Marie Caudill

Marie Caudill

Dr. Marie Caudill received her PhD degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Florida in 1997. Shortly thereafter she became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition and Food Science at Cal Poly Pomona University in Southern California where she served for 10 years. Dr. Caudill joined the faculty at Cornell University as an associate professor of Nutritional Sciences and Genomics in August 2007.

 A top priority for me in my teaching and advising is to convey respect for the students and a sense that I care about their learning.

Research Program

A primary goal of the Caudill laboratory is to generate data that will inform the development of nutrient intake recommendations that promote mother and child nutrition and well-being.  A systems biology approach which includes targeted and non-targeted assessments of genomic, epigenetic, biochemical and physiologic endpoints is employed. Our most recent work focused on the effects of pregnancy, and maternal choline supplementation during the last third of pregnancy, on biochemical and genomic readouts in maternal circulation, placental tissue and cord blood.   Key findings are outlined below:  

Pregnancy substantially increases the demand for choline

We showed that human pregnancy depleted several choline-derived methyl donors (Yan et al. 2012, AJCN) and disturbed choline partitioning between the CDP-choline and oxidative pathways (Yan et al. In Prep).  Importantly, choline intakes approximately twice current recommendations were needed to partially restore pregnancy-induced disturbances in choline metabolism to the nonpregnant state (Yan et al. 2012, In Prep).

Maternal choline supplementation may ease baby’s response to stress

A higher maternal choline intake (930 vs 480 mg choline/d) during the last third of pregnancy lowered baby’s circulating cortisol by altering the methylation state, and expression patterns, of genes that regulate cortisol production in the placenta (Jiang et al. 2012, FASEB J).  A lower response to stress among the “choline” babies would be expected to reduce their lifetime risk of stress related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Maternal choline supplementation may improve placental function  

A higher maternal choline intake (930 vs 480 mg choline/d) during the last third of pregnancy improved placental function by decreasing the expression of sFLT1, an anti-angiogenic factor and marker of preeclampsia risk (Jiang et al. 2013, FASEB J).  In addition, preliminary data from a human trophoblast cell line show that choline insufficiency decreases angiogenesis and increases inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress; results that are consistent with the importance of adequate choline for placental functioning (Jiang et al, In Prep).  Supplementing the maternal diet with extra choline during pregnancy may reduce the risk of placental dysfunction and improve the angiogenic (and inflammatory) balance in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Maternal choline supplementation may enhance docosahexaenoic (DHA) availability (an omega 3 fatty acid) to the developing embryo and fetus

We showed that a higher choline intake (930 vs 480 mg choline/d) among nonpregnant women increased circulating concentrations of DHA-phosphatidylcholine (West et al. 2013, AJCN). As DHA-phosphatidylcholine is synthesized via the PEMT pathway, our findings suggest that extra choline enhances PEMT activity and therefore the availability of DHA-phosphatidylcholine to the developing embryo/fetus.  Among third trimester pregnant women, extra choline did not increase circulating DHA- phosphatidycholine, but it did increase the use of choline derived methyl groups for PEMT-mediated phosphatidylcholine synthesis (which is elevated during the second half of pregnancy and a main consumer of methyl groups).  In sum, these data suggest that supplementing the maternal diet with extra choline during pregnancy improves DHA availability to the developing fetus in the early stages and supports the methyl group needs of an elevated PEMT pathway in the later stages.

Current Research Activities (with graduate students working on the projects in parenthesis and underlined)

Molecular mechanisms by which maternal choline supplementation improves placental function (Cecilia Kwan and Julia King; in collaboration with the laboratories of Dr. Mark Roberson, Cornell University and Dr. Patsy Brannon, Cornell University)

Biotin response to controlled intake levels among nonpregnant, pregnant and lactating women (Allyson West, Postdoctoral Associate; in collaboration with Dr. Cydne Perry, Shepherd University) 

Vitamin B12 response to controlled intake levels among nonpregnant, pregnant and lactating women (Sajin Bae)

