This week on The Sausage of Science, Chris and Cristina explore pica (the craving and consumption of nonfood items like earth or clay) through the lens of maternal health and nutrition. Our guest, Dr. Leila Larson of the University of South Carolina, shares insights from her study on pica among pregnant women in Malawi, part of the REVAMP iron supplementation trial.
She discusses how iron status, infection, and environment influence maternal health, why intravenous iron may be a more effective approach to reducing pica, and what these cravings reveal about nutrition and development worldwide. We also hear about her new U.S.-based study and how she balances a vibrant global research career.
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Find the work discussed in this episode:
Larson, Leila M., Martin Mwangi, Rebecca Harding, Ernest Moya, Ricardo Ataíde, Glory Mzembe, Ashley Thurber et al. "Effects of ferric carboxymaltose on pica among pregnant women in Malawi: a sub-study to a randomized controlled trial." The Journal of Nutrition (2025).
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Contact Dr. Larson: LARSONL@mailbox.sc.edu
Website: thenelilab.com
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Contact the Sausage of Science Podcast and Human Biology Association:
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/humanbiologyassociation/, Website: humbio.org, Twitter: @HumBioAssoc
Chris Lynn, Host
Website: cdlynn.people.ua.edu/, E-mail: cdlynn@ua.edu, Twitter:@Chris_Ly
Cristina Gildee, Co-Host, Co-Producer, HBA Fellow
Website: cristinagildee.com, E-mail: cgildee@uw.edu,
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This week on The Sausage of Science, Chris and Cristina explore pica (the craving and consumption of nonfood items like earth or clay) through the lens of maternal health and nutrition. Our guest, Dr. Leila Larson of the University of South Carolina, shares insights from her study on pica among pregnant women in Malawi, part of the REVAMP iron supplementation trial.
She discusses how iron status, infection, and environment influence maternal health, why intravenous iron may be a more effective approach to reducing pica, and what these cravings reveal about nutrition and development worldwide. We also hear about her new U.S.-based study and how she balances a vibrant global research career.
------------------------------
Find the work discussed in this episode:
Larson, Leila M., Martin Mwangi, Rebecca Harding, Ernest Moya, Ricardo Ataíde, Glory Mzembe, Ashley Thurber et al. "Effects of ferric carboxymaltose on pica among pregnant women in Malawi: a sub-study to a randomized controlled trial." The Journal of Nutrition (2025).
------------------------------
Contact Dr. Larson: LARSONL@mailbox.sc.edu
Website: thenelilab.com
------------------------------
Contact the Sausage of Science Podcast and Human Biology Association:
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/humanbiologyassociation/, Website: humbio.org, Twitter: @HumBioAssoc
Chris Lynn, Host
Website: cdlynn.people.ua.edu/, E-mail: cdlynn@ua.edu, Twitter:@Chris_Ly
Cristina Gildee, Co-Host, Co-Producer, HBA Fellow
Website: cristinagildee.com, E-mail: cgildee@uw.edu,
SoS 235: Michael Muehlenbein on his discoveries in COVID-19 and the importance of student training
Sausage of Science
47 minutes 38 seconds
7 months ago
SoS 235: Michael Muehlenbein on his discoveries in COVID-19 and the importance of student training
Dr. Michael Muehlenbein is a prominent figure in anthropology and biology, currently serving as a professor at Baylor University. His academic journey has been marked by a deep commitment to understanding human evolution, behavior, and health through an interdisciplinary lens. Michael earned an MsPH in both Tropical Medicine and Biostatistics from Tulane University, and an MPhil and PhD in Biological Anthropology from Yale University. His research interests are diverse, encompassing topics such as the evolutionary basis of disease susceptibility, reproductive strategies, and the interplay between environmental factors and human physiology. At Baylor, he has contributed significantly to both teaching and research, mentoring students while also publishing extensively in peer reviewed journals. His work often integrates insights from evolutionary theory with practical applications in public health and medicine, making him a key contributor to discussions on how our evolutionary past shapes contemporary health challenges. Michael is also the Co PI on the NSF-funded project, “Shared markers of identity on inflammation and stress.”
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Find the papers discussed in this episode:
Muehlenbein MP, Gassen J, Nowak TJ, Henderson AD, Weaver SP, Baker EJ. (2023). Waco COVID Survey: A Community-Based SARS-CoV-2 Serological Surveillance Study in Central Texas. J Community Health, 48(1):104-112. doi: 10.1007/s10900-022-01143-y.
Muehlenbein M, Gassen J, Nowak T, Henderson A, Morris B, Weaver S, Baker E. (2023). Age-Dependent Relationships Between Disease Risk and Testosterone Levels: Relevance to COVID-19 Disease. Am J Mens Health. doi: 10.1177/15579883221130195.
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Contact Dr. Michael Muehlenbein: Michael_Muehlenbein@baylor.edu
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Contact the Sausage of Science Podcast and Human Biology Association:
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/humanbiologyassociation/, Website: humbio.org, Twitter: @HumBioAssoc
Chris Lynn, Co-Host, Website: cdlynn.people.ua.edu, E-mail: cdlynn@ua.edu, Twitter: @Chris_Ly
Courtney Manthey, Guest-Co-Host, HBA Junior Fellow , Website: holylaetoli.com/ E-mail: cpierce4@uccs.edu, Twitter: @HolyLaetoli
Anahi Ruderman, SoS Co-Producer, HBA Junior Fellow, E-mail: aniruderman@gmail.com, Twitter: @ani_ruderman
Sausage of Science
This week on The Sausage of Science, Chris and Cristina explore pica (the craving and consumption of nonfood items like earth or clay) through the lens of maternal health and nutrition. Our guest, Dr. Leila Larson of the University of South Carolina, shares insights from her study on pica among pregnant women in Malawi, part of the REVAMP iron supplementation trial.
She discusses how iron status, infection, and environment influence maternal health, why intravenous iron may be a more effective approach to reducing pica, and what these cravings reveal about nutrition and development worldwide. We also hear about her new U.S.-based study and how she balances a vibrant global research career.
------------------------------
Find the work discussed in this episode:
Larson, Leila M., Martin Mwangi, Rebecca Harding, Ernest Moya, Ricardo Ataíde, Glory Mzembe, Ashley Thurber et al. "Effects of ferric carboxymaltose on pica among pregnant women in Malawi: a sub-study to a randomized controlled trial." The Journal of Nutrition (2025).
------------------------------
Contact Dr. Larson: LARSONL@mailbox.sc.edu
Website: thenelilab.com
------------------------------
Contact the Sausage of Science Podcast and Human Biology Association:
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/humanbiologyassociation/, Website: humbio.org, Twitter: @HumBioAssoc
Chris Lynn, Host
Website: cdlynn.people.ua.edu/, E-mail: cdlynn@ua.edu, Twitter:@Chris_Ly
Cristina Gildee, Co-Host, Co-Producer, HBA Fellow
Website: cristinagildee.com, E-mail: cgildee@uw.edu,
