Dr. Norman K. Pollock

Norman Pollock is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Augusta University's Medical College of Georgia. He has training in the fields of clinical nutrition, bone biology, endocrinology, and biostatistics. Dr. Pollock has clinical trial experience conducting diet and exercise interventions in children and adults at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The major focus in Dr. Pollock's laboratory is to determine the roles of vitamin K-dependent proteins, osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein, on glucose and lipid metabolism for which may have implications for diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention. Dr. Pollock has been funded by the National Institutes of Health to determine the influence of the hormone osteocalcin, a bone-derived protein, on energy metabolism, and he is currently funded by the American Heart Association to study the effects of vitamin K supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in 8 to17-year-old overweight children with prediabetes (Vita-K 'n Kids Study II). Additional vitamin K research projects by Dr. Pollock are the following: (1) Vita-K 'n' Kids Study I -  clinical trial to determine the effects of vitamin K supplementation on glucose metabolism in 8-17 year old children; (2) Vita-K 'n' Adults Study – clinical trial to determine the effects of vitamin K supplementation on cardiovascular disease risk in adults aged 18-65 years; (3) Vita-K 'n' CKD Study – clinical trial to determine the effects of vitamin K supplementation on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis. Lastly, Dr. Pollock is also conducting a 2-year longitudinal study in 9-15-year-old children to determine the influence of cardiovascular disease risk factors on bone strength development (Healthy Heart 'n' Bones Study).