Vitamin D response to controlled intake levels among nonpregnant, pregnant and lactating women (Hey Jun Park)

Relationship between one-carbon biomarkers and methylation in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Cohort (Sajin Bae)

Relationship between plasma choline metabolites and risk of incident colorectal cancer in the Women's Health Initiative (Sajin Bae)

Impact of choline intake during lactation on maternal and breastmilk nutriture (Crystal Davenport)

Impact of maternal choline intake during pregnancy on the maternal and fetal metabolome (Jian Yan, Postdoctoral Associate)

Impact of maternal choline supplementation on offspring brain choline metabolism in a mouse model of Down Syndrome (Jian Yan, Postdoctoral Associate; in collaboration with the laboratories of Dr. Barbara Strupp, Cornell University and Dr. Stephen Ginsberg, NY University)

• 1997 - Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition, Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture, University of Florida.
• 1994 - Registered Dietitian, Dietetic Internship at Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia.
• 1993- Master of Science in Health Science, College of Health, University of North Florida.
• 1992 - Bachelor of Science in Health Science, College of Health, University of North Florida.
• 1990 - Bachelor of Arts in Education, College of Education, University of North Florida.

NS 4410  - Nutrition and Disease
This course combines the principles of nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, genetics, pharmacology, and pathology to understand disease risk, prevention, progression and management. The course is organized in a lecture format with opportunities for the class to engage in the discussion of original research articles on topics of high current interest in the area of nutrition and health.

http://www.cornell.edu/video/?videoID=940&startSecs=0&endSecs=96
 

Committee Work for Spring and Fall 2012

Ad-hoc Committee, Member, Fall 2012, CALS. Cornell University

Nurse Practitioner Search Committee,  Fall 2012, DNS

Post-baccalaureate Program in Health Studies Admission Committee, DNS

Graduate Admissions Committee, DNS

 Peer Reviewed Original Research Publications (n=40+)

2013    Nathanielsz PW, Yan J, Green R, Miller JW, Wu G, McDonald T, Caudill MA. Methionine cycle dysregulation by maternal obesity and high fat, high-energy diet in baboon pregnancy. Submitted. 2013

2013    Ash JA, Field MS, Jiang X, Malysheva OV, Fiorenza CG, Bisogni AJ,  Macdonald JM, Badrinarayan A, Chen E, Levitsky DA, Strawderman MS, Caudill MA, Stover PJ, Strupp BJ. The differential effects of genetic and dietary alterations in folate metabolism on prefrontal cortical functions in mice. Submitted. 2013

2013    West AA, Jian J, Perry CA, Jiang X, Malysheva OV, Innis SM, Caudill MA.  Choline intake influences phosphatidylcholine docosahexaenoic acid enrichment in nonpregnant women but not third-trimester pregnant women.  Am J Clin Nutr. In Press. 2013

2013    Jiang X, Bar HY, Yan J, Jones S, Brannon PM, West AA, Perry CA, Malysheva OV, Pressman E, Devapatla S, Vermeylen F, Wells MT, Caudill MA. A higher maternal choline intake decreases the anti-angiogenic factor fms-like  tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT1) in both the placenta and maternal circulation. FASEB J.  In Press. 2013

2013    Toriola AT, Cheng T-YD, Neuhouser ML, Wener MH, Zheng Y, Brown E, Miller JW, Song X, Beresford SAA, Gunter MJ, Caudill MA, Ulrich CM. Biomarkers of inflammation are associated with colorectal cancer risk in women but are not suitable as early detection markers. International Journal of Cancer.  2012 Nov 15. doi: 10.1002/ijc.27942. [Epub ahead of print]

2013    Field MS, Shields KS, Abarinov EV,  Malysheva OV, Allen RH, Stabler SP, Ash JA, Strupp BJ, Stover PJ, Caudill MA. Mthfd1 deficiency in mice perturbs folate and choline dependent one-carbon metabolism as well as transsulfuration. J Nutrition. 2013 doi: 10.3945/jn.112.169821. [Epub ahead of print]

