Jessica Alvarez, PhD, RD

Research Program

Cancer Prevention and Control
Phone Number

404-727-1390
Email Address

jessica.alvarez@emory.edu

Biography

Jessica Alvarez, PhD, RD, is an associate professor in the Division Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipids of the Department of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Alvarez is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

Education

Dr. Alvarez is a registered dietitian with a master's in Clinical Nutrition and a PhD in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Titles & Roles

Associate Professor, Department of Medicine

Emory University School of Medicine

Research

Dr. Alvarez's research focuses on the role of nutrition and body composition on metabolism in chronic diseases, including cystic fibrosis and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Her research integrates state-of-the-art metabolomics with many aspects of nutrition research including rigorous clinical trials, body composition analysis, biomarker assessment, analysis of dietary intake and physical activity. Specific research foci include: 1) use of plasma high-resolution metabolomics, redox and bioenergetic assessment to identify targets for nutritional intervention to optimize health in adults with cystic fibrosis and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, 2) role of vitamin D in sulfur/disulfide thiol redox, insulin sensitivity, vascular function, and clinical outcomes in the general population and various clinical diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis and chronic kidney disease, 3) role of diet, body composition, and energy metabolism in ethnic health disparities of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, and 4) role of diet in sulfur/disulfide thiol redox-mediated pathophysiology. Dr. Alvarez is currently supported by a NIH/NIDDK K01 grant entitled, "Integration of Nutritional Metabolomics with Bioenergetics in Cystic Fibrosis."

