Forrest Nielsen MS, PhD

Dr. Nielsen grew up on a small dairy farm in central Wisconsin, and received his Bachelor's degree in 1963, Master's degree in 1966, and Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1967, all in Biochemistry, from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. After completing two years of military service with the U.S. Army's Medical Research and Nutrition Laboratory in Denver, CO, Dr. Nielsen, as a Research Chemist, was the first staff member hired for the present-day Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center and arrived in Grand Forks shortly before the building officially opened in 1970. He served as Center Director from June 1985 to March 2001. In his current position as a Research Nutritionist, he is determining whether sub-clinical magnesium deficiency through exacerbating chronic inflammation is a significant factor in the occurrence of chronic disease, particularly bone loss leading to osteoporosis, associated with obesity.

Past research of Dr. Nielsen focused on determining the need for essential nutrients and the beneficial action of bioactive trace minerals on bone health, cardiovascular function, and neuropsychological function. Dr. Nielsen's current research program is focused on determining whether bone health adversely affected by obesity-induced chronic inflammation is exacerbated by pro-inflammatory factors (e.g., magnesium deficiency).