2012    Yan J, Winter LB, Whitmore BB, Vermeylen F, Caudill MA. Plasma choline metabolites associate with metabolic stress among young overweight men in a genotype-specific manner. Nutrition and Diabetes (2012) 2, e49; doi:10.1038/nutd.2012.23

2012    Jiang X, Bar HY, Yan J, West AA, Perry CA, Malysheva OV, Devapatla S, Pressman E, Vermeylen F, Wells MT, Caudill MA. Human pregnancy induces transcriptional activation of the peripheral innate immune system and increases oxidative DNA damage.  PLoS ONE 7 2012 (11): e46736. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046736

2012    Mikael LG, Pancer J, Jiang X, Wu Q, Caudill MA, Rozen R. Low dietary folate and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency may lead to pregnancy complications through modulation of ApoA1 and IFN-gamma in spleen and placenta. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 2012 doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201200152. [Epub ahead of print]

2012    West AA, Yan J, Perry CA, Jiang X, Malysheva OV, Caudill MA.  Folate status response to a controlled folate intake among nonpregnant, pregnant, and lactating women. Am J Clin Nutr 2012;96:789–800.

2012    Jiang X, Yan J, West AA, Perry CA, Malysheva OV, Devapatla S, Pressman E, Vermeylen F, Caudill MA. Maternal choline intake alters the epigenetic state of fetal cortisol regulating genes in humans. FASEB J. 2012 Aug;26(8):3563-74.

2012    Jadavji NM, Deng L, Leclerc D, Malysheva O, Bedell BJ, Caudill MA, Rozen R. Severe methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency in mice results in behavioral anomalies with morphological and biochemical changes in hippocampus. Mol Genet Metab. 2012 Jun;106(2):149-59.

2012    Yan J, Jiang X, West AA, Perry CA, Malysheva OV, Devapatla S, Pressman E, Vermeylen F, Stabler SP, Allen RH, Caudill MA. Maternal choline intake modulates maternal and fetal biomarkers of choline metabolism in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95:1060–71.

2012    Beaudin AE, Abarinov EV, Malysheva OV, Perry CA, Caudill MA, Stover PJ. Dietary folate but not choline modifies neural tube defect risk in Shmt1 knock-out mice. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95:109–14.

2011    Li J, Li XM, Caudill MA, Malysheva O, Gorce-Bardag F, Oliva J, French BA, Gorce E, Morgan K, Kathirvel E, Morgan T, French SW. Betaine feeding prevents the blood alcohol cycle in rats fed alcohol continuously for 1 month using the rat intragastric tube feeding model. Exp Mol Pathol. 2011;91:540-47.

2011    Chew TW, Jiang X, Yan J, Wang W, Lusa AL, Carrier BJ, West AA, Malysheva OV, Brenna JT, Gregory JF III, Caudill MA. Folate intake, Mthfr genotype and sex modulate choline metabolism in mice. J Nutr. 2011;141: 1475–1481.

2011    Yan J, Wang W, Gregory JF III, Malysheva OV, Brenna JT, Stabler SP, Allen RH, Caudill MA. MTHFR C677T genotype influences the isotopic enrichment of one carbon metabolites in folate compromised men consuming d9-choline. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;93:348-55.

2010    Kathirvel E, Morgan K, Caudill MA, Nandgiri G, Sandoval BC, Bottiglieri T, French SW, Morgan TR. Betaine improves non alcoholic fatty liver and associated hepatic insulin resistance: a potential mechanism for hepatoprotection by betaine. Am J Physiol. 2010;299:G1068-77.

2010    Chan J, Deng L, Pickell L, Wu Q, Yan J, Caudill MA, Rozen R. Low dietary choline and low dietary riboflavin during pregnancy influence reproductive outcomes and heart development in mice.  Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91:1035–43.

2010    Shin W, Yan J, Abratte CF, Vermeylen F, and Caudill MA. Choline intake exceeding current dietary recommendations preserves markers of cellular methylation in a genetic sub-group of folate-compromised men. J Nutr. 2010;140:975-980.