Publications

Title/Journal	Authors	Publication Date
The impact of childhood maltreatment, HIV status, and their interaction on mental health outcomes and markers of systemic inflammation in women. Biology of sex differences	A Arnold, H Wang, CC Mehta, PC Nesbeth, B Bedi, C Kirkpatrick, CA Moran, A Powers, AK Smith, K Hagen, MN Weitzmann, I Ofotokun, CD Lahiri, JA Alvarez, AA Quyyumi, GN Neigh, V Michopoulos	03/28/2025
Short and Long-term Body Weight Change Following the Switch to or the Addition of Integrase Inhibitors in Persons With HIV Differs by Sex. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America	CD Lahiri, CC Mehta, Q Yang, T Maramba, J Musonge-Effoe, CA Yang, JB Dumond, ML Alcaide, JE Lake, LH Rubin, AL French, J Cocohoba, SG Kassaye, A Sharma, FJ Palella, J Mellors, D Konkle-Parker, E Topper, M Augenbraun, MK Ali, AN Sheth, TR Ziegler, I Ofotokun, JA Alvarez	03/17/2025
Reproducibility and Validity of Plant-Based Dietary Indices in the Cancer Prevention Study-3 Diet Assessment Substudy. The Journal of nutrition	BA Cousineau, EL Mitchell, RA Hodge, V Vaccarino, JA Alvarez, WD Flanders, AD Stein, DC Mitchell, ML McCullough, TJ Hartman	02/01/2025
Low-added sugar dietary intervention study to mitigate glucose intolerance and improve body composition in adults with cystic fibrosis: a protocol of a double-blind, randomised study. BMJ open	S Zaveri, A Stecenko, WR Hunt, A Goss, P Sharma, TJ Hartman, K Easley, JD Chandler, TM Burley, C Driggers, A Ciccarella, H Zhou, K Narlow, TR Ziegler, T Daley, P Vellanki, J Alvarez	12/26/2024
Hydroxyurea blunts mitochondrial energy metabolism and osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation exacerbating trabecular bone loss in sickle cell mice. Cell death & disease	AK Tripathi, S Dabeer, J Song, T Vikulina, S Roser-Page, JA Alvarez, DR Archer, MN Weitzmann	12/18/2024
High-resolution plasma metabolomics and thiamine status in critically Ill adult patients. Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society	K Gundogan, MM Nellis, NT Ozer, SS Ergul, GG Sahin, S Temel, RC Yuksel, S Teeny, JA Alvarez, M Sungur, DP Jones, TR Ziegler	07/27/2024
A new framework for exploratory network mediator analysis in omics data. Genome research	Q Cai, Y Fu, C Lyu, Z Wang, S Rao, JA Alvarez, Y Bai, J Kang, T Yu	05/15/2024
Linoleic acid blunts early osteoblast differentiation and impairs oxidative phosphorylation in vitro. Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids	PC Nesbeth, TR Ziegler, AK Tripathi, S Dabeer, D Weiss, L Hao, MR Smith, DP Jones, KM Maner-Smith, CL Tu, W Chang, MN Weitzmann, JA Alvarez	02/01/2024
Characterizing substrate utilization during the fasted state using plasma high-resolution metabolomics. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)	KR Taibl, MP Bellissimo, MR Smith, KH Liu, VT Tran, DP Jones, TR Ziegler, JA Alvarez	12/01/2023
High-Resolution Plasma Metabolomics and Thiamine Status in Critically Ill Adult Patients. Research square	K Gundogan, MM Nellis, NT Ozer, SS Ergul, GG Sahin, S Temel, RC Yuksel, S Teeny, JA Alvarez, M Sungur, DP Jones, TR Ziegler	11/15/2023
Increased adiposity is associated with altered skeletal muscle energetics. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)	DA Reiter, MP Bellissimo, L Zhou, S Boebinger, GD Wells, DP Jones, TR Ziegler, JA Alvarez, CC Fleischer	05/01/2023
Untargeted, High-Resolution Metabolomics in Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition	EM Sinclair, CC Cohen, V Tran, DP Jones, JA Alvarez, R Kamaleswaran, MG Rad, PG Kruszewski, MB Vos	03/01/2023
Sex differences in the relationships between body composition, fat distribution, and mitochondrial energy metabolism: a pilot study. Nutrition & metabolism	MP Bellissimo, CC Fleischer, DA Reiter, AM Goss, L Zhou, MR Smith, J Kohlmeier, R Tirouvanziam, PH Tran, L Hao, BH Crain, GD Wells, DP Jones, TR Ziegler, JA Alvarez	05/21/2022
Microbial metabolite delta-valerobetaine is a diet-dependent obesogen. Nature metabolism	KH Liu, JA Owens, B Saeedi, CE Cohen, MP Bellissimo, C Naudin, T Darby, S Druzak, K Maner-Smith, M Orr, X Hu, J Fernandes, MC Camacho, S Hunter-Chang, D VanInsberghe, C Ma, T Ganesh, SM Yeligar, K Uppal, YM Go, JA Alvarez, MB Vos, TR Ziegler, MH Woodworth, CS Kraft, RM Jones, E Ortlund, AS Neish, DP Jones	12/01/2021
Plasma high-resolution metabolomic phenotyping of lean mass in a United States adult cohort. JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition	MP Bellissimo, DP Jones, GS Martin, JA Alvarez, TR Ziegler	11/01/2021
Plant food intake is associated with lower cadmium body burden in middle-aged adults. European journal of nutrition	KK Dennis, SE Judd, JA Alvarez, K Kahe, DP Jones, TJ Hartman	09/01/2021
