STACIE WING-GAIA, PhD, RD, CSSD portrait
  • Adjunct Instructor, Nutrition & Integrative Physiology
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Nutrition & Integrative Physiology
801-581-5417

Research Statement

My current research focus is on methods of attenuating loss of lean body mass at altitude. In previous research I investigated differences in body composition between lowlanders and Sherpas. In 2011 and 2012 I traveled to Mt. Everest to conduct field research investigating the effects of the amino acid leucine on body composition in trekkers and climbers. I believe understanding nutritional interventions to attenuate loss of lean body mass at altitude may have future application to muscle wasting associated with subcaloric diets and disease states such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer cachexia.

Research Keywords

  • high altitude nutrition & physiology
  • sports nutrition
  • Protein Metabolism
  • Human body composition
  • Energy Balance
  • Oxidative Stress

Presentations

  • Nutrition for exercise-induced injuries part II presented to Federation of University Sports China University of Utah delegation. Presentation, Presented, 09/22/2016.
  • Nutrition and exercise-induced injuries part I presented to Federation of University Sports China University of Utah delegation. Presentation, Presented, 09/21/2016.
  • Sports nutrition strategies for recovery presented to the Federation of University Sports China University of Utah delegation. Presentation, Presented, 09/20/2016.
  • Introduction to Sports Nutrition presented to Federation of University Sports China University of Utah delegation. Presentation, Presented, 09/19/2016.
  • Wing-Gaia, SL. Nutrition for the Cold Environment: Fueling to Stay Warm. Wilderness Medical Society Winter Meeting, Park City, UT. Invited Talk/Keynote, Accepted, 08/12/2016.
  • Wing-Gaia SL. (2015)Promoting Lactation: Myths and Misconceptions. Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 09/30/2015.
  • Rick R, Wing-Gaia, SL. (2015) Development of a sport nutrition chapter for the level 200 cross-country ski coaches education manual. Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutritionists Annual Meeting (Colorado Springs, CO). Poster, Presented, 04/16/2015.
  • yearly guest instructor: Internal Medicine 7980: Wilderness Medicine, University of Utah, School of Medicine. Presentation, Other, 03/24/2014.
  • Wing-Gaia SL, Gershenoff DC, Drummond MJ, Gaia P, Askew EW. (2013) Body composition changes following a 13-day high altitude trek to Everest Base Camp. American College of Sports medicine Annual Meeting (Indianapolis, IN). Poster, Presented, 05/24/2013.
  • Wilderness Nutrition: Preventing Undernutrition in the Backcountry. Presented to the National Outdoor Leadership School plenary session instructor training. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 05/09/2013.
  • Gershenoff DC, Wing-Gaia SL, Drummond MJ, Gaia P, Askew EW. (2013) Effect of leucine supplementation on fat free mass with prolonged hypoxic exposure during a 13-day trek to Everest Base Camp: A double-blind randomized study. Experimental Biology Annual Meeting (Boston, MA). Poster, Presented, 04/10/2013.
  • Food and Fluid for Firefighters. Other, Presented, 02/23/2013.
  • Wing-Gaia SL. Weight Loss at altitude: Can Muscle-Wasting be Prevented? Wilderness Medical Society Annual Winter Meeting, Park City, UT. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 02/17/2013.
  • “Healthy eating, healthy kids: Nutrition for Preschoolers.” Wasatch Presbyterian Preschool. Other, Presented, 02/12/2013.
