Diet & Nutrition | Centers for Integrative Health

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Weight Management: Dissemination and Implementation of Shared Medical Appointments at UC San Diego Health

The UCSD Supervised Lifestyle and Integrative Medicine (SLIM) Program for the treatment of obesity is a virtual SMA program that has a curriculum based on USPSTF recommendations for intensive lifestyle change and meets the requirements of ITLC outlined in the American College of Lifestyle Medicine position statement on ITLC.

It is run by the UC San Diego Center for Integrative Medicine, and in-person assessment visits take place at the UC San Diego Center for Weight Management. The program consists of 12 visits, covering all six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine. There are 2 pre-intervention visits for initial assessments and tailored recommendations and 2 follow-up assessments.

Study Activities

Participation includes 12 virtual group appointments, 2 pre-intervention visits, and 2 post-intervention assessments, focused on lifestyle education and personalized weight management support.

Participant Benefits

Education and tools for long-term weight management through evidence-based lifestyle interventions and support from an integrative health team.

Additional Information

Additional eligibility requirements may be reviewed with the study coordinator, please contact us for screening.

Ophthalmology and Diet – Shiley Eye Institute

Glaucoma affects about 80 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of blindness. While there’s no cure, emerging evidence suggests dietary changes—specifically using “food as medicine”—may influence intraocular pressure and systemic health. Shiley Eye Institute and the KCIR are conducting a study examining eye health under a whole‑foods, plant‑based (WFPB) diet.

Study Activities

Learning healthy cooking basics and trying therapeutic recipes
Developing understanding of the energetics of food, cooking, and eating
Attending cooking classes and group meetings (support persons encouraged)
Blood samples for DNA, diet, and visual function analysis
Various eye tests to assess current eye health

Participant Benefits

Education and practical skills in healthy cooking, dietary support, and comprehensive eye health assessments.

Eligibility Criteria

Men or women ages 18–80 with stable open‑angle glaucoma. Additional eligibility requirements may be reviewed with the study coordinator.

Additional Information

Additional eligibility requirements may be reviewed with the study coordinator, please contact us for screening.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Anti-Inflammatory Diet – with the Division of Rheumatology

Recruiting

Diet & Nutrition

Integrative Therapies

Observational

Dr. Monica Guma from the Division of Rheumatology at UC San Diego, together with the Center for Integrative Nutrition and Research, is conducting a study of a 3-month long program to test nutritional changes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Study Activities

There will be four, one-hour, face-to-face visits required. Participation will also involve education and support in the adoption of a healthy and nutritionally balanced anti-inflammatory diet. The program includes a detailed baseline orientation, expert nutrition counseling and education, and telephone coaching.

Participant Benefits

Education and support in adopting a healthy and nutritionally balanced anti-inflammatory diet.

Eligibility Criteria

Any patient with rheumatoid arthritis without food allergies can participate.

Additional Information

If you are interested in the study and would like further details, please contact the Nutrition Rheumatoid Arthritis Study Coordinator. You may also review the study flyer here.

Additional eligibility requirements may be reviewed with the study coordinator, please contact us for screening.

Evaluating the Effects of Magnesium on Arterial Compliance and Cerebral Blood Flow

This feasibility study aims to examine whether 12 weeks of magnesium supplementation (450 mg magnesium citrate 3x day with food) might increase cerebral blood flow and reduce the stiffness of the medium-sized arteries in the brain of obese patients with metabolic syndrome. Blood and MRI are measured before and after the intervention.

Additional Information

Additional eligibility requirements may be reviewed with the study coordinator, please contact us for screening.

Integrative Prehabilitation Program for Patients Facing Surgery

Recruiting

Diet & Nutrition

Integrative Therapies

Lifestyle Medicine

Mind-Body

Observational

This study supports patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery with a comprehensive integrative care plan. The program includes services before and after surgery and is led by UC San Diego experts in mindfulness, dietetics, and exercise physiology.

Study Activities

A treatment development and feasibility study assessing a 3–5 month integrative pre- and post-habilitation program. The program includes mindfulness sessions with a mindfulness coach (MC), dietary counsel visits with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), and physical fitness consultation visits with an exercise physiologist. The study activities consists of mostly virtual visits and surveys, but also includes in-person visits to complete questionnaires and physical evaluations.

Participant Benefits

All services are provided at no cost. Pre- and post-surgical oral nutrition supplements are provided. Participants may experience improved surgical outcomes, reduced anxiety, and enhanced overall well-being.

Eligibility Criteria

Adults ages 18–75 undergoing major abdominal surgery for gastrointestinal cancer
Must enroll at least 4 weeks—and no more than 3 months—prior to surgery

Additional Information

Additional eligibility requirements may be reviewed with the study coordinator, please contact us for screening.

Integrative Plant-Based Diet & Behavioral Interventions for Patients with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Recruiting

Diet & Nutrition

Integrative Therapies

Lifestyle Medicine

Observational

This study explores an Integrative Care Program for reducing symptoms of LPR. Study outcomes will be measured before and after an 8-week intervention including dietary counseling, educational materials, and recipes.

Study Activities

The objective of this prospective single center study is to test a whole food, plant-based diet with special attention to certain foods for patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).The intervention includes a Principal Investigator–led orientation video and four telehealth visits with a registered dietitian. The study activities also include completing online assessments.

Participant Benefits

Benefits include dietary orientation and expert nutritional counseling, WFPB diet education materials and recipes, and telehealth support for lifestyle and dietary changes.

Eligibility Criteria

Adults aged 18 to 89 years old with 8 weeks or more of laryngeal symptoms (dysphonia/voice hoarseness, throat clearing, sore throat, globus, cough, mucus in throat), that are suspected to have potential LPR and are currently receiving concurrent clinical speech therapy at UC San Diego Health.

Additional Information

Additional study eligibility and participation requirements may be reviewed with the study coordinator. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us for screening.

Anti-Inflammatory Rich Diet in First Episode Psychosis

The goal of the study is multi-faceted: to develop and test a dietary intervention based on an anti-inflammatory, whole foods diet pattern using continuous feedback from early psychosis patients and their families, evaluate the feasibility, satisfaction, and adherence of a 5-week diet intervention, and explore whether the intervention effects weight, metabolic parameters, biomarkers, symptoms of psychosis, and overall well-being. The intervention includes individualized dietary counseling, diet education, meal plans, and recipes.

Study analysis in progress.

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