Photo of Stanley  T. Omaye, Extension

Stanley T. Omaye

Professor

Summary

Nutrition & Aging:    Efficacy of antioxidant compounds on atherosclerosis and the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins.  

The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) increases markedly with age and is the largest contributor to morbidity and premature mortality in men and women. Increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and free-radical mediated or oxidative damage of LDL represent a key risk factor and a key step in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Therefore, LDL oxidation and CVD are closely linked and likely contribute to adverse health consequences and death in the elderly. We have been interested in attenuating the risk of CVD by dietary or supplemental antioxidants and have tested the ability of antioxidant levels and combinations to protect LDL isolated from human blood from oxidation.

Environmental Health: Health effects of air pollutants, environmental tobacco smoke, mercury contamination in Northern Nevada

A multi-disciplinary approach has been used to investigate potential links between health effects and various environmental pollutants. Past or ongoing projects include:

  1. Impact of regulatory changes on air pollution and health in Northern Nevada;
  2. Maternal, neonate and environmental tobacco smoke;
  3. Assessing community needs in environmental health; and
  4. Mercury and health effects in Northern Nevada. 

 Health Promoting Bioactive Compounds: Selected phytochemicals and conjugated linoleic acid.

There are a variety of chemicals derived from plant and animal tissue that have the potential for promoting health, when consumed. Nutraceuticals is the term coined for such bioactive compounds, i.e., chemicals found as a natural component of foods or other ingestible forms that have been determined to be beneficial to the human body in preventing or treating one or more diseases. For over a decade, we have been interested in several of such chemicals and are continuing our efforts to understand their mode of action. Many of these compounds have antioxidant properties, thus we have focused on developing a better understanding about how they impact on oxidative stress using test tube models, animal studies, and human trials.

Improving Food Safety for Vulnerable Populations of Nevada

Preventing foodborne illness and death remains a major public health challenge and substantially reducing foodborne disease outbreaks is a goal of Healthy People 2010. CDC still estimates that 76 million people get sick, more than 300,000 are hospitalized and approximately 5,000 Americans die each year from foodborne illnesses. Those at risk are the elderly, pregnant women, infants, and young children and those with compromised immune system. Thus, one in every five individuals in the U.S. falls into one of these as-risk categories. Because of Nevada’s growing elderly and young populations and the economic dependency on food service related tourism, we are particularly vulnerable. We are involved in assisting these vulnerable populations through food safety research and education.

Nutritional Quality of Foods Grown by Urban Systems

Research studying the effects of growing conditions on production of bioactive compounds.  Using subjective methods, we are comparing sensory quality of produce grown in traditional soil to those grown hydroponically. We also are interested in the effects of environmental stresses on the level of production of bioactive compounds.  We will determine the effects of such stresses on the quality of produce.

Education

B.A., Chemistry, California State University, Sacramento, CA
M.S., Pharmacology, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Ph.D., Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA

Programs

cooked food

Food Safety Project

Extension has been instrumental in bringing about the "Nevada Food Safety Task Force," which strives to provide a working forum for food safety experts and to improve communication between all entities that are held accountable for food safety and security within our state.Improving Food Safety Education for Child and Adult Care Providers in Nevada.

Courses

  • AGSC 280 - INDEPENDENT STUDIES
  • NUTR 326 - PRINCIPLES OF FOOD SCIENCE
  • NUTR 424/624 - FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL TOXICOLOGY
  • NUTR 735 - MICRONUTRIENTS
  • NUTR 730 - MACRONUTRIENTS

Honors and Awards

  • Fellow, Academy of Toxicological Sciences
  • Certified Nutrition Specialist
  • Certified Food Scientist

News & Journal Articles, Fact Sheets, Reports...

