Francene M. Steinberg, Ph.D., R.D.

Education

• R.D., Registered Dietitian, American Dietetic Association
• Ph.D., University of California, Davis

Research Interests

Dr. Steinberg’s research program focuses on the physiologic effects of bioactive food components to reduce risk factors for cardiovascular and obesity-related chronic diseases. Human trials and complementary research approaches are used to study metabolic markers of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, endothelial function, inflammation and metabolic homeostasis; with a goal to examine nutritional phenotypes of individuals responding to intakes of food phytochemicals and characterize metabolic responses which promote health and chronic disease risk reduction.

Selected Publications

Bardagjy AS, Hu Q, Giebler KA, Ford A, Steinberg FM. Effects of grape consumption on biomarkers of inflammation, endothelial function, and PBMC gene expression in obese subjects. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2018 May 15;646:145-152. [PubMed]

Reverri EJ, Slupsky CM, Mishchuk DO, Steinberg FM. Metabolomics reveals differences between three daidzein metabolizing phenotypes in adults with cardiometabolic risk factors. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2016 Jul 1. [PubMed]

Froyen EB, Steinberg FM. Genistein decreases basal hepatic cytochrome P450 1A1 protein expression and activity in Swiss Webster mice. Nutr Res. 2016 May;36(5):430-9. [PubMed]

Reverri EJ, Randolph JM, Steinberg FM, Kappagoda CT, Edirisinghe I, Burton-Freeman BM. Black Beans, Fiber, and Antioxidant Capacity Pilot Study: Examination of Whole Foods vs. Functional Components on Postprandial Metabolic, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Adults with Metabolic Syndrome. Nutrients 2015;7(8):6139-54. [PubMed]

Scherr RE, Linnell JD, Smith MH, Briggs M, Bergman J, Brian KM, Dharmar M, Feenstra G, Hillhouse C, et al. The Shaping Healthy Choices Program: design and implementation methodologies for a multicomponent, school-based nutrition education intervention. Journal of nutrition education and behavior. 2014 Nov-Dec;46:e13-21. [PubMed]

Reverri EJ, LaSalle CD, Franke AA, Steinberg FM. Soy provides modest benefits on endothelial function without affecting inflammatory biomarkers in adults at cardiometabolic risk. Molecular nutrition & food research. 2015 Feb;59:323-33. [PubMed]

Reverri EJ, Morrissey BM, Cross CE, Steinberg FM. Inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults with cystic fibrosis. Free radical biology & medicine. 2014 Nov;76:261-77. [PubMed]

Amato P, Young RL, Steinberg FM, Murray MJ, Lewis RD, Cramer MA, Barnes S, Ellis KJ, Shypailo RJ, Fraley JK, Konzelmann KL, Fischer JG, Lasalle C, Smith EO, Wong WW. Effect of soy isoflavone supplementation on menopausal quality of life. Menopause.Menopause. 2013 Apr;20(4):443-7. [PubMed]

Matthiessen TB, Steinberg FM, Kaiser LL.Convergent validity of a digital image-based food record to assess food group intake in youth. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011 May;111(5):756-61. [PubMed]

Steinberg FM, Murray MJ, Lewis RD, Cramer MA, Amato P, Young RL, Barnes S, Konzelmann KL, Fischer JG, Ellis KJ, Shypailo RJ, Fraley JK, Smith EO, Wong WW. Clinical outcomes of a 2-y soy isoflavone supplementation in menopausal women.Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Feb;93(2):356-67. Epub 2010 Dec 22. [PubMed]

Froyen EB, Steinberg FM.Soy isoflavones increase quinone reductase in hepa-1c1c7 cells via estrogen receptor beta and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 binding to the antioxidant response element.J Nutr Biochem. 2011 Sep;22(9):843-8. [PubMed]

Froyen EB, Reeves JL, Mitchell AE, Steinberg FM.Regulation of phase II enzymes by genistein and daidzein in male and female Swiss Webster mice. J Med Food. 2009 Dec;12(6):1227-37. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2009.0084. [PubMed]

Wong W, Lewis RD, Murray MJ, Cramer MA, Amato P, Young RL, Barnes S, Ellis KJ, Shypailo RJ, Fraley JK, Konzelman K, Fischer JG, O’Brian Smith E, Steinberg F, Soy isoflavone supplementation and bone mineral density in menopausal women: a two-year multicenter clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Nov;90(5):1433-9. [PubMed]

Sivaprakasapillai B, Edirisinghe I, RandolphJ, Steinberg F, Kappagoda T. Effect of grape seed extract on blood pressure in subjects with the metabolic syndrome.  Metabolism.  2009 Dec;58(12):1743-6. [PubMed]

Kaiser LL Martin AC, Lexion CL Blackburn ML Metz DL Smith D, Donohue SS, Steinberg FM. Take care of your health! An extension program to prevent diabetes. Journal of Extension  2009; 47 (4): 4FEAS.

