When an ISU associate professor of food science and human nutrition became interested in the human bone and diseases harmful to women’s bones 15 years ago, she didn’t realize her research would be nationally recognized.

“I’ve always been interested in women’s health … it’s very engaging to me,” said D. Lee Alekel, who joined the Iowa State faculty in 1996.

Her research in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis in middle-age women during the last few years has led to her being recognized with the 2003 Mead Johnson Award for her research from the American Society for Nutritional Sciences, which included a plaque and $2,500.

“I was delighted and surprised,” Alekel said of the award. “It’s an honor from the American Society for Nutritional Sciences.”

Alekel’s research has been concentrated on soy protein rich in isoflavones, which are estrogen-like compounds that have been proven to prevent bone loss in rats.

The studies she has conducted with other researchers are based on the idea isoflavones can be an alternative to hormone replacement therapy in perimenopasual women, Alekel said.

Perimenopausal means a time period around the same time as menopause, which generally takes place at the age of 51 in women, but can range anywhere from a woman’s 40s to all through her 50s, she said.

“[This type of research] has been in high profile, due to the nature of the research,” Alekel said. “People are interested in human-based research because they can identify with it.”

She said the idea behind her research was today’s hormone therapy for mid-life women, which has “adverse side effects.” Therefore, the goal behind isoflavones research is to determine if these soy protein “estrogen-like substances” will help prevent bone loss in menopausal women by “maintaining bone formation.

“One-third of women’s lives are now spent in the postmenopausal state, with an increasing number of women wanting alternatives to hormone replacement therapy,” Alekel said.

According to the American Society for Nutritional Services brochure, to receive the Mead Johnson Award the recipient had to complete “a piece of nutrition research or a series of papers on the same subject.” This research also had to be completed within 10 years of postgraduate training.

“[Alekel] has contributed a lot and it’s a very well-deserved award,” said Manju Reddy, associate professor of food science and human nutrition.

Alekel said Don Beitz’s nomination of her for the award in this area of research was timely, since the area of women’s health has been getting more attention nationally.

“I had the impression she is a rising star of nutrition,” said Beitz, distinguished professor in animal science and biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology.

“She was able to get a major grant for her research, that was impressive to me — and she is working on a research project that is of major significance to humans.”

Future research involving the effects of isoflavones on women’s bone loss for Alekel will be dealing with a multi-center three year clinical trial, which is a five-year project Alekel started last summer at a cost of $3.4 million funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

“Her studies are unique … it will be very promising for prevention of bone loss,” Reddy said.

Although winning the award has the potential to help Iowa State attain more research grants, Alekel said there needs to be more researchers nominated.

“We have lots of good researchers and we can’t compete unless nominated,” Alekel said. “In some fields [researchers] don’t need a lot of money, but in human nutrition it is very expensive.”