Book Chapter(s)
The proof of fruits and vegetables grown hydroponically is in the eating: Sensory attributes of hydroponic grown fruits and vegetables. Treftz, C., Omaye, S. T. 2016, In Md. Asaduzzaman (Ed.), Controlled Environment Agriculture – Production of Specialty Crops providing Human Health Benefits Through Hydroponics. (pp. 175-196). Hauppauge, NY
Grape wine and tea polyphenolics in the modulation of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Dubick, M. A., and Omaye, S. T. 2007, Nutraceutical Handbook, 2nd edition (Wildmann, R., Ed.) CRC Press
Maternal environmental tobacco exposure and in utero and adverse birth outcomes. Todd, S. J. T. and Omaye, S. T. 2006, Inhalation Toxicology, 2nd edition, Salem, H. and Katz, S. A., Eds., pp, 875-912, CRC Press, Roco Ratan, FL.
Food and Nutritional Toxicology Omaye, S. T. 2004, CRC Press
Bulletins
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-mediated gene expression and implications for atherosclerosis. Nakamura, Y. K., and Omaye, S. T. 2009, International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) commentaries. March 16, 2009. http://www.athero.org/commentaries/comm891.asp
Vitamin E-modulated ROS generation and ROS-related diseases. Nakamura, Y. K., and Omaye, S. T. 2009, International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) commentaries. October 5, 2009. http://www.athero.org/commentaries/comm934.asp
Fact Sheets
Hydroponics: A Brief Guide to Growing Food Without Soil
Hydroponics comes from the Greek word “hydro,” meaning water, and “ponos,” meaning labor. In other words, hydroponics is gardening without soil. Growing food in a desert can be difficult because of extreme temperatures, low natural precipitation and limited arable soil.
Treftz, C., Kratsch, H., and Omaye, S. 2015, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, Fact Sheet FS-15-08
Food Safety Tips for Nevada Child Caregivers
This publication will help you to learn more about what caregivers should look for during the preparation of food to prevent foodborne illness.
Omaye, S. and Wilson, M. 2007, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-07-28
Journals
Toxicology of commonly found ingredients in E-cigqrettes: A brief review. Alshareef, H. Z., & Omaye, S. T. 2021, Health, 13, 1396–1409
Antioxidants: Looking Forward After a Decad. Omaye, S. T. 2021, Antioxidants, 10(12), 1992
Selenium’s utility in mercury toxicity: A mini-review. Timmerman, R., & Omaye, S. T. 2021, Food and Nutrition Science, 22, 124–127
The Link between Oral and Gut Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and a Synopsis of Potential Salivary Biomarker Bartlett, A. M., Gullickson, R. G., Singh, R., Ro, S., Omaye, S. T 2020, Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(18), 6421
Concentration effects of biochar on soil health and red leaf lettuce (Luctuca Sativa). Murphy, B., Torres, M., Fan, Z., Omaye, S. T. 2019, Journal of Agriculture Research
Caveats in the good and bad of dietary red meat. Omaye, A. T., Omaye, S. T. 2019, Antioxidants, 8(11), 544-554
Vaping-linked lung disease: Implication for pro-oxidant effect of vitamin E. Omaye, S. T. 2019, Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 23, 17755-17756.
Dysbiosis of the Oral Microbiome: Association with and Prevention of Human Diseases. Zhang, Z., Yang, W., Omaye, S. T. 2019, Food and Nutrition Sciences, 10, 793-814
Vitamin C supplementation reduces oxidative stress and increases peak muscular force. Evans, L. W., Omaye, S. T. 2017, Food and Nutrition Sciences, 8(8), 812-822.
Use of saliva biomarkers to monitor efficacy of vitamin C in exercise-induced oxidative stress. Evans, L., Omaye, S. T. 2017, Antioxidants, 6(1)
Hydroponics: Potential for augmenting sustainable food production in non-arable regions. Treftz, C., Omaye, S. T. 2016, Nutrition and Food Science, 46(5), 672-684
Oxidation of olive oil fortified with quercetin, caffeic acid, tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol. Etherton, A. K., Omaye, S. T. 2015, Nutrition and Food Science, 45(3), 493-508
Vitamin and trace element loss from negative pressure wound therapy. Hourigan, L. A., Omaye, S. T., Keen, C. L., Jones, J. A., Dubick, M. A. 2015, Advances in Skin & Wound Care.
Comparison between hydroponic and soil systems for growing strawberries in a greenhouse. Omaye, S. T., Treftz, C. 2015, International Journal of Agricultural Extension, 3, 195-200.
Comparison between Hydroponic- and Soil-Grown Raspberries (Rubus idaeus): Viability and Sensory Traits. Treftz, C., Omaye, S. T. 2015, Food and Nutrition Sciences., 6, 1533-1540.