Maskarinec G, Verheus G, Steinberg FM, Amato P, Cramer M, Lewis R, Murray M, Young R, Wong WW.   Various doses of soy isoflavones do not modify mammographic density in postmenopausal women. Journal of Nutrition. 2009;139:981-986. [PubMed]

Johnson CF, Steinberg FM, Rucker RB. Ascorbic Acid in: The Handbook of Vitamins. Zempleni J, Rucker RB, Suttie J, McCormick D (Editors) Taylor and Francis, NYC, NY.  Pg. 489-520, 2007.

Wang-Polagruto JF, Villablanca AC, Polagruto JA, Lee L, Holt RR, Schrader HR, Ensunsa JL, Steinberg FM, Schmitz HH, Keen CL.  Chronic consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa improves endothelial function and decreases vascular cell adhesion molecule in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women.  Journal Cardiovascular Pharmacology. 2007;47:S177-S186. [PubMed]

Heneman KM, Chang HC, Prior RL, Steinberg FM. Soy protein with and without isoflavones fails to substantially increase postprandial antioxidant capacity. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 2007;1:46-53, 2007. [PubMed]

Heneman KM, Block-Joy A, Zidenberg-Cherr S, Donahue S, Garcia L, Martin A, Metz D, Smith D, West E, Steinberg FM.  A “Contract for Change” increases produce consumption in low income women: A pilot study.  Journal of American Dietetic Association. 2005;105: 1793-1796.   [PubMed]

Ebeler SE, Dingley KH, Ubick E, Abel S, Mitchell AE, Burns SA, Steinberg FM, Clifford AJ.  Animal models and analytical approaches for understanding the relationships between wine and cancer. Drugs Experimental Clinical. Research., Bioscience Ediprint Inc.  2005;31(1):19-27. [PubMed]

Ellis KJ, Shypailo RS, Steinberg FM, Lewis RD, Young RL, Wong WW. Reproducibility of fan-beam DXA measurements in adults and phantoms.  Journal of Clinical Densitometry.  2004; 7(4):413-8. [PubMed]

Steinberg FM, Rucker RB. Water Soluble Vitamins; in Handbook of Food Analysis, 2nd edition, Ed. L. Nollet; Dekker/CRC Press.  2004. Pgs 10/1-18.

Rucker RB, Steinberg FM.  Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C); in Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry, Eds. W. Lennarz and M. Lane; Elsevier. 2004;4:367-371.  

Mitchell D, Haan MN, Steinberg FM, Visser M. Body composition in the elderly: the influence of nutritional factors and physical activity. J Nutr Health Aging. 2003;7(3):130-9. [PubMed]

Steinberg FM. ACE inhibitor use and elevated creatinine levels. Am Fam Physician. 2003 Jul 1;68(1):41; author reply 41-2. [PubMed]

Dingley KH, Ubick EA, Chiarappa-Zucca ML, Nowell S, Abel S, Ebeler SE, Mitchell AE, Burns SA, Steinberg FM, Clifford AJ. Effect of dietary constituents with chemopreventive potential on adduct formation of a low dose of the heterocyclic amines PhIP and IQ and phase II hepatic enzymes. Nutr Cancer. 2003;46(2):212-21. [PubMed]

Steinberg FM, Guthrie NL, Villablanca AC, Kumar K, Murray MJ. Soy protein with isoflavones has favorable effects on endothelial function that are independent of lipid and antioxidant effects in healthy postmenopuausal women. Am J Clin Nutr 78:123-130, 2003. [PubMed]

Steinberg FM, Stites T, Anderson P, Storms D, Chan I, Eghbali S, Rucker RB: Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) improves growth and reproductive performance in mice fed chemically defined diets. Soc Exp Biol Med 228:160-166, 2003. [PubMed]

Steinberg FM, Bearden MM, Keen CL: Cocoa and chocolate flavonoids: Implications for cardiovascular health. J Amer Dietetic Assoc 103:215-223, 2003. [PubMed]

Steinberg FM, Holts RR, Schmitz, HH, Keen CL. Cocoa procyanidin chain length does not determine ability to protect LDL from oxidation when monomer units are controlled. J Nutr Biochem 13:645-652, 2002. [PubMed]

Rucker RB, Steinberg FM. Vitamin requirements: Their relationship to basic metabolic basal metabolic need and functions. Biochem Molec Biol Educ 30:86-89, 2002.

Anderson KJ, Teuber SS, Gobeille A, Cremin P, Waterhouse AL, Steinberg FM: Walnut polyphenolics inhibit in vitro plasma and LDL oxidation. Journal of Nutrition 2001;131:2837-2842. [PubMed]

Rucker RB, Stites TE, Suzuki Y, Steinberg FM, Storms D: Physiological importance of pyrroloquinoline quinone. Journal of Vitaminology (Japan) 2001;75:381-387.

Lotito SB, Actis-Goretta L, Renart ML, Caliguiuri M, Rein D, Schmitz HH, Steinberg FM, Keen CL, Fraga CG: Influence of oligomer chain length on the antioxidant activity of procyanidins. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2000;276:945-951. [PubMed]