  • “Red light Green Light: Health eating for preschoolers.” Wasatch Presbyterian Preschool. Other, Presented, 09/12/2012.
  • Nutritional Intervention to Promote Lean Body Mass Retention at High Altitude. Presented to Glanbia Nutritionals, Twin Falls, ID. Presentation, Presented, 12/09/2011.
  • “An introduction to Sports Nutrition.” Utah Nutrition Council. Salt Lake City, UT. Other, Presented, 06/2010.
  • Wing-Gaia SL, Nix S, McIntosh S. The effects of altitude on energy balance in Sherpas on Mount Everest. Oral presentation at the Wilderness Medical Society Annual Summer Conference. Presentation, Presented, 07/2008.
  • Spence KR, Jordan KC, Doetsch H, Hayman M, Dolan S, Wing-Gaia SL, Beals K, Meyer N. Female Athlete Triad Prevalence and Risk Factors in Athletes and Nonactive Adolescents. Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine Meeting. Poster, Presented, 05/2008.
  • Dvorak TE, Meyer NL, Clark KK, Dolan SH, Wing-Gaia SL. The Adolescent Sport Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire: Validity and Reliability. Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine Meeting. Poster, Presented, 05/2008.
  • “Fluid Update.” University of Utah Orthopaedic Center, Salt Lake City, UT. Other, Presented, 06/2007.
  • Wing-Gaia SL, Meyer NL, Walker JA, Askew EW, Shultz BB, Eisenman, PA. Identifying predictors of high-risk supplement use in adolescent male athletes. Poster presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting. Poster, Presented, 05/2007.
  • "Are supplements safe." Channel 2 news, KUTV interview. Other, Presented, 10/2006.
  • "Steroids. Use and Abuse of Sex Hormones." Panelist, Salt Lake City Library, KCPW radio broadcast. Other, Presented, 01/2005.
  • "Improving health and Performance in adolescents through food and movement." Oral presentation given to the Granite School District teachers and administrators. Other, Presented, 05/2004.
  • Wewer KM, Wilkens HD,Wing SL, Subudhi AW, Askew EW. Dietary macronutrients and blood oxygenation during acute hypoxic exposure. Poster presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting. Poster, Presented, 05/2004.
  • Wilkens H, Wewer KM , Wing SL, Subudhi AW, Askew EW. Dietary Macronutrient effects on blood oxygenation and maximal exercise performance during acute hypoxic exposure. Poster presented at the Experimental Biology meeting. Poster, Presented, 04/2004.
  • Shayn Stavens, Joseph Carlson, E. Wayne Askew, Stacie Wing, and Werner Gellermann. Associations of antioxidant status, oxidative stress, diet, dietary supplement use, and demographic characteristic with skin carotenoids assessed by raman spectroscopy. Abstract presented at the Utah Dietetic Association annual meeting. Poster, Presented, 04/2004.
  • Wing SL, Askew EW, Luetkemier MJ, Ryujin DT, Grissiom CK. The effects of reduced atmospheric oxygen and dietary supplements on blood oxygenation. Poster presentation at the 6th IOC World congress on Sports Sciences. Poster, Presented, 05/2002.
  • Wing SL, Askew EW, Luetkemier MJ, Ryujin DT, Grissiom CK. Oxygen-promoting dietary supplements, hypoxia and oxidative stress during simulated altitude exposure. Oral presentation at the Wilderness Medical SocietyAnnual Summer Meeting. Presentation, Presented, 07/2001.
  • Wing SL, Askew EW, Luetkemier MJ, Ryujin DT, Grissiom CK. Oxygen-promoting dietary supplements, hypoxia and oxidative stress during simulated altitude exposure. Poster presented at the Utah Dietetic Association annual meeting. Poster, Presented, 04/2001.

