Diane M. DellaValle, Ph.D.

Biography

Diane M. DellaValle, Ph.D., RDN, LDN, has been a Registered Dietitian for more than 20 years and has been teaching graduate students for more than 10 years. As a research dietitian and nutrition scientist, her work primarily focuses on iron deficiency and its effects on physical and cognitive performance, with an aim to enhance the iron status of vulnerable populations (e.g., women, children, athletes) worldwide through sustainable approaches.

Dr. D's background in Nutrition Science and Dietetics is complemented by extensive training and expertise in assessing and analyzing human performance data, and she specializes in designing, implementing, analyzing, and interpreting human clinical trials, particularly those involving biochemical and dietary assessments. Throughout her career, she has served as a research dietitian and principal investigator on numerous projects, allowing her to explore the relationships between dietary intake, biochemical indicators of nutrient status, and the functional outcomes of nutritional status.

Education

• B.S. Nutrition and Dietetics, Marywood University
• M.S. Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
• Ph.D., Human Nutrition, Cornell University

Publications

• Yunus FM, Jalal C, Das A, Afsana K, Podder R, Vandenberg A, DellaValle DM. Consumption of Iron-Fortified Lentils Is Protective against Declining Iron Status among Adolescent Girls in Bangladesh: Evidence from a Community-Based Double-Blind, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial. J Nutr. 2024 May;154(5):1686-1698. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.03.005. Epub 2024 Mar 6. PMID: 38458577.
• Senkus KE, Dudzik JM, Lennon SL, DellaValle DM, Moloney LM, Handu D, Rozga M. Medical nutrition therapy provided by a dietitian improves outcomes in adults with prehypertension or hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2024 Jun;119(6):1417-1442. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.04.012. Epub 2024 Apr 18. PMID: 38641320.
• Barnett, A. L., Wenger, M. J., Yunus, F. M., Jalal, C., & DellaValle, D. M. (2023). The Effect of Iron-Fortified Lentils on Blood and Cognitive Status among Adolescent Girls in Bangladesh. Nutrients, 15(23), 5001.
• DellaValle, D. M. (2022). Getting Beyond “Getting It Over With”: Professional Programs and the Humanities and Liberal Arts. Zeal: A Journal for the Liberal Arts, 1(1).
• Wenger, M. J., DellaValle, D. M., Todd, L. E., Barnett, A. L., & Haas, J. D. (2021). Limited Shared Variance among Measures of Cognitive Performance Used in Nutrition Research: The Need to Prioritize Construct Validity and Biological Mechanisms in Choice of Measures. Current Developments in Nutrition, 5(5)
• A Sandroni, E House, L Howard, DM DellaValle. Synbiotic supplementation improves response to iron supplementation in IDNA female athletes during training. Journal of Dietary Supplements, Feb 2021. DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2021.1887423

Awards and Designations

• Outstanding Dietetics Educator: North Eastern PA Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2021
• Research Award: Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group, 2021

CV / Website

• ORCID