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FACULTY

Lauri O. Byerley, PhD, RDN, LDN, FAND

Professor
Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

LSUNO Physiology

Academic Office:

LSUHSC School of Medicine 
2020 Gravier Street
Department of Physiology
New Orleans, LA 70112

504-568-6158

 

Bio

Over the past several decades, Dr. Byerley has taught nutrition to many undergraduate and graduate students at several accredited universities. She maintains an active research program that explores the effect of diet on the gut microbiome and its influence on physiological and biochemical pathways, especially body composition and skeletal muscle function. This interest has evolved from her early research efforts, which focused on cancer cachexia and the use of stable isotopes to trace metabolic pathways. Her research has secured grant funding and resulted in more than 48 peer-reviewed original publications, as well as several books. She has presented her work at numerous local, state, and national meetings. Additionally, she has appeared on various television and radio shows and has provided counseling on obesity and sports nutrition.

Education

BS, Food and Nutrition, Related Science, Iowa State University

MS, Nutritional Sciences, Purdue University

PhD, Public Health/Nutritional Sciences, UCLA

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Metabolism, Stanford University

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Nutrition and Metabolism, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist

Teaching

Nutrition lectures in:

  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Dental Hygiene

Selected Publications

Herrera M, Byerley LO. Dietary Nitrogen and Its Role in the Gut Microbiome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2025 Jul 20;17(14):2373. doi: 10.3390/nu17142373. PMID: 40732998; PMCID: PMC12299043. 

Gallivan, KM, Ondrak, KS, Danos, DM, Luo, M, Taylor, CM, Nguyen, AW, Meyer, LE, Byerley, AM, Chatterjee, S, Adamec, J, Byerley, LO. Dietary Protein’s Effect on the Gut Microbiome and Its Metabolites: Protocol Description and Virtual Recruitment Efforts for a Remote Randomized Controlled Trial. Accepted Gut Microbiome. 2025

Byerley, L.O., Lorenzen, B., Chang, H.M., Hartman, W.G., Keenan, M.J., Page, R., Luo, M., Dowd, S.E., Taylor, C.M. Gut Microbial Dysbiosis Differs in Two Distinct Cachectic Tumor-Bearing Models Consuming the Same Diet. Nutrients. 2024 Apr 6;16(7):1076. doi: 10.3390/nu16071076. PMID: 38613109; PMCID: PMC11013133. 

Byerley, LO, Gallivan, KM, Christopher, CJ, Taylor, CM, Luo, M, Dowd, SE, Davis, GM, Castro, HF, Campagna, SR, Ondrak, KS. Gut Microbiome and Metabolome Variations in Self-Identified Muscle Builders Who Report Using Protein Supplements. Nutrients. 2022; 14(3):533. doi.: 10.3390/nu14030533. 

Boolani, A, Gallivan, KM, Ondrak, KS, Christopher, CJ, Castro, HF, Campagna, SR, Taylor, CM, Luo, M, Dowd, SE, Smith, ML, Byerley, LO. Trait Energy and Fatigue May Be Connected to Gut Bacteria among Young Physically Active Adults: An Exploratory Study. Nutrients. 2022; 14(3):466. doi: 10.3390/nu14030466.

Byerley, LO, Chang, HM, Lorenzen, B, Guidry, J, Hardman, WE. Impact of dietary walnuts, a nutraceutical option, on circulating markers of metabolic dysregulation in a rodent cachectic tumor model. Biomed Pharmacother. 2022 Nov;155:113728. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113728. Epub 2022 September 21. PMID: 36152410; PMCID: PMC9618292. 

Hutak, JL, Boolani, A, Byerley, LO. Energy drink usage by students attending an online university. J Am Coll Health. 2022 Aug 23:1-9. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2109036. PMID: 35997694.

Coleman MT, Brantley PR, Wiseman PM, English MR, Byerley L. Brief, effective experience to increase first-year medical students' nutrition awareness. Med Educ Online. 2021 Dec;26(1):1896160. doi: 10.1080/10872981.2021.1896160. PMID: 33704028; PMCID: PMC7954485.

Byerley LO, Samuelson D, Blanchard E 4th, Luo M, Lorenzen BN, Banks S, Ponder MA, Welsh DA, Taylor CM. Changes in the gut microbial communities following addition of walnuts to the diet. J Nutr Biochem. 2017 Oct;48:94-102. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2017.07.001. Epub 2017 Jul 9. PMID: 28797931; PMCID: PMC5775887.

Byerley L, Lane H, Ludy MJ, Vitolins MZ, Anderson E, Niedert K, Pennington K, Yang J, Abram JK. Ethical Considerations for Successfully Navigating the Research Process. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2017 Aug;117(8):1302-1307. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2017.02.011. Epub 2017 Mar 31. PMID: 28373022.

Byerley LO, Lee WN. Are ethanol and fructose similar? J Am Diet Assoc. 2010 Sep;110(9):1300-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2010.06.012. PMID: 20800120.

Byerley LO, Leamy L, Tam SW, Chou CW, Ravussin E; Louisiana Healthy Aging Study. Development of a serum profile for healthy aging. Age (Dordr). 2010 Dec;32(4):497-507. doi: 10.1007/s11357-010-9146-8. Epub 2010 May 19. PMID: 20490702; PMCID: PMC2980595.

Byerley LO, Lee SH, Redmann S, Culberson C, Clemens M, Lively MO. Evidence for a novel serum factor distinct from zinc alpha-2 glycoprotein that promotes body fat loss early in the development of cachexia. Nutr Cancer. 2010;62(4):484-94. doi: 10.1080/01635580903441220. PMID: 20432169.

Whitehead, AK, Meyers, MC, Taylor, CM, Luo, M, Dowd, SE, Yue, X, Byerley, LO. Sex-Dependent Effects of Inhaled Nicotine on the Gut Microbiome. Nicotine Tob Res. 2022 Sep:24(9):1363-1370. PMID: 35271725. 

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests

My research focuses on the intricate relationships between nutrition, metabolism, and the gut microbiome, particularly in the context of disease states such as cachexia and muscle function. I have explored how dietary components, such as walnuts and protein supplements, influence microbial communities and metabolic markers, as well as how these changes relate to energy, fatigue, body composition, and overall health. Additionally, my work includes investigations into ethical research practices and the development of innovative approaches to nutrition education.

Team
Medical Students: Bincy Biju, Jordan Book, Madeline Burk, Ann Byerley, Mason Deshotel, Lauren Meyers, Aly Wong

Research Techniques:

  • Diet analysis
  • Gut microbe identification
  • Gut metabolite identification
  • Techniques to measure muscle function