Dr. Debbie Kipp’s research focuses on the effects of nutritional and hormonal imbalances – particularly related to iron and prolactin – on bone formation and maintenance using animal models and cell culture models.

Iron deficiency anemia results in low bone mass and brittle bones in animal models. The reasons for this loss of bone is not known, although the lack of iron may prevent normal production of collagen, which forms the matrix that then gets mineralized to form the basic structure of bone. Low iron levels may also prevent normal bone formation by altering growth factors that are important for normal bone formation and turnover.

High iron levels may add oxidative stress to bone cells, thereby enhancing cell damage and death. Studies investigating these possible mechanisms of iron-related effects on bones are underway.

Research in hormonal imbalance focuses on prolactin secretion which increases with age and may be a contributor to bone loss and osteoporosis. Initial tests showed that older rats retained the bone mass of younger rats when the normal age-related increase in prolactin was prevented. This study has prompted investigations using bone cell models to study prolactin’s effect at the cellular level.

Dr. Kipp’s research has been funded by NIH, USDA, industry, and foundations.