2010    Christensen KE, Wu Q, Wang X, Deng L, Caudill MA, Rozen R. Steatosis in mice is associated with gender, folate intake and expression of genes of one-carbon metabolism.  J Nutr. 2010;140: 1736-1741

2009    Caudill MA, Dellschaft N, Solis C, Hinkis S, Ivanov AA, Nash-Barboza S, Randall KE, Jackson B, Solomita GN, Vermeylen F. Choline intake, plasma riboflavin and the PEMT G5465A genotype predict plasma homocysteine in folate deplete Mexican American men with the MTHFR 677TT genotype. J Nutr. 2009;139:727-733

2009    Fox JT, Shin WK, Caudill MA, and Stover PJ. A UV-Responsive Internal Ribosome Entry Site Enhances Cytoplasmic Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase Expression for DNA Damage Repair. J Biol Chem. 2009;284:31097-31108.

2009    Ivanov A, Nash-Barboza S, Hinkis S, Caudill MA. Genetic variants in

phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) and methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD1) influence biomarkers of choline metabolism when folate intake is restricted. J Amer Diet Assoc. 2009;109:313-318.

2009   Abratte CM, Wang W, Li R, Axume J,  Moriarty DJ, Caudill MA. Choline status is not a reliable indicator of moderate changes of dietary choline consumption in pre-menopausal women. J Nutr Biochem. 2009; 20:62–69.

2008   Veenema K, Solis C, Li R, Wang W, Maletz CV, Abratte C, Caudill MA. Choline intakes at AI levels are sufficient in preventing liver dysfunction in Mexican American men but are not optimal in minimizing plasma total homocysteine increases after a methionine load.  Am J Clin Nutr. 2008; 88:685-92.

2008    Solis C, Veenema K, Ivanov AA, Tran S, Wang W, Moriarty DJ, Maletz CV,

Caudill MA. Folate intake at RDA levels is inadequate for Mexican American men with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677TT genotype. J Nutr. 2008;138:1-6.

2008    Hung J, Abratte CM, Wang W, Li R, Moriarty DJ, Caudill MA. Ethnicity and folate intake influence choline status in young women consuming controlled nutrient intakes. J Am Coll Nutr. 2008;27:253-259.

2008    Abratte CM, Wang W, Li R, Moriarty DJ, Caudill MA. Folate intake and the MTHFR C677T genotype influence choline status in young Mexican American women.  J Nutr Biochem. 2008;19:158-165.

2007    Axume J, Smith SS, Pogribny IP, Moriarty DJ, Caudill MA. The

methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C→T polymorphism and folate interact to lower global leukocyte DNA methylation in young Mexican American women. Nutr Res. 2007;27:13-17.

2007    Axume J, Smith SS, Pogribny IP, Moriarty DJ, Caudill MA. Global leukocyte DNA methylation is similar in African American and Caucasian women under conditions of controlled folate intake.  Epigenetics. 2007;2:66-68.

2006    Hung J, Yang TL, Urrutia TF, Li R, Perry CA, Hata H, Cogger EA, Moriarty DJ, Caudill MA. Additional food folate derived exclusively from natural sources improves folate status in young women with the MTHFR 677 CC or TT genotype. J Nutr Biochem. 2006;728-734.

2005    Beagle B, Yang TL, Hung J, Cogger EA, Moriarty DJ, Caudill MA. The glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) 1289 C→T variant influences plasma total homocysteine concentrations in young women after restricting folate intake. J Nutr. 2005;135:2780-2785.

2005    Shevchuk T, Kretzner L, Munson K, Axume J, Clark J, Dyachenko OV, Caudill MA,  Buryanov Y, Smith SS. Transgene-induced CCWGG methylation does not alter CG methylation patterning in human kidney cells. Nucleic Acids Res. 2005; 33: 6124-6136.

