Download jennifer thomas interview

Elizabeth Oldhouser
12/17/13
Pd. 2
Interview: Dr. Jennifer Thomas – Friday, 12/13/13 at 5:00 p.m.
*I took notes on the interview that are below the questions. This is not a direct transcript but all information came
from Dr. Thomas.
1. What is your opinion on nutritional deficits of the average women? In other words,
do you believe that most women lack necessary nutrients in their average diet?
-To be honest, there is more data than I am familiar with
-In general, population doesn’t meet the nutritional requirements that are recommended
-Not eating what they should be eating; fast food, expenses, time constraints, alcoholism
-In a survey that looks at what people typically eat, nutrients are inadequate
2. How does excessive alcohol intake prior to pregnancy impact the pregnancy? If a
woman stops drinking before she finds out that she is pregnant, is the baby
protected from the potential damage?
-Nobody knows for sure, hasn’t really been studied very well
-Have been questions recently about this subject– epigenetics – suggests that a person’s
experience can alter their gene expression
-mechanisms where a person’s earlier behavior affects the fetus
-same with paternal drinking – years ago a study where paternal alcohol consumption
associated with poor outcomes on the offspring
-mom & dad’s exposure prior to conception can influence the outcome of the baby
3. How do you think the timing of consuming essential nutrients impacts the effect on
the fetus? Is nutrition only important in the first trimester, or does it have the same
influence in later trimesters?
-Important in ALL trimesters
-Brain develops throughout the entire pregnancy
-Needs nutrients just as importantly in last trimester because in the last trimester brain is
going through its fastest growth
-Window through brain extends throughout the entire pregnancy
-Brain forms throughout the entire gestational period – pretty quick
-There are, however, critical times when the body is more vulnerable
4. Do you think that there is such a thing as being “overnourished”? Does
overconsumption of certain nutrients produce detrimental effects?
-for many nutrients, there are levels that can be too high
-for some nutrients, body simply eliminates excess
-too much of a particular nutrient is consumed can have adverse effects
-depends on the nutrient and the previous deficiencies in the woman
5. How does the source of the nutrient affect its benefits? Is it better to consume
vitamin supplements or pure foods? (ex: folic acid from vitamin or greens)
-prenatal vitamins – take into careful consideration of the level of the nutrients
-assumed that it’s taken in cohesion with a regular diet
-ensures that there isn’t a particular deficiency – vitamins
-combination is probably the best route to go
6. Is it more important to focus on the consumption of individual nutrients or the
balance of nutrients? To what extent do they work together and work separately?
-balance is actually very important
-nutritional factors can interact with one another
-too much of one, too little of another definitely produces adverse effects
-they do interact in metabolism and the development of the fetus
7. How does an alcoholic lifestyle put a woman at risk even prior to pregnancy?
-alcohol’s effect on nutrient absorption: alcohol can have several effects on interacting
with nutrients. If a woman is a heavy drinker, she may be consuming an inadequate diet –
a lot of calories from the alcohol – dietary intake might be compromised (there is data to
suggest that
-alcohol can actually interfere with the body’s ability to consume and absorb what the
body is consuming
-not only may she not be consuming enough but the alcohol might interfere with
absorption and third she may not be taking prenatal vitamins because she is socially
different than a normal woman and is already not making the right decisions
Summary/Reflection:
I learned a lot during this interview, both about the process as well as on my research topic. My
advisor suggested Jennifer Thomas as her top pick for my interview because she is really
familiar with prenatal nutrition as well as alcoholism during pregnancy. Jennifer Thomas works
at San Diego State University as the Masters Program Advisor of the Department of Psychology
in the College of Sciences. Since I am now focusing in on emerging adults and the role alcohol
plays in nutrient absorption, she was definitely a great pick at this point in my research process.
The interview went better than expected. She was very professional over email and very stolid,
so I was unsure of her personality. However, once she started answering my questions, the
tension eased and I could tell she really wanted to help me. Also, at the end she talked to me
about college, Maryland (she lives in San Diego), and even sent me an article the next day
without me asking. For my next interview, I think I should be prepared to ask more follow up
questions to my previously prepared questions. However, I think I did a really good job this time
asking specific questions and phrasing them in such a way that I received the information I
wanted and needed. I think it would be a great experience to interview someone in person, but I
just have to find someone in Maryland to do that! I don’t know if I will have an opportunity this
year, but I am definitely prepared because of my phone interviews.