My research interests concern evaluation of the effect of diet on health and disease focusing on the omega-3 fatty acids of ma

K. SHANE BROUGHTON

Associate Professor

Office Number: (307)-766-5248

Fax Number: (307)-766-5686

My research interests concern evaluation of the effect of diet on health and disease focusing on the omega-3 fatty acids of marine and agricultural origin and their oxygenated derivatives. My particular interest is in how diet is involved in inflammatory and immunologic processes and metabolites in the prostaglandin and leukotriene pathways. My research direction has a two foci approach with one area focusing on the role of diet and drugs in the regulation of ovulation and the other examining the role of inflammatory metabolites in asthma.

My asthma associated studies have identified that at least four subtypes of asthma exist based on primary metabolites that are released during an asthmatic episode. Attempts are now being made to characterize these subtypes and to develop a diagnostic tool that will allow for clinical identification of type for more effective individualized treatment based on type.

Ovulation is the best characterized inflammatory process and responds to diet in a similar manner. Impaired fecundity affects approximately 4.9 million married and unmarried women in the US. Of that number 2.4 million meet the standard medical definition of infertility. Diagnostic treatment costs for infertility range from $2,500 to $10,000 with medical treatment success rates of 50%. Much of the problems with compromised ovulation may be associated with imbalances in the diet. Studies to date have established that extreme levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are proovulatory in the rat. Further, particular drugs have also been found to alter ovulation, depending on the dose or route of administration. It is my desire to ascertain to what degree diet and drugs may interfere with ovulation and the mechanisms by which they do so, and to determine how typical and modified diets can be used to alleviate problems associated with ovulation.

Graphic - showing relationship of Ovulation and Asthma

Academic Degrees:

Ph.D. Human Nutrition – Washington State University - 1988
M.S. Biochemistry – Washington State University -1985
B.S. Biology – Colorado State University – 1981

Instruction:

Nutrition (FCSC 1140), Principles of Nutrition (FCSC 1141), Maternal, Infant & Adolescent Nutrition (FCSC 3140), Nutrition and the Elderly (FCSC 4142), Therapeutic Nutrition (FCSC 4146), Nutrition Research Techniques (FCSC 5142), Lipids II (FCSC 5144).

Professional Memberships:

American Society of Nutrition

International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids Lipids

Selected Research Publications:

1998 Broughton KS. Asthma and the role of dietary lipids. Internat. Soc. for the Study of Ess. Fatty Acids and Lipids. 5:8-14

1997 Broughton KS, Johnson CS, Pace BK, Liebman M, and Kleppinger KM. Reduced asthmatic symptoms with n-3 fatty acid ingestion are related to 5-series leukotriene production. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 65:1011-1017

1995 Trujillo EP and Broughton KS. Ingestion of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and ovulation in rats. J. Reprod. Fertil. 105:197-203

Broughton KS, Bays J, and Culver B. Short and long-chain (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid ingestion and ovulation in rats. Biol. Reprod.

Broughton KS, Jenkins T, Opella B, Schmidt C, Kappler H, and Culver B. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors and ovulation in rats. Biol. Reprod.

PATENTS:

Broughton KS. Full patent submission of Asthma diagnostic tool.

Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Dept. 3354
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071-3354