arnold A; Wang H; Mehta CC; Nesbeth P-DC; Bedi B; Kirkpatrick C; Moran CA; Powers A; Smith AK; Hagen K -
Short and Long-term Body Weight Change Following the Switch to or the Addition of Integrase Inhibitors in Persons With HIV Differs by Sex.
Clin Infect Dis Volume: 80 Page(s): 575 - 584
03/17/2025 Authors: Lahiri CD; Mehta CC; Yang Q; Maramba T; Musonge-Effoe J; Yang C-A; Dumond JB; Alcaide ML; Lake JE; Rubin LH -
Reproducibility and Validity of Plant-Based Dietary Indices in the Cancer Prevention Study-3 Diet Assessment Substudy.
J Nutr Volume: 155 Page(s): 580 - 588
02/01/2025 Authors: Cousineau BA; Mitchell EL; Hodge RA; Vaccarino V; Alvarez JA; Flanders WD; Stein AD; Mitchell DC; McCullough ML; Hartman TJ -
Low-added sugar dietary intervention study to mitigate glucose intolerance and improve body composition in adults with cystic fibrosis: a protocol of a double-blind, randomised study.
BMJ Open Volume: 14 Page(s): e092503
12/26/2024 Authors: Zaveri S; Stecenko A; Hunt WR; Goss A; Sharma P; Hartman TJ; Easley K; Chandler JD; Burley TM; Driggers C -
Hydroxyurea blunts mitochondrial energy metabolism and osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation exacerbating trabecular bone loss in sickle cell mice.
Cell Death Dis Volume: 15 Page(s): 907
12/18/2024 Authors: Tripathi AK; Dabeer S; Song J; Vikulina T; Roser-Page S; Alvarez JA; Archer DR; Weitzmann MN -
Sex Differences in Metabolic Disorders of Aging and Obesity in People with HIV.
Curr HIV/AIDS Rep Volume: 22 Page(s): 3
11/21/2024 Authors: Alvarez JA; Yang C-A; Ojuri V; Buckley K; Bedi B; Musonge-Effoe J; Soibi-Harry A; Lahiri CD -
Low-Dose Ketone Monoester Administration in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A Pilot and Feasibility Study.
Nutrients Volume: 16
11/19/2024 Authors: Plaisance EP; Bergeron JM; Bolyard ML; Hathorne HY; Graziano CM; Hartzes A; Genschmer KR; Alvarez JA; Goss AM; Gaggar A -
Nutritional status in the era of highly effective CFTR modulators.
Pediatr Pulmonol Volume: 59 Suppl 1 Page(s): S6 - S16
09/01/2024 Authors: Bass R; Alvarez JA -
Impact of high-dose cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and inulin prebiotic on intestinal and airway microbiota in adults with cystic fibrosis: A 22 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot study.
J Clin Transl Endocrinol Volume: 37 Page(s): 100362
09/01/2024 Authors: Suppakitjanusant P; Wang Y; Sivapiromrat AK; Hu C; Binongo J; Hunt WR; Weinstein S; Jathal I; Alvarez JA; Chassaing B