BOONE—Appalachian State University graduate dietetic students Sara Kim and Kayce Chapman Boggs placed first and second respectively in the graduate student research competition at the 75th Annual North Carolina Dietetic Association (NCDA) State Meeting held April 20-22 in Raleigh.

“This is the first year the award has been given, and it was so great to see two ASU students receive this award,” said Dr. Lisa McAnulty, professor of foods and nutrition in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Appalachian.

A committee of researchers from North Carolina universities and institutions reviewed the undergraduate and graduate research posters presented at the annual meeting. Posters were judged on knowledge or experience achieved, effective use of method/ medium, clarity of expression and response to questions and originality and creativity.

Sara Kim won first place in the graduate student research competition for her presentation, “Effectiveness of the Western NC Folic Acid Campaign in Watauga County,” at the 75th annual North Carolina Dietetic Association Meeting April 20-22 in Raleigh. Kim is a graduate student in Appalachian State University’s dietetics program.

Thirty-three posters were submitted in the competition.

Kim’s study, “Effectiveness of the Western NC Folic Acid Campaign in Watauga County,” investigated whether the significant reduction in neural tube defects, experienced in North Carolina during the past decade and primarily as a result of the efforts of the Western N.C. Folic Acid Campaign (WNFAC), is due to increased folate intake in the diet and/or increased folic acid (synthetic form of folate) from supplements. Findings from her study suggest that, in Watauga County, the education received by women of child-bearing age appears to be effective in increasing folic acid intake from supplements but not dietary folate.

Boggs’ project, “Nutritional Quality of Prepared Meals at Food Assistance Programs in Watauga and Wilkes Counties, North Carolina,” looked at the distribution of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin E, folate, iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, and calories from protein and carbohydrates both among and within three food assistance programs in Watauga and Wilkes counties, and determined if the three food assistance programs, on average, met one-third of the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for those micronutrients. Four nutrients – calcium, magnesium, folate and iron (especially important for optimal health of women) – did not meet a third of the RDA.

Kim is a student of McAnulty and Boggs is a student of Dr. Sarah Jordan, chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and professor of foods and nutrition.

The North Carolina Dietetic Association (NCDA) is one of 50 state affiliates of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.

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