Skip to main content
profile photo

Jere Douglas Haas

Professor

Graduate Fields

Research Focus

My research deals with nutrition problems of women and young children, with a primary emphasis on iron deficiency and protein and energy undernutrition in developing countries.

I am currently examining a novel approach to improving dietary iron intakes by enhancing the nutrient quality of staple food crops such as rice and beans. These staple foods are consumed by a large number of the most nutritionally vulnerable population groups in Asia , Africa and latin America . In collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the University of the Philippines at Los Banos and the Pennsylvania State University we have shown an improvement in body iron status in women who consumed a variety of rice bred for high iron content. The research was conducted in a population of iron deficient women whose rice consumption and dietary intakes were closely monitored. The women were fed either the genetically enhanced rice or a control variety for 9 months, after which, they were tested for improvements in iron status and behavioral and cognitive performance. This research has shown that "biofortification" strategies can improve the micronutrient status of human subjects at risk of deficiencies in developing countries. We have recently begun a second feeding trial of another biofortified staple, black beans, in school children in southern Mexico. This study will test for improvements in iron status and related effects on cognitive function and physical activity in poor indigenous primary school children. The research is being conducted in collaboration with scientist at the Mexican National Institute of Public Health and the Pennsylvania State University.

A series of experimental studies on moderate iron deficiency and physical performance in non-anemic women is testing the effects of total body and tissue iron depletion, on physical performance, energetic efficiency and work productivity in response to dietary iron supplementation. This research has already shown that work efficiency and physical endurance are affected positively by iron supplementation. Continuing research in collaboration with the Mexican National Institute of Public Health has shown that iron deficient female factory workers are less productive, less energetically efficient and less physically active than non-deficient women working at the same jobs. We have also recently shown that iron deficiency in these same factory workers is related to increased depression, which is exacerbated by psychological stress. These results were confirmed in a sample of Hispanic women in the US who participated in national Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES).

A third area of research examines the effects of gestational weight gain on fetal development in Guatemala , the US and China . This research explores the effects of both low and high maternal weight gain and the timing of the weight gain on various measures of newborn size development that reflect growth retardation or infantile obesity. Recent analysis of data from Guatemala has shown that poor rural women who gain on average less weight during pregnancy then recommended, nevertheless retain a large amount of that weight through 6 months postpartum. Exclusive breast feeding for most of the first 6 months results in a more rapid return to their prepregnancy weight.

Educational Background

  • Ph.D. 1973 - Pennsylvania State University, Biological Anthropology
  • M.A. 1970 - Pennsylvania State University, Anthropology
  • B.A. 1967 - Franklin and Marshall College, Anthropology

     

    • Research Grants

    • PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ASSESSMENT USING VARIABILITY IN ACCELEROMETER COUNTS
    • HOW DOES IRON DEFICIENCY WITHOUT ANEMIA (IDNA) AFFECT ENDURANCE TRAINING IN FEMALE COLLEGIATE ENDURANCE ATHLETES?

    Selected Publications

    PubMed Listings

    Yu, Z., Sun, J., Haas, J.D., Gu,Y., Li, Z., Lin, X. Macrosomia is associated with high weight-for-height in children age 1 to 3 years in Shanghai, China. International Journal of Obesity (in press).

    Beard, J.L., L.E. Murray-Kolb, J.D. Haas and F. Lawrence. 2007. Iron absorption prediction equations lack agreement and underestimate iron adsorption. Journal of Nutrition, 137:1741-1746.

    Beard, J.L., L.E. Murray-Kolb, F. Lawrence, A. Felix, A. del Mundo, and J.D. Haas. 2007. Variation in the Diets of Philippine Women over 9 Months of Continuous Observation. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 28:206-214.

    Haas, J.D. and F Campirano. 2006. Interpopulation variation in height among children 7 to 18 years of age. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, (supplement), 27(4): S212-S223

    Gregorio, G.B., and J.D. Haas. 2006. Nutritional revolution in rice: A new scientific challenge. Report 2005: Nestle Foundation, Lausanne, Switzerland, pp 38-39.

