Director and Chair, Ethel Austin Martin Endowed

Program in Human Nutrition & Professor

Bonny Specker

Contact Information
     Ethel Austin Martin Endowed Program in Human Nutrition

South Dakota State University

EAM Building, Box 2204

Brookings, SD 57007

Phone: 605.688.4645

Fax: 605.688.4220

E-mail: bonny.specker@sdstate.edu

Education

1983

Ph.D. Epidemiology, University of Cincinnati Medical

Center

1980

M.S. Epidemiology, University of Cincinnati Medical

Center

1977

B.S. Biology, University of Cincinnati

Professional Experience

1997 – Present                  

Director and Chair, Ethel Austin Martin-Edward Moss

Martin Endowed Program in Human Nutrition, South

Dakota State University, Brookings, SD

            Professor, Departments of Nutrition and Food Sciences,

Biological Sciences and Animal & Range Sciences,

South Dakota State University                               

Professor (adjunct), Department of Pediatrics,

University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

1996 – 1997                     

Professor of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati

Medical Center & Children’s Hospital Medical Center

(CHMC)

1989 – 1996                     

Associate Professor of Pediatrics & Research Associate

Professor (1989-1991), University of Cincinnati

Medical Center

1990 – 1997                     

Research Associate Professor, Environmental Health

(Epidemiol/Biostatistics), University of Cincinnati

Medical Center

Research Associate Professor, Radiology (Nuclear

Medicine), University of Cincinnati Medical Center

1985 – 1989                     

Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Neonatology)

University of Cincinnati Medical Center

Research Assistant Professor, Environmental Health     

(Epidemiology and Biostatistics), University of

Cincinnati Medical Center

1984                                 

Research Associate, Massachusetts Eye and Ear

Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Teaching Responsibilities

Epidemiology (NFS/BIOS 792)(2008 Spring, 2005 Spring)

Lecture on “Writing a Research Paper” to students in the

Prairie PhD Program (2007 Summer)

Lecture on “Measurement Issues” in Instrument

Construction and Evaluation with Underserved

Populations (NURS 845) (2007 Spring)

Independent Study (NFS 791), 1 semester hour

(2007 Spring)

Ph.D. Biology Seminar (BIOS 890), 1 semester hour

(2007 Spring)

“Calcium & Vitamin Requirements During Pregnancy &

Lactation” & “Vitamin B-12 in Vegetarian Mothers and

Infants” – guest lectures in Maternal & Child Nutrition,

SDSU (2005 Fall)

“Skeletal Aging” – guest lecture in Nutrition of the

Aged, SDSU (2005 Spring)

“Research Methods in the Health Sciences” – NFSH 792,

3 semester hrs (UAP/LEND & SDSU grad)

(2004 Summer)

“Research Methods in the Health Sciences” – NFSH 593,

3 semester hrs (UAP/LEND & Plains PhD)(2003 Summer)

“Research Methods” – FCS-700 & University Affiliated

Program (USD) (3 credits)(2002 Summer)

Selected Awards, Honors and Distinguished Activities

Member, Scientific Program Review Expert Panel, USDA

Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center (June 2007)

Member, NIH Integrative Nutrition and Metabolic

Processes (INMP) Study Section (2005 – Present)

Temporary Member, NIH Integrative Nutrition and

Metabolic Processes (INMP) Study Section (2004 – 2005)

Mead Johnson Advisory Board on Toddler & Children

Nutrition (2004)

Temporary Member, NIH Nutrition (NTN) Study Section,

October & June (2004)

Ad Hoc reviewer, NIH Endocrinology, Reproductive,

Nutritional & Metabolic Sciences Study Section (2004)

Temporary Member, NIH Skeletal Biology Development and

Disease (SBDD) Study Section (2004 – Present)

Data Safety Monitoring Board member for several

NIH/NIAMS sponsored grants (2003 – Present)

Working Group Leader, Pediatric Bone Disease Initiative

for the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

Advocacy Committee (2003)

Research Award, Sigma Xi, SDSU Chapter (2003)

Research Interests

Dr. Bonny Specker has published extensively in the area

of bone, calcium and vitamin D metabolism, with over

120 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters.  She has

had several NIH-funded research grants relating to

calcium metabolism and bone, and is currently

conducting a large NIH-funded study in eastern South

Dakota.  This study (South Dakota Rural Bone Health

Study) is designed to determine bone density and later

bone loss in rural populations.

