Associate Professor

Elizabeth Droke

Contact Information

Department of Nutrition, Food Science & Hospitality

South Dakota State University

SNF 433, Box 2275A

Brookings, SD 57007

Phone: 605.688.5150

Fax: 605.688.5603

E-mail: elizabeth.droke@sdstate.edu

Education

1995 – 1997

Coordinated Program in Dietetics, University of

Minnesota, St. Paul

1991

Ph.D. Nutrition Minor: Physiology, North Carolina

State University

1988

M.S. Animal Science, Ohio State University

1985

B.S. (Honors) Animal Science, University of Illinois,

Champaign

Certifications

2000 – Present

Registered Dietitian

Professional Experience

2007 – Present

Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition, Food

Science & Hospitality, South Dakota State

University, Brookings, South Dakota

2005 – 2007

Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition, Food

Science & Hospitality, South Dakota State

University, Brookings, South Dakota

(Graduate Faculty, 2006)

1998 – 2005

Assistant Professor, Nutritional Sciences Department,

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma

(Graduate Faculty, 1998)

Teaching Responsibilities

NFS 422/522: Advanced Human Nutrition

NFS 702: Macronutrients in Nutrition

NFS 798: Thesis

Selected Awards and Honors

College of Family and Consumer Sciences travel award

in recognition of procurement of external funds

(South Dakota State University, 2006)

Nominated for OSU Outstanding Student Organization

Advisor Award; Received Certificate of Excellence

(Oklahoma State University, 2005)

Nominated for CHES Outstanding undergraduate Academic

advisor award (Oklahoma State University, 2005)

Advisor for CHES Outstanding Student Organization,

NSCI Club (Oklahoma State University, 2002-2004)

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society

(Oklahoma State University, 1999-2005)

Research Interests

Dr. Droke’s research focuses on the relations among

nutrition (primarily phytochemicals, iron and zinc),

immunity, and chronic inflammation.  She is and has

been involved in several collaborative projects.  One

of these projects (USDA-funded) is evaluating the

ability of soy isoflavones to attenuate the negative

impact of chronic inflammation on skeletal health and

the cardiovascular system in young, female mice. 

This line of research in the future will include the

combined effects of obesity and chronic inflammation. 

In another project, the relations among iron, zinc,

lead, infection, cognition, and behavior were

determined in rural low-income preschool children. 

This project helped to address the need to find

measures to accurately assess iron and zinc status in

the presence of infection.

Professional Memberships

American Society for Nutrition, Inc. (1995 – Present)

American Dietetic Association (1995 – Present)

South Dakota Dietetic Association (2005 – Present)

Oklahoma Dietetic Association (1998 – 2005)

Professional Services and Recognition

Grant Panel member for USDA NRI Program (2007)

Reviewer for Nutrition Research (2007)

Reviewer for Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry (2007)

American Dietetic Association; Evidence Analysis Team;

analyst for HIV-AIDS and Diabetes groups

(2004-Present)

USDA Ad hoc reviewer for NRI Improving Nutrition for

Optimal Health Program (1999-2004)

Reviewer for Journal of Agricultural and Food

Chemistry (2003-2004)

Reviewer for Biological Trace Element Research (2003)

Reviewer for the R&D Program of the Louisiana Board

of Regents Support Fund (2002)

Reviewed Human Nutrition Chapter for Using the

Agricultural Literature. Eds. A.L. Paster, The

Pennsylvania State University and H.K. Moberly,

Oklahoma State University

Selected Publications

Refereed Journals (^*Graduate student advised by Dr. Droke)

E.A. Droke, K.A. Hager, M.R. Lerner, S.A. Lightfoot,

B.J. Stoecker, D.J. Brackett and B.J. Smith. 2007. Soy

isoflavones avert chronic inflammation-induced bone

loss and vascular disease. J. Inflammation 4:17

(7 September 2007).  *Highly accessed*

Hubbs-Tait, L., T. Seacord Kennedy, E. Droke,

D. Belanger, J. Parker and. 2007. Zinc, iron, and

lead: relations to Head Start children’s cognitive

scores and teachers’ ratings of behavior.