    Haas, J.D., and D.D. Miller. 2006. Overview of Experimental Biology 2005 Symposium: Food Fortification in Developing Countries. Journal of Nutrition (Supplement), 136:1053-1054.

    Neufeld, L.M., J.D. Haas, R. Grajéda and R. Martorell. 2006. Last menstrual period provides the best estimate of gestation length for women in rural Guatemala. Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 20, 290-298.

    Haas, J.D. 2006. The effects of iron deficiency on physical performance. In Mineral Requirements f Military Personnel: Levels Needed for Cognitive and Physical Performance during Garrison Training, edited by the Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine (IOM), The National Academies Press, Washington D.C, pp 451-461.

    Haas J.D., Beard J.L,. Murray-Kolb L.E., del Mundo A., Felix A., Gregorio G. 2005. Iron-biofortified rice improves the iron stores of non-anemic Filipino women. Journal of Nutrition, 135:2823-2830.

    Neufeld, L.M., J.D. Haas, M.T. Ruel, R. Grajeda and L.P. Naeher. 2004. Smoky indoor cooking fires are associated with elevated hemoglobin concentration in iron deficient women. Pan American Journal of Public Health, 15:110-118.

    Brownlie, T., V. Utermohlen, P.S. Hinton and J.D. Haas. 2004. Tissue-iron deficiency without anemia impairs endurance adaptation among previously untrained women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 79:437-443.

    Brutsaert, T.D., J.D. Haas and H. Spielvogel. 2004. Absence of work efficiency differences during cycle ergometry exercise in Bolivian Aymara. High Altitude Medicine and Biology, 5:41-59

    Neufeld, L.M., J.D. Haas, R. Grajéda, and R. Martorell. 2004. Changes in maternal weight from the first to second trimester of pregnancy are associated with fetal growth and infant length at birth. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 79:646-652

    Brutsaert, T., S. Hernandez-Cordero, J. Rivera, T.Viola, G. Hughes, and J.D. Haas. 2003. Progressive muscle fatigue during dynamic work in iron deficient Mexican women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 77:441-448.

    Hernandez, B., J. deHaene, F. Campirano, S. Barquera, E. Monterrubio, J. Rivera, T. Shamah, J. Haas, and J. Sepúlveda. 2003. Factores asociados a la practica de actividad fisica en mujeres Mexicanas en edad reproductiva. Pan American Journal of Public Health, 14(4):1-14

    Brownlie, T., V. Utermohlen, P.S. Hinton, C. Giordano and J.D. Haas. 2002. Marginal iron depletion without anemia reduces adaptation to physical training in previously untrained women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 75:734-742.

    Haas, J. D., and T. Brownlie. 2001. Iron deficiency and reduced work capacity: A critical review of the research to determine a causal relationship. Journal of Nutrition (supplement), 131:676S-688S.

    Jahari, A.B., J.D. Haas, M. A.Husaini, and E. Pollitt. 2000. Effects of energy and micronutrient supplement on skeletal maturation in undernourished children in Indonesia. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 54 (Supplement 2):S74-S79.

    Hinton, P.S., Giordano, C., Brownlie, T. and J.D. Haas. 2000. Iron supplementation improves endurance after training in iron-deficient, non-anemic women. Journal of Applied Physiology, 88:1103-1111.

    Cohen, J.H. and J.D. Haas. 1999. Hemoglobin correction factors for estimating the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women residing at high altitudes in Bolivia. Pan American Journal of Public Health, 6:392-399.

    Brutsaert, T.D., H. Spielvogel, R. Soria, E. Caceres, G. Buzenet and J.D. Haas. 1999. Effect of developmental and ancestral high altitude exposure on VO2peak of Andean and European/North American natives. American Journal of Physical Anthropology,110:435-455.

    W.H.O Collaborative Study. 1997. A WHO Collaborative Study of Maternal Anthropometry and Pregnancy Outcomes. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 57:1-15.

    Haa