James H. Swain, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND

Associate Professor
Department of Nutrition
School of Medicine
Director
Didactic Program in Dietetics
Department of Nutrition
School of Medicine
Secondary Faculty Appointments in Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Center for Global Health and Disease
School of Medicine
Member
Center for Global Health and Diseases
School of Medicine

Dr. Swain is Associate Professor and Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). He is Past-President of the Greater Cleveland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GCAND), Past-Chair of the Research Dietetics Practice Group (R-DPG) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), and Past-Chair of the Vitamin and Mineral Research Interest Section (VM-RIS) of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). He has served on the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) Advisory Committee and is Past-Chair of the national Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Board. He also serves as advisor and mentor to students and colleagues.

Teaching Information

Teaching Interests

  • Food science/chemistry
  • Global food systems sustainability
  • Clinical nutrition/medical nutrition therapy
  • Advanced human nutrition
  • Research development

Courses Taught

NTRN 340. Global Food Systems: Environmental Issues, Sustainability, and Health
NTRN 341. Food as Medicine
NTRN 342. Food Science
NTRN 342L. Food Science Laboratory
NTRN 390. Independent Research
NTRN 433. Advanced Human Nutrition I

Office Hours

By appointment

Research Information

Research Interests

Clinical nutrition/diet therapy; MNT in oncology
Mineral absorption - hematology/anemia

Research Projects

  • Hematology
  • Dr. Swain's research focus is on mineral absorption/anemia, especially bioavailability of elemental and heme iron powders, which are often used as food fortificants, and the ability of these iron powders to correct anemia. Dr. Swain's research findings and publications in this area are highly valued internationally in that they provide guidance for mineral food fortification programs globally.
  • Advanced Educational Research and Outcomes/Accreditation Programs

Awards and Honors

Fellow
Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
Advisory Committee Service Award
US Food and Drug Administration
Outstanding Achievement in Dietetics Education
Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
Research Dietitian Award
Ohio Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
National Honor Society Fellow
Kappa Omicron Nu

Publications

View Publications

Key recent research publication are:

  • Swain JH, Nemeth RC, Bethi AR, Jang CJ, Zheng EL. Hemoglobin Regeneration Efficiency and Relative Iron Bioavailability of Four Elemental Iron Powders in Rats. Nutrients. 2024 Jul 13;16(14):2258. doi: 10.3390/nu16142258. PMID: 39064701; PMCID: PMC11279874.
  • Swain JH, Glosser LD, Jang CJ, Nemeth RC, Bethi AR, Zheng EL, Boron ER, Fox HM. An Electrolytic Elemental Iron Powder Effectively Regenerates Hemoglobin in Anemic Rats and Is Relatively Well Absorbed When Compared to Ferrous Sulfate Monohydrate. Nutrients. 2024 Aug 24;16(17):2833. doi: 10.3390/nu16172833. PMID: 39275151; PMCID: PMC11397326.
  • Swain JH, Glosser LD. A Porcine-Derived Heme Iron Powder Restores Hemoglobin in Anemic Rats. Nutrients. 2024 Nov 25;16(23):4029. doi: 10.3390/nu16234029. PMID: 39683423; PMCID: PMC11643988.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy
Iowa State University
Food Science and Human Nutrition
2000
Master of Science
California State University
Nutrition/Dietetics
1996
Bachelor of Science
University of California
Biological Sciences
1993

Residencies, Internships and Fellowships

Post-doctoral Fellowship
United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service-Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center
Dietetic Internship
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University