At the Van Vliet Lab within the Center for Human Nutrition Studies at Utah State University, we’re passionate about one question:
How do farming and production practices impact the nutrient density of food?
We offer cost-effective, state-of-the-art nutrient density testing to help farmers, producers, and brands understand what is in their food. Our focused panels analyze high-impact nutritional markers, giving you actionable insights to:
- Drive better practices from soil to table
- Enhance your food’s value
- Communicate quality to customers
What can we provide?
Our lab offers advanced analytical testing to profile a comprehensive spectrum of compounds in food and biological samples, routinely studying >200 compounds. We specialize in the quantification of phytochemicals, fatty acids (including omega-3 and omega-6), vitamins, minerals, protein and other bioactive metabolites. Specific analyses are listed below:
- Phytonutrients – Often times referred to as the “dark matter of nutrition”, this assay detect and quantify key antioxidant-rich compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and other phytonutrients that contribute to color, flavor, and health-promoting properties of plant and animal sourced foods.
- Fatty Acids – Profile omega-3, omega-6, and other lipid fractions critical for nutritional quality, flavor, and health impacts.
- Minerals & Heavy Metals – Evaluate essential nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron, along with a screen for heavy metals like lead and cadmium. This ensures food safety while capturing nutrient density for soil-to-food analysis.
- Total Protein – Accurately measure protein content to support nutritional claims, animal feed value, or comparisons across crop management practices.
- B-vitamins – Measure essential water-soluble vitamins (B1, B2, B6, folate etc.) important for metabolism and energy.
- Fat-Soluble Vitamins & Carotenoids – Includes Vitamins A, D, E, K and carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lutein that influence immune function and skin/vision health.
Don’t see the nutrients you are looking for? We offer additional nutrient density testing assays. Please contact us!
What do you get?
Lab testing can be daunting, and results may be difficult to understand but our team will help you understand your data. Each analysis includes a data package with:
- Raw Data Files: High-resolution outputs from our analytical platforms for your own review or downstream analysis.
- Summary Report: A clear, concise report highlighting key findings, trends, and comparative insights—designed to help you interpret results and apply them to research, production, or product label claims.
Our goal is to provide both the technical depth and practical context needed to make informed decisions based on your sample data.
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Partner with us to measure, understand, and elevate nutrient density.
Please allow 7-10 business days for us to get back to you.
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