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 Prenatal & Early-life Approaches to Child Health (PEACH Lab).

Teaching

Dr. Gallo has taught classes in Lifespan Nutrition, Nutritional Assessment, and Research Methods. She currently teaches Micronutrient Nutrition (NUTR 4100/6100) and Food and Nutrition Policy (NUTR 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 adherance with maternal and infant vitamin D requirements, and whether current requirements are sufficient.  We are also exploring the assessment of vitamin D status during pregnancy, and how maternal status affects child health.

• 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 to inform future community intervention/s.

Journal Articles

Selected:

**Indicates student author

Mercer, S.**, Chen, X., Tiwari, B.B.**, Anderson, A., Boulet, S., Thapa, J.R., & Gallo, S. (2025) Changes in vitamin D biomarkers across pregnancy and by maternal obesity: A secondary analysis of data and biospecimens from the National Children’s Study. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 252:106791. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2025.106791.

Channell Doig, A.**, Aparicio., E.M., & Gallo, S. (2023) Familial sources of encouragement and breastfeeding practices among women participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. 26(9):1871-1877.Public Health Nutrition. doi: 10.1017/S1368980023000666. 

McKay, A.**, Jones, M.T. & Gallo, S. (2023) Differences in cardiometabolic biomarkers between elementary school–age Latinx children with obesity versus healthy weight. Southern Medical Journal. 116(2):188-194. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001506.

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.

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/