Investigating the effects of hydroponic media on quality of greenhouse grown leafy greens. Ferguson, S. D., Saliga III, R. P., Omaye, S. T. 2014, International Journal of Agricultural Extension, 2, 227-234.
Comparative study of ascorbic acid and tocopherol concentrations in hydroponic- and soil-grown lettuces. Buchanan, D. N., Omaye, S. T. 2013, Food and Nutrition Sciences, 4, 1047-1053.
Gamma-glutamylcysteine inhibits oxidative stress in human endothelial cells. Nakamura, Y. K., Dubick, M. A., Omaye, S. T. 2012, Life Sciences, 90, 116-121.
Modulation of oxidative stress by ?-glutamylcysteine (GGC) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomer mixture in human umbilical vein endothelial cells Nakamura, Y. K., Dubick, M. A., Omaye, S. T. 2012, Food and Chemical Toxicology, Vol 50, Issue 6, Pg. 1854-1859
Metabolic diseases and pro- and prebiotics: Mechanistic insights Nakamura, Y. K., Omaye, S. T. 2012, Nutrition & Metabolism, 9, 1-9.
Metabolic diseases and pro- and prebiotics: mechanistic insights Nakamura, Y.K., and Omaye, S. T. 2012, Nutrition & Metabolism 9: 60-72.
Antioxidants to supplement or not to supplement that is the question. Omaye, S. T., Elsayed, N. 2012, Antioxidants, 1, 1-3.
Intimate Partner Violence, Depression and Overweight/Obesity Huang, Y., Yang, W., Omaye, S. T. 2011, Aggression and Violent Behavior, 16, 108-114
Comparison between Hydroponically and Conventionally and Organically Grown Lettuces for Taste, Odor, Visual Quality and Texture: A Pilot Study Murphy, M. T., Zhang, F., Nakamura, Y. K., Omaye, S. T. 2011, Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2, 124-127
Lipophilic compound-mediated gene expression and implication for intervention in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related diseases. Nakamura, Y. K., Omaye, S. T. 2010, Nutrients, 2, 725-736
Safety of vitamins and minerals: Controversies and perspective. Soni, M. G., Thurmond, T. S., Miller, E. R., Spriggs, T., Bendich, A., Omaye, S. T. 2010, Toxicological Sciences, 118(2), 348-355
Vitamin E-modulated gene expression associated with ROS generation. Nakamura, Y. K. and Omaye, S. T. 2009, J Functional Foods 1:241-252.
Conjugated linoleic acid isomers’ roles in the regulation of PPARgamma and NF-kappaB DNA binding and subsequent expression of antioxidant enzymes in human umbilical endothelial cells. Nakamura, Y. K., and Omaye, S. T. 2009, Nutrition 25: 800-811.
Food safety behaviors of adult/elderly caregivers in Nevada. Wilson, M., Surrendera-Babu, A., Omaye, S. T. 2009, J Food Safety 29: 163-175
Survey of Food Safety Behaviour in Nevada Child Caregivers Wilson, M., Surrendera-Babu, A., Omaye, S. T. 2009, International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health 2: Publication), 1: 116-126
Air pollutants, oxidative stress and human health. Yang, W., and Omaye, S. T. 2009, Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis 674:45-54.
Conjugated linoleic acid modulation of risk factors associated with atherosclerosis Nakamura, Y. K. Flintoof, N., and Omaye, S. T. 2008, Nutrition & Metabolism
alpha-Tocopherol modulation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell expression of Cu/Zn superoxide and catalase and lipid peroxidation through alteration of PPARgamma and NF-kappaB DNA binding activities. Nakamura, Y. K., and Omaye, S. T. 2008, Nutr Res 28: 671-680
Concentration dependent antioxidant activities of conjugated linoleic acid and alpha-tocopherol in corn oil badr El-Din, N. K. and Omaye, S. T. 2007, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 87: 2715 —2720
Additive or synergetic effects of phenolic compounds on human low density lipoprotein oxidation. Cirico, T. L., and Omaye, S. T. 2006, Food Chem Toxicol 44: 510-516.
Oxidation of serum low-density lipoprotein and antioxidant status in young and elderly humans. Nakamura, Y. K., Read, M. H., Elias, J. W., and Omaye, S. T. 2006, Arch Gerotol Geriatrics 42: 265-276.
Special Publications
Nutritional and Sensory Analysis of Raspberry Varieties Grown in Northern Nevada
The purpose of this study was to measure vitamin C, vitamin E, total polyphenolics (antioxidants) and sugars (glucose and fructose) in several raspberry varieties during two growing seasons and during different months of harvest. We hypothesized these nutrients would vary across types, as well as harvest month.
Jacobs, J., Kratsch, H., Omaye, S., and Treftz C. 2016, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Special Publication 16-14