William G. Helferich

Professor, Food Science & Human Nutrition
Professor, Nutritional Sciences

Research Interests

Food safety and toxicology; effect of natural chemicals present in foods on chronic diseases such as breast cancer

Dr. Helferich has research interests in the effect of phytochemicals on chronic diseases, and his focus is on the isoflavone genistein from soy, which acts as an estrogen. It is important for the general public to understand the importance of a healthy diet and not rely on chemicals to eliminate their bad eating habits.

Selected Publications
Putt, K.S., Chen, G.W., Pearson, J.M., Sandhorst, J.S., Hoagland, M.S., Helferich, W.G., Hergenrother, P.J., (2006) Direct induction of apoptosis in cancer cells with a small molecule activator of procaspase-3. (Submitted).

DeAssis, S, Wang, M, Goal, So, Foxworth, A., Helferich, W.G., Hilakivi-Clarke, L. (2006). Increased carcinogen-induced mamf tumorigenesis and activation of MARK in obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats exposed to pregnancy hormonal environment. J. Nutr. (In Press).

Ju, Y.H., Fultz, M.J., Allred, K.F., Doerge, D.R., and Helferich, W.G., (2006). Effects of dietary daidzein and its metabolite, equol, at physiological concentrations on the growth of estrogen-dependent human breast cancer (MCF-7) tumor implanted in ovariectomized athymic mice. Carcinogenesis (In Press).

Ju, Y.H., Allred, K.F., Allred C.D., and Helferich, W.G., (2006). Genistein Stimulates Growth of Human Breast Cancer Cells in a Novel, Postmenopausal Animal Model, with Low Plasma Estradiol Concentrations. (In Press).

Allred, C.D., Twaddle, N.C., Allred, K.F., Churchwell, M.I., Ju, Y.H., Helferich, W.G., and Doerge, D.R. (2005). Soy processing affects metabolism and disposition of dietary isoflavones in ovariectomized Balb/c mice. J. Agric. Food Chem. 53(22):8542-8550.

Selvaraj, V., Zakroczymski, M.A., Naaz, A., Mukai, M., Ju, Y.H., Doerge, D.R., Katzenellenbogen, J.A., Helferich, W.G., and Cooke, P.S. (2004). Estrogenicity of the isoflavone metabolite equol on reproductive and non-reproductive organs in mice. Biol Reprod. 71, 966-972.

Teaching

Courses recently taught:

FSHN 220 - Principles of Nutrition 

FSHN 595 - Nutrition of Food Scientists

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Helferich obtained a B.S. in Nutrition at Ohio State University, where he obtained a B.S. in Nutrition. From there, he attended the University of Maryland and obtained his M.S. in Dairy Science/Nutritional Science. Next, he attended the University of California at Davis and received his Ph.D. in Nutrition. Dr. Helferich continued his training as a NIEHS post-doctoral fellow in Environmental Toxicology, also at UC-Davis. He started his career as an Assistant Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Michigan State University in 1988, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1994. In 1997, he came to the University of Illinois and was promoted to Professor in 2002.This year, Dr. Helferich is teaching Principles of Nutrition and a graduate nutrition course, Nutrition for Food Scientists.