2005    Yang TL, Hung J, Caudill MA, Urrutia TF, Alamilla A, Perry CA, Li R, Hata H, Cogger EA. A long-term controlled folate feeding study in young women supports the validity of the 1.7 multiplier in the dietary folate equivalency equation. J Nutr. 2005;135: 1139-1145.

2004    Perry C., Renna S., Khitun E., Ortiz, M., Moriarty D. and Caudill MA. Ethnicity and race influences folate status response to controlled folate intakes in non-pregnant young women. J Nutr. 2004;134:1786-1792

2003    Santos-Guzman, Arnhold T, Nau H, Wagner C, Fahr SH, Mao GE, Caudill MA, Wang JE, Henning SM, Swendseid ME and Collins MD. Antagonism of hypervitaminosis A-induced anterior neural tube closure defects with a methyl-donor deficiency in murine whole-embryo culture. J Nutr. 2003;133:3561-3570.

2003    Guinotte C, Axume J, Hata Hiroko, Urrutia T, Burns M, Alamilla A, McCabe D,

Singgih A., Cogger EA and Caudill MA. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T variant modulates folate status response to controlled folate intakes in young women.  J Nutr. 2003;133:1272-1280.

2003    Torabian Esfahani S, Cogger EA and Caudill MA. Heterogeneity in MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotypes among women differing in ethnicity.  J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103:200-207.

2002    Caudill MA, Bailey LB and Gregory JF. Consumption of the folate breakdown product para-aminobenzoylglutamate contributes minimally to urinary folate catabolite excretion in humans: Investigation using [¹³C₅] para-aminobenzoylglutatmate. J Nutr. 2002;132:2613-2616

2001    Caudill MA, Wang J, Melnyk IP, Pogribny IP, Jernigan S, Collins MD, Santos-Guzman J, Swendseid ME, Cogger EA and James SJ. Intracellular S-adenosylhomocysteine concentrations predict global DNA hypomethylation in tissues of methyl-deficient cystathionine beta-synthase heterozygous mice. J Nutr. 2001;131:2811-2818.

2001    Gregory JF, Caudill MA, FJ Opalko and Bailey LB. Kinetics of folate turnover in pregnant women (second trimester) and nonpregnant controls during folic acid supplementation: stable-isotopic labeling of plasma folate, urinary folate and folate catabolites shows subtle effects of pregnancy on turnover of folate pools.  J Nutr. 2001;131:1928-1937.

2001    Caudill MA, Le T, Moonie S, Torabian S and Cogger EA. Folate status in women of childbearing age residing in Southern California after folic acid fortification. J Am Coll Nutr. 2001;20:129-134.

1998    Caudill MA, Gregory JF III, Hutson AD and Bailey LB. Folate catabolism in pregnant women consuming controlled folate intakes.  J Nutr. 1998;128: 204-208.

1998    Bonnette RE, Caudill MA, Boddie AM, Hutson AD, Kauwell GP and Bailey LB. Plasma homocysteine in pregnant and nonpregnant women fed a folate controlled diet.   Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1998;92:167-170.

1997    Caudill MA, Cruz AC, Gregory JF III, Hutson AD and Bailey LB. Folate Status Response to controlled folate intake in pregnant women.  J Nutr. 1997;127:2363-2370

Chapters, Reviews and Proceedings (n = 24)

2013    Yan J, Jiang X, Caudill MA.  Choline.  In: Zemplini J, Stover PJ, Gregory JF III, Suttie K. Handbook of Vitamins. 5^th edition.  Taylor and Francis.  In Press.

2013    Bailey LB, da Silva V, West AA, Caudill MA. Folate.  In: Zemplini J, Stover PJ, Gregory JF III, Suttie K. Handbook of Vitamins. 5^th edition.  Taylor and Francis.  In Press.

2013    Davenport C, Caudill MA. Choline in human milk.  In: Dietary and Nutritional Aspects of Human Breast Milk. Wageningen Academic Publishers. In Press

2012    Caudill MA, Gregory JF III, Miller J, Shane B.  Folate, choline, vitamin B-12 and vitamin B-6. In: Stipanuk MH and Caudill MA. eds. Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition. 3rd edition. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2012.

