Sina Gallo

Education

Research

Maternal and infant nutrition is related to child growth and later health as an adult. Hence, Dr. Gallo's research focuses on nutrition during the critical periods of development, from pregnancy to childhood. She has conducted seminal work on infant vitamin D requirements and continues to explore adherence and the appropriateness of current vitamin D recommendations for bone development. She is also interested in the diets of young children and how these relate to healthy growth. She works with vulnerable populations including those participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). For more information see the Child Diet and Health Disparities Lab.

Teaching

Dr. Gallo has taught classes in Lifespan Nutrition, Nutritional Assessment, and Research Methods. She currently teaches Micronutrient Nutrition (FDNS 4100/6100) and Food and Nutrition Policy (FDNS 4600/6600E).

Prior Professional Positions

Awards

Service

Outreach

Georgia WIC Working Group

Advisory Committee

Health and Wellness Advisory Committee, Dairy Alliance, 2020-2021

Virginia WIC, Medical Advisory Committee, 2016-2019

Areas of Expertise

Maternal and child nutrition

Breastfeeding

Vitamin D

Bone health

Community-based participatory research (CBPR)

Current Research

• Optimal Vitamin D for Maternal and Infant Health: This work explores adherence with current infant vitamin D policies and requirements.  We are also exploring predictors and health outcomes associated with maternal vitamin D status.
• "What Children Eat" Studying Children's Diet Recall Accuracy: This work focuses on improving the accuracy of dietary recalls among elementary school-aged children, through exploring the effects of age, body mass index, and race/ethnicity. 

• Improving Access to Prenatal/Postpartum Nutrition: Receiving proper nutrition before, during and after pregnancy can improve both mother and offspring health. We are gathering information into the gaps in prenatal nutrition education as well lactation support in rural Georgia which will inform future community intervention/s.

Journal Articles

Selected:

**Indicates student author

Braun, A. Hill, E., Vitolins, M., Landry, M., Gallo, S. & Rozga, M. (2022) Research at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: What, how, and why? Journal of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. 122(11), 2150-2162. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2022.08.123

Gallo, S., Gahche, J., Kitsantas, P Makwana, P.**, Wang,Y.** Chen, X. & Rajbhandari-Thapa, J. (2022). Vitamin D intake and meeting recommendations among infants participating in WIC nationally. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. S1499-4046(21)00939-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.11.009.

Gharibeh, N.**, Sotunde, O.F., Vanstone, C.A., Gallo, S. & Weiler, H.A. (2021). Patterns of bone mineral accretion and sex differences in healthy term vitamin D replete and breastfed Infants from Montreal, Canada: Bone mass reference data.  Journal of Clinical Densitometry. S1094-6950(21)00058-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jocd.2021.07.004.

Kindler, J.M., Gallo, S., Khoury, P.R., Urbina, E.M., & Zemel, B.S (2021). Diet quality and bone density in youth with healthy weight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Nutrients. 13(9):3288. doi: 10.3390/nu13093288.

Gallo, S. & Cheskin, L. (2021). Treatment of obesity: a review of diet, lifestyle and other approaches. Gastroenterology Clinics. 50(1):113-125. doi: Gastroenteroly Clinics of North America. 2021 Mar;50(1):113-125. doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2020.10.00.

Pari-Keener, M., Gallo, S., Stahnke, B., McDermid, J.M., Itani Al-Nimr, R., Moreschi, J., Hakeem, R., Handu, D. & Cheng, F.W. (2020). Maternal and infant health outcomes associated with medical nutrition therapy by registered dietitian nutritionists in pregnant women with malnutrition: an Evidence Analysis Center systematic review, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. 120(10):1730-1744.

Gallo, S., Jones, M.T, Channell Doig, A., Kogan, K.**, Fields, J.**, Wonderlich, J.**, Hansen, A.**, Lacharite, K. & Mehlenbeck, R. (2020). Feasibility of a multidisciplinary and culturally-adapted pediatric weight Management program for Latino families: results from the Vidas Activas y Familias Saludables (VALÉ) pilot study. Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior. 52(1):55-63.

Gallo, S., McDermid. J,M., Itani Al-Nimr, R., Hakeem, R., Moreschi, J., Pari Keener, M., Stahnke, B., Papoutsakis, C., Handu, D. & Chen, F.W. (2019). Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: An Evidence Analysis Center systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. pii: S2212-2672(19)30849-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2019.07.002.

Gallo, S., Kogan, K.** & Kitsantas, P. Racial/ethnic differences in reasons for breastfeeding cessation among women participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). (2019). Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. 2019 Aug 30. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.13031.

Rethy, J.A., Gallo, S., Channell Doig, A., Brady, J., & Goodfriend, D. (2019). Patterns and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding among predominately Hispanic immigrant women attending a local Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Public Health Nutrition, 22(9):1667-1674.

Gallo, S., Hazell, T.J., Vanstone, C.A., Agellon, A., Jones, G., L'Abbé, M., Rodd, C, & Weiler, H.A. (2016). Vitamin D supplementation in breastfed infants from Montréal, Canada: 25-hydroxyvitamin D and bone health effects from a follow-up study at 3 years of age. Osteoporosis International, 27(8), 2459-2466. 

Gallo, S., Comeau, K., Sharma, A., Vanstone, C.A., Agellon, S., Mitchell, J., Weiler, H.A., & Rodd, C. (2014). Redefining normal clinical biochemistry for healthy infants in Canada. Clinical Biochemistry, 47(15), 27-32.

Gallo, S., & Rodd, C. (2014). Are all "milks" created equal?  [Invited Commentary]. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 186(17):1277-1278.

Gallo, S., Comeau, K., Agellon, S., Vanstone, C.A., Sharma, A., Jones, G., L’Abbé, M., Khamessan, A., Weiler, H.A., & Rodd, C. (2014). Methodological issues in assessing plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in newborn infants. Bone, 61, 186-190.

Gallo, S., Vanstone, C., Agellon, S., Comeau, K., Jones, G., L ’Abbé, M., Khamessan, A., Sharma, A., Rodd, C., & Weiler, H.A. (2013). Effect of different dosages of oral vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status in healthy, breast-fed infants: A randomized trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 309(17), 1785-1792.

Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/sina.gallo.1/bibliography/public/