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: 2020 Cystic Fibrosis Evidence Analysis Center Evidence-Based Nutrition Practice Guideline. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics	CM McDonald, JA Alvarez, J Bailey, EK Bowser, K Farnham, M Mangus, L Padula, K Porco, M Rozga	08/01/2021
Dietary Macronutrient Distribution and Nutrition Outcomes in Persons with Cystic Fibrosis: An Evidence Analysis Center Systematic Review. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics	CM McDonald, EK Bowser, K Farnham, JA Alvarez, L Padula, M Rozga	08/01/2021
Effect of CFTR Modulators on Anthropometric Parameters in Individuals with Cystic Fibrosis: An Evidence Analysis Center Systematic Review. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics	J Bailey, M Rozga, CM McDonald, EK Bowser, K Farnham, M Mangus, L Padula, K Porco, JA Alvarez	07/01/2021
Weight and Body Mass Index Change After Switching to Integrase Inhibitors or Tenofovir Alafenamide Among Women Living with HIV. AIDS research and human retroviruses	CD Lahiri, Y Xu, K Wang, JA Alvarez, AN Sheth, J O'Halloran, AB Spence, P Tien, DR Gustafson, J Milam, MA Fischl, D Konkle-Parker, AA Adimora, A Sharma, KM Weber, I Ofotokun, LH Rubin	06/01/2021
Plasma high-resolution metabolomics identifies linoleic acid and linked metabolic pathways associated with bone mineral density. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)	MP Bellissimo, TR Ziegler, DP Jones, KH Liu, J Fernandes, JL Roberts, MN Weitzmann, R Pacifici, JA Alvarez	02/01/2021
Factors Contributing to Vitamin D Status at Hospital Admission for Pulmonary Exacerbation in Adults With Cystic Fibrosis. The American journal of the medical sciences	A Bhimavarapu, Q Deng, M Bean, N Lee, TR Ziegler, J Alvarez, V Tangpricha	01/01/2021
Physical Fitness but Not Diet Quality Distinguishes Lean and Normal Weight Obese Adults. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics	MP Bellissimo, EL Bettermann, PH Tran, BH Crain, EP Ferranti, JN Binongo, TJ Hartman, DP Jones, TR Ziegler, JA Alvarez	12/01/2020
Metabolomic Associations with Serum Bone Turnover Markers. Nutrients	MP Bellissimo, JL Roberts, DP Jones, KH Liu, KR Taibl, K Uppal, MN Weitzmann, R Pacifici, H Drissi, TR Ziegler, JA Alvarez	10/16/2020
Effects of gender affirming hormone therapy on body mass index in transgender individuals: A longitudinal cohort study. Journal of clinical & translational endocrinology	P Suppakitjanusant, Y Ji, MO Stevenson, P Chantrapanichkul, RC Sineath, M Goodman, JA Alvarez, V Tangpricha	09/01/2020
Hepatic fat is a stronger correlate of key clinical and molecular abnormalities than visceral and abdominal subcutaneous fat in youth. BMJ open diabetes research & care	CE Cioffi, KMV Narayan, K Liu, K Uppal, DP Jones, V Tran, T Yu, JA Alvarez, MP Bellissimo, KM Maner-Smith, B Pierpoint, S Caprio, N Santoro, MB Vos	07/01/2020
Unusual Variants of Follicular Lymphoma: Case-based Review. The American journal of surgical pathology	JR Chapman, JP Alvarez, K White, S Sanchez, M Khanlari, K Algashaamy, D Cassidy, JH Peng, YS Fan, A Alencar, JP Alderuccio, IS Lossos, F Vega	03/01/2020
Associations of Added Sugar from All Sources and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages with Regional Fat Deposition in US Adolescents: NHANES 1999-2006. Current developments in nutrition	CE Cioffi, JA Welsh, JA Alvarez, TJ Hartman, KMV Narayan, MB Vos	12/01/2019
Plasma High-Resolution Metabolomics Differentiates Adults with Normal Weight Obesity from Lean Individuals. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)	MP Bellissimo, Q Cai, TR Ziegler, KH Liu, PH Tran, MB Vos, GS Martin, DP Jones, T Yu, JA Alvarez	11/01/2019
Truncal-to-leg fat ratio and cardiometabolic disease risk factors in US adolescents: NHANES 2003-2006. Pediatric obesity	CE Cioffi, JA Alvarez, JA Welsh, MB Vos	07/01/2019
Visceral adipose tissue is associated with poor diet quality and higher fasting glucose in adults with cystic fibrosis. Journal of cystic fibrosis : official journal of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society	MP Bellissimo, I Zhang, EA Ivie, PH Tran, V Tangpricha, WR Hunt, AA Stecenko, TR Ziegler, JA Alvarez	05/01/2019
Assessment and Treatment of Problem Behavior Maintained by Termination of Interruptions. Developmental neurorehabilitation	T Cariveau, SJ Miller, NA Call, J Alvarez	04/01/2019
Vitamin D for the Immune System in Cystic Fibrosis (DISC): a double-blind, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The American journal of clinical nutrition	V Tangpricha, J Lukemire, Y Chen, JNG Binongo, SE Judd, ES Michalski, MJ Lee, S Walker, TR Ziegler, R Tirouvanziam, SM Zughaier, S Chesdachai, WA Hermes, JF Chmiel, RE Grossmann, A Gaggar, PM Joseph, JA Alvarez	03/01/2019