JADA 107:128-133.

Droke, E.A., T.S. Kennedy and L. Hubbs-Tait. 2006.

Potential for misclassification of micronutrient

status in children participating in Head Start.

JADA 106:376-382.

Soung, D.Y., Khalil, D.A., Arquitt, A.B., Smith, B.J.,

Hammond, L.J., Droke, E.A., Lucas, E.A., Devareddy, L.

and Arjmandi, B.H. 2004. Soy isoflavones prevent the

ovarian hormone deficiency-associated rise in

leukocytes in rats. Phytomedicine. 11:303-308.

^*Shotton, A.D. and E.A. Droke. 2004. Iron utilization

and tissue mineral concentrations in growing male rats

fed safflower oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil or beef

tallow in combination with deficient, recommended or

higher dietary iron. Biol. Trace Elem. Res.:

97:265 - 277.

Droke, E.A., Briske-Anderson, M. and Lukaski, H.C. 2003.

Fatty acids alter monolayer integrity, paracellular

transport and iron uptake and transport in Caco-2 cells.

Biol. Trace Elem. Res. 95:219-232.

Book Chapter

Droke E.A., and H.C. Lukaski. 2007. Dietary Fatty

Acids and Minerals. In: Fatty Acids in Foods and Their

Health Implications. CK Chow, Ed. 3^rd Edition.

Taylor & Francis Group. In Press.

Abstracts/Presentations at Scholarly Meetings

(*refereed proceedings;

^†graduate student advised by Dr. Droke)

*D. Brackett, E. Droke*, M. Lerner, Y. Gusev*,

S. Lightfoot*, R. Postier*, M. Bronze*, B. Smith. 

2006. Gene Expression Profile Alterations & Hepatic

Steatosis Induced by Chronic Inflammation are

Prevented by Soy Isoflavones. 

SHOCK 25:43-44 Suppl 1.

*Droke, E; Hager, K; Lerner, M; Lightfoot, S; Stoecker,

B; Brackett, D; Smith, B. 2006. Soy Isoflavones

Prevent Chronic Inflammation-induced Bone Loss and

Coronary Vascular Disease (CVD). Presented at

Experimental Biology 2006. Submitted as poster,

invited to be as given oral presentation in

minisymposium. FASEB J 20 (5):A989.

*Hubbs-Tait L., Kennedy T. S., Belanger D., Parker J.,

& Droke E. A. 2005. Zinc, iron, and lead: Relations to

Head Start children’s cognitive scores and teachers’

ratings of behavior.  Poster presented at the biennial

meeting of the Society for Research in Child

Development, Atlanta, GA. April.

Belanger D., T. Kennedy, E. Droke, J Parker,

L. Hubbs-Tait. 2004. The Relation between Lead and

Head Start Teacher Ratings of Classroom Competence and

Sociability. Undergraduate Research Day at the

Oklahoma State Capitol. Sponsored by NSF, OK EPSCoR

and OK State Regents. Belanger one of four OSU

students chosen to present.

*E.A. Droke, T.S. Kennedy, L. Hubbs-Tait. 2004.

Relations among measures of iron and zinc status, and

subclinical infection in Head Start children.

FASEB J. 18 (4):A165.

*Belanger, D., J. Strait, T.S. Kennedy, E.A. Droke,

L. Hubbs-Tait. 2004. Lead relates to Head Start

teacher ratings of children’s classroom competence.

FASEB J. 18 (4):A165.

*Soung, D.Y., E.A. Droke, D.A. Khalil, A.B. Arquitt,

L.J. Hammond, B.J. Smith and B.H. Arjmandi. 2002. Soy

isoflavones and vitamin E reduce precursors of

osteoclasts. FASEB J 16 (4):A231.

Presentations

Body Image; SD Cooperative Extension Service Annual

Conference, October 19, 2005, SDSU.