Education

  • BS, Exercise Physiology, Southern Connecticut State University, 2002
  • MA, Exercise Physiology, Adelphi University, 2004
  • PhD, Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, 2008

Research Interests

Dr. Pasiakos is a Professor and Director of the Center for Human Performance Optimization at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. He leads research and initiatives in physiology, nutrition, neuroscience, and technology to enhance human performance in U.S. military personnel, astronauts, and elite athletes, training and operating in extreme environments under harsh conditions. His research interests include dietary protein and amino acid requirements, muscle physiology, human performance, resilience, and the bioenergetics of exercise metabolism. Dr. Pasiakos’ goal is to translate innovative science into strategies that improve human performance in multi-domain, high-stakes conditions. Through his work, he aims to significantly advance our understanding of human physiology and develop practical solutions that can be applied in real-world scenarios to optimize human performance.

Selected Publications

  1. Pasiakos SM, Cao JJ, Margolis LM, Sauter ES, Whigham LD, McClung JP, Rood JC, Carbone JW, Combs GF, Jr, Young AJ. Effects of high protein diets on fat-free mass and muscle protein synthesis following weight loss: a randomized controlled trial. FASEB J. 2013 Sep;27(9):3837–3847. doi: 10.1096/fj.13-230227. Epub 2013 Jun 5.
  2. Pasiakos SM, Agarwal S, Lieberman HR, Fulgoni VL. Sources and amounts of animal, dairy and plant protein intake of US adults in 2007–2010. Nutrients. 2015 Aug 21;7(8):7058–69. doi: 10.3390/nu7085322
  3. Pasiakos SM, Vislocky LM, Carbone JW, Freake HC, Anderson JM, Ferrando AA, Wolfe RR, Rodriguez NR. Acute energy deprivation affects skeletal muscle protein synthesis and associated intracellular signaling proteins in physically active adults. J Nutr. 2010 Apr;140(4):745–51. doi: 10.3945/jn.109.118372. Epub 2010 Feb 17.
  4. Berryman CE, Lieberman HR, Fulgoni VL, Pasiakos SM. Protein intake trends and conformity with the Dietary Reference Intakes in the United States: analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001 2014. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018 Aug 1;108(2):405–413. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy088.
  5. Pasiakos SM, McClung HL, McClung JP, Margolis LM, Andersen NA, Cloutier GJ, Pikosky MA, Rood JC, Fielding RA, Young AJ. Leucine-enriched essential amino acid supplementation during moderate steady state exercise enhances postexercise muscle protein synthesis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Sep;94(3):809–18. Doi
  6. Margolis LM, Murphy NE, Martini S, Spitz MG, Thrane I, McGraw SM, Blatny JM, Castellani JW, Rood JC, Young AJ, Montain SJ, Gundersen Y, Pasiakos SM. Effects of winter military training on energy balance, whole-body protein balance, muscle damage, soreness, and physical performance. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2014 Dec;39(12):1395–1401. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2014-0212
  7. Pasiakos SM, Lieberman HR, Fulgoni VL. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25733478/ J Nutr. 2015 Mar;145(3):605–14. doi: 10.3945/jn.114.205203. Epub 2015 Jan 21.
  8. Varanoske AN, Harris MN, Hebert C, Howard EE, Johannsen NM, Heymsfield SB, Greenway FL, Margolis LM, Lieberman HR, Beyl RA, Church DD, Ferrando AA, Pasiakos SM, Rood JC. Testosterone undecanoate administration prevents declines in fat-free mass but not physical performance during simulated multi-stressor military operations. J Appl Physiol. (1985). 2022 Aug 1;133(2):426–442. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00190.2022. Epub 2022 Jul 7.
  9. Howard EE, Shankaran M, Evans WJ, Berryman CE, Margolis LM, Lieberman HR, Karl JP, Young AJ, Montano MA, Matthews MD, Bizieff A, Nygangau E, Mohammed H, Harris MN, Hellerstein MK, Rood JC, Pasiakos SM. Effects of testosterone on mixed-muscle protein synthesis and proteome dynamics during energy deficit. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Jul 14;107(8):e3254–e3263. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgac295.
  10. Pasiakos SM, Berryman CE, Karl JP, Lieberman HR, Orr JS, Margolis LM, Caldwell JA, Young AJ, Montano MA, Evans WJ, Vartanian O, Carmichael OT, Gadde KM, Johannsen NM, Beyl RA, Harris MN, Rood JC. Effects of testosterone supplementation on body composition and lower-body muscle function during severe exercise- and diet-induced energy deficit: a proof-of-concept, single centre, randomised, double-blind, controlled trial. EBioMedicine. 2019 Aug;46:411–422. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.07.059. Epub 2019 Jul 27

PubMed Bibliography