Accurate and comprehensive knowledge of food composition is essential to clinical feeding trials and epidemiological studies to discover the relationship between diet and health. It is becoming increasingly recognized that non-nutrient dietary plant components (phytochemicals) have a profound impact on health. Research in my laboratory focuses on the development and application of methods for quantitative analysis of nutrients and phytochemicals in foods and other biological materials; the compilation of accurate, representative food composition data; and the validation of nutrient levels in diets used in clinical feeding trials. Current research includes studies of plant sterols, vitamin C, vitamin D, naturally occurring folates, and trans-fatty acids. Techniques used include gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), GC-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and LC-MS, solid-phase extraction, and various extraction and gravimetric analysis techniques. Analytical quality control and quality assurance (e.g., good laboratory practices) are emphasized in all aspects of the laboratory.

Phillips, K.M., Carlsen, M.H., and Blomhoff, R. Total antioxidant content of alternatives to refined sugar. J. Amer. Diet. Assoc., in press.

Phillips, K.M., Byrdwell, W.C., Exler, J., Harnly, J., Holden, J.M., Holick, M.F., Hollis, B.W., Horst, R.L., Lemar, L.E., Patterson, K.Y., Tarrago-Trani, M.T., and Wolf, W.R. (2008). Development and validation of control materials for the measurement of vitamin D3 in selected U.S. foods. J. Food Comp. Anal., 21:527-534.

Phillips, K.M., Ruggio, D.M., and Amanna, K.R. (2008). Extended validation of a simplified extraction and gravimetric determination of total fat to selected foods. J. Food Lipids, 15:309-325.

Phillips, K.M. Rasor, A.S., and Ruggio, D.M. (2008). Folate content of different edible portions vegetables and fruits. Nutr.Food Sci., 38:175-181.

Phillips, K.M., Patterson, K.Y., Wolf, W.R., Sharpless, K.E., Amanna, K.R., and Holden, J.M. (2007). Summary of Reference Materials for the Determination of the Nutrient Composition of Foods: Results from USDA's National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program. Accred. Qual. Assur., 12:126-133.

Phillips, K.M., Patterson, K.Y., Wolf, W.R., Sharpless, K.E., and Holden, J.M. (2007). Reference Materials to Evaluate Measurement Systems for the Nutrient Composition of Foods: Results from USDA's National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program. Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 389:219-229.

Tarrago-Trani, M.T., Phillips, K.M., Lemar, L., and Holden J.M. (2006). New and existing oils and fats used in products with reduced trans fatty acid content, J. Amer. Diet. Assoc., 106:867-880.

Phillips. K.M., Patterson, K.Y., Rasor, A.R., Exler, J., Haytowitz, D.M., Holden, J.M., and Pehrsson, P. R. (2006). The role of quality control and reference materials in the National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program. Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 384:1341-1355.

Phillips, K.M., Ruggio, D.M., Ashraf-Khorassani, M., Haytowitz, D.B. (2006). Difference in folate content of green and red sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, J. Agric. Food Chem., 54:9998-10002.

Halvorsen, B.L., Carlsen, M.H., Phillips, K.M., Bøhn, S.K., Holte, K., Jacobs, D.R., Jr., and Blomhoff, R. (2006). The content of redox active compounds (i.e. antioxidants) in foods consumed in the United States, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 84, 95-135.