Linda V. Van Horn, PhD, RD

Professor of Preventive Medicine,
Associate Dean for Faculty Development, and
Acting Chair, Department of Preventive Medicine

Research Interests

As a clinical nutrition epidemiologist, Dr. Van Horn's research focuses on the benefits of a fat-modified diet, rich in fruit, vegetable-protein, protein and whole grain fiber, to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer and other chronic diseases. Dr. Van Horn's research includes the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of a low-fat, nutrient-dense diet in growing children; biomarkers of dietary adherence in premenopausal women (the Diet and Hormone Study); impact of a low-fat, high-fiber diet on breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis outcomes in postmenopausal women (Women's Health Initiative); and cross-cultural comparison of diet and blood pressure in China, Japan, The United Kingdom, and The United States (INTERMAP). Dr. Van Horn has many years of experience in multi-center, collaborative trials including the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention (MRFIT), the Diet Intervention Study in Children (DISC), the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), the study of Coronary Artery Risk Reduction in Young Adults (CARDIA) and the international study on macro and micronutrients that affect blood pressure in adults (INTERMAP). She has also conducted several dietary intervention studies on lipid response to oat fiber and soy intake. Currently she is involved in several NCI-funded ancillary studies within WHI using doubly-labeled water in postmenopausal women to validate dietary assessment methodology. She is also participating in a follow up study among the DISC girls comparing diet, hormone levels and breast density levels between the intervention and control groups ten years after the initial intervention.

Dr. Van Horn was a recipient of the Nutrition Academic Award (NAA) funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The purpose of the NAA was to improve and expand nutrition education in twenty one medical schools across the country at NUFSM, Dr. Van Horn and her colleagues are integrating nutrition education and training as part of the undergraduate curriculum as well as providing continuing education for residents, graduate students and medical faculty.

Dr. Van Horn is committed to providing nutrition education outreach to underserved populations. She launched a nutrition education program involving dietitian-supervised medical students for low income pregnant patients who attend the Prentice Ambulatory Clinic (PAC). These patients would otherwise not be exposed to good nutrition practices and the medical students who are eager to learn how to counsel patients have the opportunity to develop these skills while learning the basics of nutrition assessment and intervention.

In 2006, Dr Van Horn became Associate Dean of Faculty Development in the Feinberg School of Medicine part time. She is involved in Mentorship development and meets with medical faculty on matters of promotion and tenure. In 2007, she became Interim-Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine.

Dr. Van Horn is the Editor in Chief of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Selected Publications

1. Van Horn L, Kavey RE. Diet and cardiovascular disease prevention: What works? Ann Beh Med Special Topic Series: Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. 1997;19(3).

2. Van Horn L. Fiber, lipids and coronary heart disease. Circulation. 1997;95:2701-4.

3. Van Horn L, Greenland P. Prevention of coronary artery disease is a pediatric problem. JAMA. 1997;278:1779-80.

4. Lichtenstein A, Van Horn L. Very low fat diets. Circulation.1998;98:935-9.

5. Ludwig DS, Pereira MA, Kroenke CH, Hilner JE, Van Horn L, Slattery ML, Jacobs Jr. DR. Dietary fiber, hyperinsulinemia, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in young adults: The CARDIA Study. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1999;282:1539-46.
   
   
6. Van Horn L. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease starts in childhood. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000;100(1):41-2.
   
   

7. McGaghie WC, Van Horn L, Fitzgibbon M, Telser A, et al. Development of a measure of attitude toward nutrition in patient care. Am J Prev Med. 2001;20(1):15-20.

8. Gann PH, Giovanazzi S, Van Horn L, et al. Saliva as a medium for investigating differences in ovarian hormones in premenopausal women. Cancer Epid Biomarker Prev. 2001;10:59-64.

9. Obarzanek E, Kimm SYS, Barton BA, Van Horn L, Kwiterovich Jr BA et al. Long-Term safety and efficacy of a cholesterol-lowering diet in children with elevated LDL-c seven-year results of the dietary intervention study in children (DISC). Pediatrics. 2001;107:256-64.

10. Fitzgibbon ML, Stolley MR, Dyer AR, Van Horn L, Kaufer Christofel K. A community-based obesity prevention program for minority children: Rationale and study design for Hip-Hop to Health Jr. Prev Med. 2002;34:289-7.

11. Van Horn L, Obarzanek E, Barton B, Stevens VJ, Kwiterovich Jr. PO, Lasser NL, Robson AM, Franklin Jr. PA, Lauer RM, et al. A summary of results of the Dietary Intervention Study in Children (DISC): Lessons learned. J Cardio Nursing. 2003;18(1):28-41.