Grants, Contracts & Research Gifts

  • A Pilot Study Examining the Effects of Leucine Supplementation on Lean Body Mass during High Altitude Exposure. PI: Stacie Wing-Gaia. Co-PI(s): E. Wayne Askew. Glanbia Nutritionals, 03/2012 - 06/2012. Total project budget to date: $22,500.00
  • A Pilot Study Examining the Effects of Leucine Supplementation on Lean Body Mass during High Altitude Exposure. PI: Stacie Wing-Gaia. Co-PI(s): E. Wayne Askew. College of Health, 06/2011 - 06/2012. Total project budget to date: $5,000.00

Languages

  • English, fluent.

Geographical Regions of Interest

  • Nepal
    Conducted research in Nepal in 2011 and 2012. Interesting in continuing research in this area.
  • Peru
    Interest in pursuing altitude research in this region.

Publications

  • Wing-Gaia SL, E. Wayne Askew. (2016) Nutrition, Malnutrition, and Starvation. In: Wilderness Medicine 7th edition. P Auerbach. Elsevier Mosby. Philadelphia, PA. Published, 09/2016.
  • Wing-Gaia SL. (2015) Foods to Keep you Warm on the Trail. In Wilderness Medicine Magazine. Published, 11/29/2015.
  • Rick R, Wing-Gaia SL. (2015) Sports Nutrition for Cross-Country Skiiers. In: XCountry Coaches Level 200 Manual. U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. Park City, UT. Published, 03/02/2015.
  • Effect of leucine supplementation on fat free mass with prolonged hypoxic exposure during a 13-day trek to Everest Base Camp: A double-blind randomized study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2014 Mar;39(3):318-23. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2013-0319. Epub 2013 Sep 25. Published, 03/2014.
  • Nutritional strategies for the preservation of fat free mass at high altitude. Nutrients. 2014 Feb 13;6(2):665-81. doi: 10.3390/nu6020665. Published, 02/13/2014.
  • Wing-Gaia SL. (2013) Preserving Strength on the Trail. Trailmix in Wilderness Medicine Magazine. http://wildernessmedicinemagazine.com/1083/Trail-Mix-Preserving-Strength-On-The-Trail. Published, 12/10/2013.
  • Wing-Gaia SL, Gershenoff DC, Drummond MJ, Gaia P, Askew EW (2013). Body composition changes following a 13-day high altitude trek to Everest Base Camp. med Sci Sports Exer. 45 (5S):207. Published, 05/2013.
  • Gershenoff, GC, Wing-Gaia SL, Drummond MJ, Gaia PF, Askew EW (2013). Effect of leucine supplementation on lean body mass during prolonged hypoxic exposure for 13-day trek to Everest Base Camp: A double-blind randomized study. FASEB J. 27:1075.4. Published, 04/09/2013.
    http://www.fasebj.org/search?fulltext=2013+EB+Abs...
  • McIntosh SE, Testa M, Walker J, Wing-Gaia SL, Mcintosh SN, Litwin SE, Needham C, Tabin GC. (2011). Physiological profile of world-record holder Sherpas. Wilderness Environ Med, 22, 65-71. Published, 04/2011.
  • Wing-Gaia SL. Ergogenic Substances and Evaluation of Sports Nutrition Products. In: Sports Nutrition for Health and Performance. 2nd edition. M Manore, N. Meyer, J Thompson. Human Kinetics. Champaign, IL. 2009. Published, 11/2009.
  • Wing-Gaia SL. Antioxidant Nutrients. In: Sports Nutrition for Health and Performance. 2nd edition. M Manore, N. Meyer, and J Thompson. Human Kinetics. Champaign, IL. 2009. Published, 11/2009.
  • Wing-Gaia SL, Nix S, McIntosh S. The effects of altitude on energy balance in Sherpas on Mount Everest [Abstract]. Wilderness Environ Med, 20:176, 2009. Published, 05/2009.
  • Spence KR, Jordan KC, Doetsch H, Hayman M, Dolan S, Wing-Gaia SL, Beals K, Meyer N. Female Athlete Triad Prevalence and Risk Factors in Athletes and Nonactive Adolescents. [Abstract] Med Sci Sports Exer. 40(5):S217, 2008. Published, 05/2008.
  • Dvorak TE, Meyer NL, Clark KK, Dolan SH, Wing-Gaia SL. The Adolescent Sport Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire: Validity and Reliability. [Abstract] Med Sci Sports Exer. 40(5):S218, 2008. Published, 05/2008.
  • Wing-Gaia SL, Meyer NL, Walker JA, Askew EW, Shultz BB, Eisenman, PA. Identifying predictors of high-risk supplement use in adolescent male athletes [Abstract]. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 39(5) Supplement: S361, May 2007. Published, 05/2007.
  • Wing-Gaia SL, Subudhi AW, Askew EW. (2005) Effects of purified oxygenated water on exercise performance during acute hypoxic exposure. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 15, 680-8. Published, 12/01/2005.
  • Wewer KM, Wilkens HD, Wing SL, Subudhi AW, Askew EW. (2004) Dietary macronutrients and blood oxygenation during acute hypoxic exposure. (pp. S336). Med Sci Sports Exerc. Published, 01/01/2004.
  • Wing SL, Askew EW, Luetkemeier MJ, Ryujin DT, Kamimori GH, Grissom CK. (2003) Lack of effect of Rhodiola or oxygenated water supplementation on hypoxemia and oxidative stress. Wilderness Environ Med. 14, 9-16. Published, 03/01/2003.