Catherine Saenz

Catherine Saenz joined The Ohio State University as an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science in the Department of Human Sciences in Autumn 2022. She is a bilingual registered dietician and is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She specializes in exercise physiology and nutrition where her primary focus includes investigating exercise metabolism and metabolic health in athletic populations, women/female athletes, and underserved communities. Her main areas of research utilize a translational model of benchtop to bedside to study the effects of various exercise and nutrition modalities on health, performance, and recovery including 1) personalized exercise/nutrition programs 2) nutritional ketosis and the ketoadapted state, and 3) supplements/ergogenic aids. Her team emphasizes collaboration, patient-centered models, and community engagement.

• Post Doctoral Fellow, Nutrition & Sport Science, Cleveland Guardians, MLB- 2017-2018
• Registered Dietician, Dietetics, Iowa State University- 2018
• PhD, Exercise Science, The Ohio State University, 2016
• MA, Exercise Physiology, University of Connecticut, 2011
• BS, Kinesiology, University of Maryland, 2009

• Biochemistry
• Dietetics and Nutrition
• Exercise Physiology
  • Exercise metabolism
  • Recovery
  • Resiliency
  • Sport Performance
• Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies
• Foodservice Systems Administration/Management
• Gene/Genetic Therapy
• Health and Physical Education/Fitness
• Human Nutrition
• Integrated Studies
• Kinesiology and Exercise Science
  • Athletic Performance
  • Female Athletes
  • Underserved communities
  • Women's Health
• Nutritional Science
  • Sport Nutrition

Peer-Reviewed Articles

1. Tinsley GM, Park KS, Saenz C, Esco MR, Czerwinski SA, Nickerson BS. Deuterium Oxide Validation of Bioimpedance Total Body Water Estimates in Hispanic Adults. Frontiers: Nutrition. In review. Submitted May 2023.
2. Saenz C, Rodriguez JC, Salinas M, White RO. HOPE2 Addresses Hispanic Health Inequity in Northeast, Fl.: A Call to Action to Local and State Officials. A Commentary. Florida Public Health Review. 2021; 18 (3). 
3. Saenz C, Hooper S, Orange T*, Knight A*, Barragan M*, Lynch T*, Remenapp A*, Coyle K*, Winters C, Hausenblas H. (2021). Effect of a Free-living Ketogenic Diet on Feasibility, Satiety, Body Composition, and Metabolic Health in Women: The Grading Level of Optimal Carbohydrate for Women (GLOW) Study. Journal of American College of Nutrition. 2021; 40(4): 295-306. DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2021.1875338.
4. Hooper DR, Mallard J, Wight JT, Conway K, Pujalte GGA, Beckmann K, Saenz C, Hackney AC, Tenforde AS, Ackerman KE. Performance and Health Decrements Associated with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport for Division I Women during a Collegiate Cross- Country Season: A Case Series. Frontiers Endocrinology, section Translational Endocrinology. 2021; May 12; 12:524762. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.524762.
5. Davitt PM, Saenz C, Hartman T, Barone P, Estremera S. Physiological impact of a single serving slow absorption carbohydrate on metabolic, hemodynamic, and performance markers in endurance athletes during a bout of exercise. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Accepted December 2020. JSCR-08-15848R1
6. Hooper DR, Kraemer WJ, Saenz C, Schill KE, Focht BC, Maresh CM, Volek JS. The Presence of Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency in the Exercise Hypogonadal Male Condition and the Role of Nutrition. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2017; 117 (7): 1349-1357.
7. Kraemer WJ, Hooper DR, Kupchak BR, Saenz C, Brown L, Vingren J, Luk H, DuPont W, Szivak T, Flanagan S, Caldwell L, Eklund D, Lee EC, Häkkinen K, Volek JS, Fleck S, Maresh CM. The effects of a roundtrip trans-American jet travel on physiological stress, neuromuscular performance and recovery. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2016; 121 (2): 438-448.
8. Kupchak BR, Kraemer WJ, Hooper DR, Saenz C, Dulkis L, Secola P, Brown L, Galpin A, Coburn J, DuPont W, Caldwell L, Volek JS, Maresh CM. The effects of a transcontinental flight on markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis in healthy men after vigorous physical activity. Chronobiology International.2016; 4:1-14.
9. Szivak TK, Lee EC, Saenz C, Flanagan SD, Focht BC, Volek JS, Maresh CM, Kraemer WJ. Adrenal Stress and Physical Performance during Military Survival Training.  Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance. 2018; 89(2): 99-107.
10. Volek JS, Freidenreich DJ, Saenz C, Kunces LJ, Creighton BC, Bartley JM, Davitt PM, Munoz CX, Anderson JM, Maresh CM, Lee EC, Schuenke MD, Aerni G, Kraemer WJ, Phinney SD. Metabolic characteristics of keto-adapted ultra-endurance runners. Metabolism. 2015;65 (3):100-110.

Book Chapters

1. Saenz C. (2020). Chapter 9: Nutrition Support for Exercise: Expert View “Maintaining muscle mass while cutting calories in weight sensitive sports”. (Kraemer et al. Ed 3). Exercise Physiology: Integrating Theory and Application. ISBN-10: 145119319X. 
2. Hooper DR, Saenz C, Winters C. (2021). Respiratory Muscle Strength Training: Chapter 4: Skeletal Muscle Structure and Function. (Editors: Sapienza C and Hoffman B). Plural Publishing. ISBN 9781635502572. 
3. Zinn C, Smith J, Saenz C, Webster C(2023):Exercise and Sports Performance, Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction for Health and Fitness (Chapter 9). Ketogenics: The Science of Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction in Human Health Textbook. Academic Press Publishing Company. ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0128216174.