12. Dorgan J, Hunberger S, McMahon R, Kwiterovich P, Lauer R, Van Horn L, et al. Diet and sex hormones in girls: Finding from randomized controlled clinical trial. J National Cancer Institute. 2003; 95(2):132-141.

13. Patterson R, Kristal A, Rodabough R, Caan B, Lillington L, Mossavar-Rahmani Y, Simon M, Snetselaar L, Van Horn L. Changes in food sources of dietary fat in response to an intensive low-fat dietary intervention: Early results from the Women’s Health Initiative. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103(4):454-60.

14. Prentice R, Caan B, Chlebowski R, Van Horn L, et al. Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of invasive breast cancer:Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial.JAMA; 2006; 295(6):629-42.

15. Beresford S, Johnson K, Ritenbaugh C, Van Horn L, et al. Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of colorectal cancer: Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. JAMA.2006;295(6):643-54.

16. Howard BV, Van Horn L, Hsia J, et al. Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. JAMA. 2006;295(6):655-66.

17. Wactawski-Wende J, Kotchen JM, Anderson GL, Van Horn L, et al. Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2006;354(7):684-96.

18. Curb JD, Prentice RL, Bray PF, Langer RD, Van Horn L, et al. Venous thrombosis and conjugated equine estrogen in women without a uterus. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:772-780.

19. Fitzgibbon ML, Stolley MR, Schiffer L, Van Horn L, KauferChristoffel K, Dyer A, Hip-Hop to Health Jr. for Latino preschool children. Obesity. 2006 Sep;14(9):1616-25.

20. Van Horn L, The Nutrition Academic Award: brief history, overview, and legacy. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 April; 83(4S):936S-40S.
    

21. Lichtenstein AH, Appel LJ, Brands M, Carnethon M, Daniels S, Franklin B, Kris-Etherton P, Harris WS, Howard B, Karanja N, Lefevre M, Rudel L, Sacks F, Van Horn L, Winston M, Wylie-Rosett J. Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations Revision 2006. A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee. Circulation. 2006 Jul 4;114(1):82-96.
    
    
22. McTigue K, Larson JC, Valoski A, Burke G, Kotchen JM, Lewis CE, Stefanick ML, Van Horn L, Kuller L. Mortality and cardiac and vascular outcomes in extremely obese women. JAMA. 2006;296:79-86
    
    
23. Gidding SS, Barton BA, Dorgan JA, Kimm SY, Kwiterovich PO, Lasser NL, Robson AM, Stevens VJ, Van Horn L, Simons-Morton DG. Higher self-reported physical activity is associated with lower systolic blood pressure: the Dietary Intervention Study in Childhood (DISC). Pediatrics. 2006 Dec;118(6):2388-93.
    
    
24. He K, Xu Y, Van Horn L. The puzzle of dietary fat intake and risk of ischemic stroke: A brief review of epidemiologic data. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Feb;107(2):287-95.
    
    
25. Friedman LA, Snetselaar L, Stumbo P, Van Horn L, Singh B, Barton BA. Influence of intervention on beverage choices: Trends in the Dietary Intervention Study in Children (DISC). J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Apr;107(4):586-94.
    
    
26. McCoin M, Sikand G, Johnson EQ, Kris-Etherton PM, Burke F, Carson JA, Champagne CM, Karmally W, Van Horn L. The effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy delivered by registered dietitians for disorders of lipid metabolism: a call for further research. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Feb;108(2):233-9.
    
    
27. Van Horn L. McCoin M, Kris-Etherton PM, Burke F, Carson JA, Champagne CM, Karmally W, Sikand G.
    The evidence for dietary prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Feb;108(2):287-331.
    


28. McCoin M, Sikand G, Johnson EQ, Kris-Etherton PM, Burke F, Carson JA, Champagne CM, Karmally W, Van Horn L. The effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy delivered by registered dietitians for disorders of lipid metabolism: a call for further research. J Am Diet Associ. 2008 Feb;108(2):223-9. No abstract available.


29. Van Horn L, McCoin M, Kris-Etherton PM, Burke F, Carson JA, Champagne CM, Karmally W, Sikand G. The evidence for dietary prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Feb; 108(2)287-331. Review.


30. Van Horn L. Focus on diabetes. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Apr;108(4):595. No abstract available.


31. Van Horn L. Helping to make the right choices. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 May;108(5):763.


32. Van Horn L. Changing of the board. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Jun; 108(6):925.
33. Van Horn L. Fishing for answers. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Jul;108(7):1105.

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