Services

Serum analysis (clinical and animal models)

• Hormones and markers of inflammation. A broad suite of metabolic and reproductive hormones; multiplex capabilities; markers of inflammation, adipokines, cytokines
• Glucose and lipids: Glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-C, triglycerides (TG), and total free fatty acids

Human Energy Expenditure/Substrate Metabolism

• Total energy expenditure by doubly-labeled water
• Resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry
• 24-h energy expenditure by whole-room indirect calorimetry
• Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
• Total body water by isotope dilution
• Multi-compartment models
• MRI/CT scan analysis and assistance with MRI protocol development and implementation

Human insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance testing

• Euglycemic/hyperglycemic clamp
• Intravenous glucose tolerance test
• Oral glucose tolerance test
• Mixed meal tolerance test
• Mathematical modeling

Resources & Methods

Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS): The Core is equipped with an IRMS (Delta-V) for measurement of enrichment of deuterium and oxygen-18 in biological samples. Stable isotope dilution and metabolism can be used to assess body composition and free-living energy expenditure.

Indirect Calorimetry (resting): Four open-circuit metabolic monitors are available for assessment of resting energy expenditure (REE) and substrate oxidation (fat, carbohydrate).

Indirect Calorimetry (whole-room): Room indirect calorimetry is used for evaluation of energy metabolism on an acute basis (e.g., up to 6 hours) or on a 24-h basis.  The core suite, constructed in 2025, offers three rooms: A large room designed for adult 24-h testing, a small room intended for pediatric 24-h testing or acute studies, and a flex room designed for acute studies (meal tests, exercise tests, etc.).  The large room is equipped with a full-sized bed, desk, chair, refrigerator, toilet, sink, television, and two airlocks for the passage of food and materials in and out of the room. Data can be collected for sleeping energy expenditure, resting energy expenditure, physical activity-related energy expenditure, and diet-induced thermogenesis. Activity is monitored by motion detector.  Ports are available for blood collection.

Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA): The Core houses two iDXA instruments (GE-Lunar Radiation Corp. Madison, WI) for assessment of total and regional body composition. The CoreScan software includes an estimate of visceral fat that is produced by subtracting measured subcutaneous abdominal fat from measured total abdominal fat. Bone density of the spine and hip also can be assessed. Whole-body scans require ~10-15 min. Additional hip or spine scans require re-positioning and re-scanning.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI scanning is conducted on clinical scanners in the Department of Radiology at UAB (CINL, located in Highlands Hospital). The Core provides scan analysis and assistance with making necessary contacts with personnel in Radiology.

Insulin sensitivity/glucose tolerance testing: The core can facilitate protocols for the euglycemic and hyperglycemic clamp, the intravenous glucose tolerance test, the oral glucose tolerance test, and the mixed meal tolerance test. All of these tests are conducted in the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) of UAB's Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTS). The CRU nurses are trained to conduct the tests, and sample processing is performed by the CCTS Processing Laboratory. Analyses of serum analytes (e.g., glucose, insulin) are conducted by the core. The core can assist with data reduction by mathematical modeling or by simple arithmetic approaches. The core director will provide consultation and expertise in identifying the most appropriate test and data analytical approach for each study.

Publications

1. Gower BA, Yurchishin ML, Goss AM, Knight J, Garvey WT. Beneficial Effects of Carbohydrate Restriction in Type 2 Diabetes Can Be Traced to Changes in Hepatic Metabolism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2025 May 31:dgaf324. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaf324.  PMID: 40448689.
2. Gower BA, Goss AM, Yurchishin ML, Deemer SE, Sunil B, Garvey WT. Effects of a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet on β-Cell Response in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2025 Jun 17;110(7):1811-1817. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgae670. PMID: 39436786; PMCID: PMC12187186.
3. Martins C, Bryan DR, Sweatt SK, Garvey WT, Fontaine KR, Dutton GR, Gower BA. The impact of a low-carbohydrate (vs. low-fat) diet on fat mass loss in African American women is modulated by insulin sensitivity. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2025 Feb;33(2):257-266. doi: 10.1002/oby.24201. Epub 2025 Jan 5. PMID: 39756404.
4. Tay J, Goss AM, Garvey WT, Lockhart ME, Bush NC, Quon MJ, Fisher G, Gower BA.  2020.  Race affects the association of obesity measures with insulin sensitivity.   Am J Clin Nutr.  Mar 1;111(3):515-525. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz309.PMID: 31879755
5. Fowler LA, Fernandez JR, Deemer SE, Gower BA.  2021. Genetic risk score prediction of leg fat and insulin sensitivity differs by race/ethnicity in early pubertal children. Pediatr Obes.  Dec;16(12):e12828. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12828. Epub 2021 Jun 28. PMID: 34180151.
6. Hoover SE, Gower BA, Cedillo Y, Chandler-Laney PC, Deemer S, Goss AM.  2021. Changes in Ghrelin and Glucagon following a Low Glycemic Load Diet in Women with PCOS.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Apr 23;106(5):e2151-e2161. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgab028. PMID: 33491091; PMCID: PMC8063255.
7. Goss AM, Dowla S, Pendergrass M, Ashraf A, Bolding M, Morrison S, Amersam A, Soleymani T, Gower BA.  2020. Effects of a carbohydrate-restricted diet on hepatic lipid content in adolescents with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot, randomized trial.  Pediatric Obesity.  15: e12630.
8. Goss AM, Goree LLT, Ellis AC, Chandler-Laney PC, Casazza K, Lockhart M, Gower BA. 2013. Effects of diet macronutrient composition on body composition and fat distribution during weight maintenance and weight loss. Obesity, 21:1139-42.
9. Hamilton K, Fisher G, Roy J, Gower BA, Hunter GR. 2013. The Effects of Weight Loss on Relative Bone Mineral Density in Premenopausal Women. Obesity 21:441-8.
10. Goss AM, Gower BA. 2012. Insulin sensitivity is associated with thigh adipose tissue. Metabolism 61:1817-23
11. Ellis AC, Hyatt TC, Hunter GR, Gower BA. 2010. Respiratory quotient predicts fat mass gain in premenopausal women. Obesity, 18:2255-2259. PMCID:PMC3075532
12. Del Corral P, Chandler-Laney P, Casazza K, Gower BA, Hunter GR. 2009. Effect of dietary adherence with or without exercise on weight loss: a mechanistic approach to a global problem. J. Clin. Endo. Metab., 94:1602-1607. PMCID:PMC2684471