Professional Memberships

American Pediatric Society, senior member

(2006 – Present)

International Bone and Mineral Society (2003 – Present)

American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

(1992 – Present)

Society for Pediatric Research, member (1989 – 2006)

American Society for Clinical Nutrition, member

(1989 – Present)

American Society for Nutritional Sciences, member

(1989 – Present)

Professional Services and Recognition

State/National/International Committee Involvement &

Professional Activities:

Grant reviewer, Medical Council Scotland (2007)

Grant reviewer, Thrasher Research Foundation (2006)

National Dairy Council Advisory Committee

(2006 – Present)

South Dakota State Epidemiological Outcomes Working

Group (2006 – Present)

National Children’s Study Steering Committee,

NICHD/NIH (2005 – Present)

Reviewer, Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D,

University of Ottawa Evidence-Based Practice Centre

(2005 – 2006)

Invited Grant Reviewer for The Wellcome Trust, London

(2005)

South Dakota Department of Health Obesity Task Force

(2003 – Present)

Member of Task Force, South Dakota Nutrition Council

(2003)

Invited Reviewer for World Health Organization

document titled "Nutrient Adequacy of Exclusive

Breastfeeding for the Term Infant during the First Six

Months of Life" by N. Butte, M. Lopez-Alarcon,

B. Garza. (2002)

University Committee Involvement & Professional Activities:

SDSU, Statistics Advisory Committee (2004 – Present)

SDSU, Search Committee for Statistics faculty (2004)

SDSU, Search Committee for Nutrition faculty (2004)

SDSU, Search Committee for Vice President for Research

(2004)

SDSU, Search Committee for Asst Dean for Nursing

Research & Dept Head for Grad Nursing (2004)

SDSU, Search Committee for Dairy Sciences faculty (2004)

SDSU, Search Committee for Dairy Sciences faculty (2003)

SDSU, Search Committee for Biology Department faculty

(2002)

SDSU, Search Committee for Chair of Department of

Nutrition, Food Science & Hospitality (2002)

SDSU NFSH Departmental Graduate Committee (1999 –

Present)

SDSU Graduate Faculty (1997 – Present)

Editorial Board

Journal of Clinical Densitometry (2004-2007)

Nutrition Today

Manuscript Review:  (approximately 10-12 articles/year)

Acta Paediatrica                                                          

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

American Journal of Diseases in Children                     

American Journal of Public Health

Bone                                                                           

British Medical Journal

Journal of American College of Nutrition                      

Journal of Bone and Mineral Research

Journal Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism               

Journal of Nutrition

Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry                               

Journal Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition

Journal of Pediatrics                                                     

Lancet

New England Journal of Medicine                                

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Pediatrics

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications: (papers in primary area of

nutritional research are identified with a *, others

are a result of collaborative efforts on additional

projects) 

Finn K, Johannsen N, Specker B.  Factors associated with

physical activity in preschool children.  J Pediatr

140:81-85, 2002.

Binkley TL, Specker BL, Wittig TA.  Centile curves for

bone densitometry measurements in healthy males and

females ages 5-22 years.  J Clin Densit 5:343-353, 2002.

Specker BL, Binkley TL.  Randomized trial of physical

activity and calcium supplementation on bone mineral

content in 3-5 year old children.  J Bone Mineral Res

18:885-892, 2003.

Johannsen N, Binkley T, Englert V, Niederauer G,

Specker B.  Bone response jumping is site-specific in

children: a randomized trial.  Bone 33: 533-539, 2003.

Specker BL.  Role of physical activity on bone mineral

content in young children.  J Musculoskeletal Neuronal

Interactions, 3:338,340, 2003.

Wosje K, Binkley TL, Kalkwarf H, Specker B. 

Relationships between bone mass and circulating leptin

concentrations in Hutterites.  Bone 34:1017-1022, 2004. 

Specker BL.  Nutritional influences on bone development

from infancy through toddler years. 

J Nutr 134:691S-695S, 2004.