2012    Bailey LB, Caudill MA. Folate. In: Present Knowledge in Nutrition. 10^th edition. ILSI Press, Washington, DC. 2012

2012    Perry CA, Caudill MA. Biotin: Critical for fetal growth and development yet often overlooked. NutritionToday.  47(2):79-85, March/April 2012.

2011    Caudill MA, daCosta K-A, Zeisel SH, Betsy Hornick "Choline Call to Action: Elevating Awareness and Intake of an Essential Nutrient for Public Health" Nutrition Today. 2011;46:235-241.

2010    West AA, Caudill MA* Genetic Variation:  Impact on folate (and choline) bioefficacy. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2010;80 (4 – 5), 319 – 329

2009    Zeisel SH, Caudill MA.  Choline. Adv Nutr. 2009; 1: 46–48, doi:10.3945/an.110.1010

2010    Caudill MA.  Pre- and Postnatal Health: Evidence of Increased Choline Needs. J Am Diet Assc. 2010;110:1198-1206.

2010    Caudill MA. Folate bioavailability: Implications for establishing dietary recommendations and optimizing status. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(suppl):1455S-60S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.28674E.

2009    Caudill MA. Folate and Choline Interrelationships: Metabolic and Potential Health Implications. In: Folate in Health and Disease 2^nd Edition. Edited by Bailey LB. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group. Boca Raton, FL. pp 449-465. 2009

2008    Vakili S, Shin GJ, Caudill MA* (2008) Customizing dietary recommendations by genotype in the era of genomics. In: Phytochemicals Aging and Health. Edited by Meskin SM, Bidlack WR, Randolph RK. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group. Boca Raton, FL. pp 155-171. 2008

2008    Stover PJ, Caudill MA.Genetic and epigenetic contributions to human  nutrition and health: managing genome-diet interactions. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008;108:1480-1487.

2007    Vakili S, Caudill MA. Personalized Nutrition: Nutritional Genomics as a Potential Tool for Targeted Medical Nutrition Therapy. Nutr Rev. 2007;65:301-315.

2005    McCabe DC, Caudill MA. DNA methylation, genomic silencing, and links to nutrition and cancer.  Nutr Rev.2005; 63:183-195.

2004    Caudill MA.  The role of folate in reducing chronic and developmental disease risk: an overview. J Food Sc. 2004;69:SNQ55-67.

2001    James SJ, Melnyk S, Pogribna M, Pogribny IP and Caudill MA. Elevation in S-adenosylhomocysteine and DNA hypomethylation: potential epigenetic mechanism for homocysteine-related pathology. J Nutr. 2001;132:2361S-2366S.

2000    Caudill MA.  Current and emerging issues in folate nutriture.  Nutrition Today 2000;35:1-8

1997    Bailey LB, Caudill MA. Folic Acid. In Clinical Guide to Parenteral Micronutrition. 3^rd Edition. Baumgartner, TG (ed). Fujisawa USA Inc., USA. pp 611-628. 1997

1997    Bailey LB, Caudill MA. Vitamin B6. In Clinical Guide to Parenteral Micronutrition. 3^rd Edition. Baumgartner, TG (ed). Fujisawa USA Inc., USA. pp 563-578. 1997

1997    Bailey LB, Caudill MA. Vitamin B12. In Clinical Guide to Parenteral Micronutrition. 3^rd Edition. Baumgartner, TG (ed). Fujisawa USA Inc., USA. pp 579-596. 1997

1997    Bailey LB, Caudill MA Biotin. In Clinical Guide to Parenteral Micronutrition. 3^rd Edition. Baumgartner, TG (ed). Fujisawa USA Inc., USA. pp 597-609. 1997

Textbooks Edited

Biochemical, Physiological, & Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition
Martha H. Stipanuk and Marie A. Caudill (eds.) 3rd edition. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2012.