Chronic kidney disease attenuates the plasma metabolome response to insulin. JCI insight	B Roshanravan, LR Zelnick, D Djucovic, H Gu, JA Alvarez, TR Ziegler, JL Gamboa, K Utzschneider, B Kestenbaum, J Himmelfarb, SE Kahn, D Raftery, IH de Boer	08/23/2018
Oxidative stress in critically ill ventilated adults: effects of vitamin D₃ and associations with alveolar macrophage function. European journal of clinical nutrition	JE Han, JA Alvarez, B Staitieh, V Tangpricha, L Hao, TR Ziegler, GS Martin, LAS Brown	05/01/2018
Building Diverse Careers in Clinical and Translational Research: Evaluation of a Certificate Program in Translational Research. Journal of clinical and translational science	DL Comeau, JA Alvarez, P Bhatti, DF Paulsen, A Quarshie, C Escoffery, I Ofotokun, H Eisen, TR Ziegler, HM Blumberg	02/01/2018
Bolus Weekly Vitamin D3 Supplementation Impacts Gut and Airway Microbiota in Adults With Cystic Fibrosis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism	M Kanhere, J He, B Chassaing, TR Ziegler, JA Alvarez, EA Ivie, L Hao, J Hanfelt, AT Gewirtz, V Tangpricha	02/01/2018
Higher Mediterranean Diet Quality Scores and Lower Body Mass Index Are Associated with a Less-Oxidized Plasma Glutathione and Cysteine Redox Status in Adults. The Journal of nutrition	EL Bettermann, TJ Hartman, KA Easley, EP Ferranti, DP Jones, AA Quyyumi, V Vaccarino, TR Ziegler, JA Alvarez	02/01/2018
High-Dose Vitamin D₃ Administration Is Associated With Increases in Hemoglobin Concentrations in Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Adults: A Pilot Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition	EM Smith, JL Jones, JE Han, JA Alvarez, JH Sloan, RJ Konrad, SM Zughaier, GS Martin, TR Ziegler, V Tangpricha	01/01/2018
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an oxidized plasma cysteine redox potential in critically Ill children. The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology	JA Alvarez, JR Grunwell, SE Gillespie, V Tangpricha, KB Hebbar	01/01/2018
Corrigendum to "Plasma metabolomics in adults with cystic fibrosis during a pulmonary exacerbation: A pilot randomized study of high-dose vitamin D₃ administration" [Metabolism vol. 70, May 2017, pages 31-41]. Metabolism: clinical and experimental	JA Alvarez, EY Chong, DI Walker, JD Chandler, ES Michalski, RE Grossmann, K Uppal, S Li, JK Frediani, R Tirouvanziam, VT Tran, V Tangpricha, DP Jones, TR Ziegler	09/01/2017
High-dose vitamin D₃ reduces circulating hepcidin concentrations: A pilot, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy adults. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)	EM Smith, JA Alvarez, MD Kearns, L Hao, JH Sloan, RJ Konrad, TR Ziegler, SM Zughaier, V Tangpricha	08/01/2017
Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Comparative Effectiveness Clinical Trial Comparing a Powder Vehicle Compound of Vitamin D With an Oil Vehicle Compound in Adults With Cystic Fibrosis. JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition	WA Hermes, JA Alvarez, MJ Lee, S Chesdachai, D Lodin, R Horst, V Tangpricha	08/01/2017
The Vitamin D for Enhancing the Immune System in Cystic Fibrosis (DISC) trial: Rationale and design of a multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of high dose bolus administration of vitamin D3 during acute pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis. Contemporary clinical trials communications	V Tangpricha, EM Smith, J Binongo, SE Judd, TR Ziegler, S Walker, R Tirouvanziam, SM Zughaier, MJ Lee, S Chesdachai, WA Hermes, JF Chmiel, A Gaggar, RE Grossmann, PM Joseph, JA Alvarez	06/01/2017
Impact of high-dose vitamin D₃ on plasma free 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and antimicrobial peptides in critically ill mechanically ventilated adults. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)	JE Han, JA Alvarez, JL Jones, V Tangpricha, MA Brown, L Hao, LAS Brown, GS Martin, TR Ziegler	06/01/2017
Plasma metabolomics in adults with cystic fibrosis during a pulmonary exacerbation: A pilot randomized study of high-dose vitamin D₃ administration. Metabolism: clinical and experimental	JA Alvarez, EY Chong, DI Walker, JD Chandler, ES Michalski, RE Grossmann, K Uppal, S Li, JK Frediani, R Tirouvanziam, VT Tran, V Tangpricha, DP Jones, TR Ziegler	05/01/2017
Clinical outcomes of behavioral treatments for elopement in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Autism : the international journal of research and practice	NA Call, JP Alvarez, CA Simmons, JE Lomas Mevers, MC Scheithauer	04/01/2017

Awards

Dr. Alvarez received the 2017 Distinguished Service by a Researcher Award from the Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This award recognizes a dietetics professional for their research accomplishments related to food and nutrition.