Specker BL.  Vitamin D requirements during pregnancy. 

Amer J Clin Nutr 80:1740S-1747S, 2004.

Binkley T, Specker B.  Increased periosteal

circumference remains present 12 months after an

exercise intervention in preschool children. 

Bone 35:1383-1388, 2004. 

Specker B, Binkley T, Fahrenwald N.  Rural vs.

non-rural differences in BMC, volumetric BMD, and bone

size:  a population-based cross-sectional study. 

Bone 35:1389-1398, 2004.

Ballard TLP, Clapper A, Specker B, Binkley T, Vukovich M. 

Effect of protein supplementation during a 6-mo

strength and conditioning program on insulin-like

growth factor I and markers of bone turnover in young

adults.  Am J Clin Nutr 81:1442-1448, 2005.

Johnson J, Mistry V, Vukovich M, Hogi-Lorenzen T,

Hollis B, Specker B.  Bioavailability of vitamin D

from fortified process cheese and effects on vitamin D

status in the elderly.  J Dairy Sciences 88:2295-301,

2005.

Specker B, Schoenau E.  Quantitative bone analysis in

children: Current methodologies and recommendations. 

J Pediatr 146:726-731, 2005.

Schroder BG, Griffin IJ, Specker BL, Abrams SA.  Human

intestinal calcium absorption from a carbonated dairy

soft drink is greater than absorption from fat free

milk and calcium-fortified orange juice.  Nutr Res

25:737-742, 2005.

Klein GL, Fitzpatrick LA, Langman CB, Beck TJ,

Carpenter TO, Gilsanz V, Holm IA, Leonard MB,

Specker BL.  The state of pediatric bone: Summary of

the ASBMR pediatric bone initiative.  J Bone Miner Res

12:2075-2081, 2005.

Specker B, Binkley T.  High parity is associated with

increased bone size and strength.  Osteoporosis

Internat 16:1969-1974, 2005.

Binkley T, Johnson J, Vogel L, Kecskemethy H,

Henderson R, Specker B.  Bone measurements by

peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) in

children with cerebral palsy (CP).  J Pediatr

147:791-796, 2005.

Niederauer CM, Binkley TL, Specker BL.  Effect of

truncal adiposity on plasma lipid and lipoprotein

concentrations.  J Nutr Health Aging 10:154-160, 2006.

Specker B.  Influence of rapid growth on skeletal

adaptation to exercise.  J Musculoskeletal Neuronal

Interactions 6:147-153, 2006.

Ballard TL, Specker BL, Binkley TL, Vukovich MD. 

Effect of protein supplementation during 6-month

strength and conditioning program on areal and

volumetric bone parameters.  Bone 38:898-904, 2006.

Johannsen D, Johannsen N, Specker B.  Influence of

parent’s eating behaviors and child-feeding practices

on children’s weight status.  Obesity Res 14:431-439,

2006.

DeJongh E, Binkley T, Specker B.  Fat mass gain is

lower in calcium-supplemented than in un-supplemented

preschool children with low dietary calcium intakes. 

Amer J Clin Nutr 84:1123-1127, 2006.

Specker B, Binkley T, Vukovich M, Beare T.  Volumetric

bone density and bone size in sleep-deprived

individuals.  Osteoporosis Internat 18:93-99, 2007.

Havill L, Mahaney M, Binkley TL, Specker BL.  Effects

of genes, gender, age and activity on BMC, bone size,

and areal and volumetric BMD.  J Bone Miner Res

22:737-746, 2007.

Abou-Samra H, Specker B.  Walking age does not explain

term versus preterm difference in bone geometry. 

J Pediatr 151:61-66, 2007.

Osowski J, Beare T, Specker B.  Validation of a food

frequency questionnaire for assessment of dietary

calcium intake in rural populations.  J Amer Diet

Assoc 107:1349-1355, 2007.

Abou-Samra H, Beare T, Specker B.  Pedometer readings

and self-reported walking distances in a rural

population.  J Rural Health, in press

Books, Chapters, and Invited Papers:

Specker BL.  Are Activity and Diet Really Important

for Children’s Bone?”  Nutrition Today 37:44-49, 2002

Chesney RW, Specker BL, McKay CP.  Mineral metabolism

during pregnancy and lactation.  IN:  Disorders of Bone

and Mineral Metabolism, 2^nd edition. Coe and Favus, eds. 

Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins: New York, 2002,

pp. 347-359.

McKay CR, Specker BL, Chesney RW.  Bone and mineral

metabolism during childhood.  IN:  Disorders of Bone

and Mineral Metabolism, 2^nd edition.  Coe and Favus,

eds.  Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins: New York, 2002,

pp. 360-380.

Kalkwarf HJ, Specker BL.  Bone mineral changes during

pregnancy and lactation.  Endocrine 17:49-53, 2002.

Specker BL.  The role of calcium in bone health during

childhood.  IN:  Osteoporosis Japan, 10:11-16, 2002.

Specker BL.  Determinants of bone mineral content in

children.  IN:  Calcium in Childhood.  Annales Nestle',

Vol. 60, 2002.

Specker, BL.  Nutrition in pregnancy and lactation.  IN: 

Nutrition and Bone Health.  Holick and Dawson-Hughes,

eds.  Humana Press Inc: Totowa, 2004, pp. 139-156.

Specker BL.  Impact of micronutrient deficiencies on

bone growth and mineralization.  IN:  Micronutrient

Deficiencies during the Weaning Period and the First

Years of Life, edited by S Zlotkin and J Pettifor. 

Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series, Vol. 54, Krager

Publishing; Basel Switzerland, 153-172, 2004.

Vukovich M, Specker B.  Influence of physical activity

on calcium and bone. IN:  Calcium and Bone Health.

Weaver and Heaney, eds.  Humana Press Inc: Totowa,

227-246, 2005. 

Kalkwarf H, Specker B.  Vitamin D metabolism in

pregnancy and lactation.  IN:  Vitamin D, 2^nd ed.

Feldman, Pike and Glorieux, eds. Elsevier, Inc: 2005.

Specker B, Vukovich M.  Evidence for an interaction

between exercise and nutrition for improved bone

health during growth.  IN:  Physical Activity,

Nutrition and Bone Health During Growth.  Daly and

Petit, eds. Krager: Basel, 50-63, 2007.

Baker R, Cabellero BH, Specker B. Nutrient intakes of

toddlers versus recommendations.  IN:  Toddler

Nutrition, monograph. Mead Johnson, Inc., in press

Abstracts (abstracts presented as posters or platform

sessions are marked with an *):

Wosje KS, Binkley TL, Specker BL.  High parity is

associated with greater bone size later in life. 

Presented at the American Society for Bone and Mineral

Research annual meeting, San Antonio, September 2002.

Specker B, Binkley TL, Wermers J.  Randomized trial of

physical activity and calcium supplementation on BMC

in 3-5 year old healthy children.  Presented at the

American Society for Bone and Mineral Research annual

meeting, San Antonio, September 2002.

Mahaney MC, Havill LM, Binkley TL, Specker BL. 

Effects of genotype-by-sex, -age, and -physical

activity interactions on bone phenotypes in a human

genetic isolate.  Presented at the 17th International

Puijio Symposium on Physical Activity and Health:

Gender Differences Across the Lifespan. 

Kuopio, Finland, June, 2003. 

Havill LM, Mahaney MC, Binkley TL, Specker BL.  Genes,

gender, age, and activity in a human genetic isolate: 

Variation in BMC and BMD.  Presented at the 17th

International Puijio Symposium on Physical Activity

and Health: Gender Differences Across the Lifespan. 

Kuopio, Finland, June, 2003. 

Specker BL, Binkley TL, Wittig T.  South Dakota Rural

Bone Health Study:  Gender differences in bone vary by

age and are not due to body size of activity.  Presented

at the 17th International Puijio Symposium on Physical

Activity and Health: Gender Differences Across the

Lifespan.  Kuopio, Finland, June, 2003. 

Binkley TL, Wermers J, Specker BL.  Increases in bone

area and periosteal circumference are greater with

gross motor vs. fine motor exercise in preschool

children: a persistent effect 12 months post-

intervention.  Presented at the American Society for

Bone and Mineral Research annual meeting, Minneapolis,

September 2003.

Specker BL, Binkley T, Beare T.  Increased bone size