Valentine Yanchou Njike, MD, MPH

Research Interest

Dr. Njike is the PRC’s Assistant Director of Research and Evaluation. His principal research interests involve methodological design, conduct, and analysis of efficacy and effectiveness trials in chronic disease prevention. Dr. Njike has conducted numerous nutritional intervention studies aimed at the reduction of cardio-metabolic risk factors in those at risk for or with Type 2 diabetes. In addition, Dr. Njike also serves as a preceptor to resident physicians in training in Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine at Griffin Hospital.

Education

• M.D., University of Perugia, Italy, 1996
• M.P.H. with a Concentration in Epidemiology, State University of New York at Albany, USA, 2001

Selected Publications:

• Litchman T, Roy B, Kumar A, Sharma A, Njike V, Nowak RJ. Differential response to rituximab in anti-AChR and anti-MuSK positive myasthenia gravis patients: a single-center retrospective study. J Neurol Sci. 2020 Jan 18;411:116690. [Epub ahead of print]

• Khatlani K, Njike V, Costales VC. Effect of lifestyle intervention on cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2019 Dec;17(10):473-485.

• Perlman A, Fogerite SG, Glass O, Bechard E, Ali A, Njike VY, Pieper C, Dmitrieva NO, Luciano A, Rosenberger L, Keever T, Milak C, Finkelstein EA, Mahon G, Campanile G, Cotter A, Katz DL. Efficacy and safety of massage for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized clinical trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2019 Mar;34(3):379-386.

• Berman MA, Guthrie NL, Edwards KL, Appelbaum KJ, Njike VY, Eisenberg DM, Katz DL. Change in glycemic control with use of a digital therapeutic in adults with type 2diabetes: cohort study. JMIR Diabetes. 2018 Feb 14;3(1):e4.

• Njike VY, Costales VC, Petraro P, Annam R, Yarandi N, Katz DL. The resulting variation in nutrient intake with the inclusion of walnuts in the diets of adults at risk for type 2 diabetes: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. Am J Health Promot. 2019 Mar;33(3):430-438.

• Murimi MW, Moyeda-Carabaza AF, Nguyen B, Saha S, Amin R, Njike V. Factors that contribute to effective nutrition education interventions in children: a systematic review. Nutr Rev. 2018 Aug 1;76(8):553-580.

• Njike VY, Kavak Y, Treu JA, Doughty K, Katz DL. Snacking, satiety, and weight: a randomized, controlled trial. Am J Health Promot. 2017 Jul;31(4):296-301.

• Arole O, Rajan K, Khan S., Ullah S, Njike, VY. Decreasing unnecessary daily labs by choosing wisely. Journal of Patient Safety & Quality Improvement, 2017;5(4): 630-633.

• Njike VY, Annam R, Katz DL. Which foods are displaced in the diets of adults with type 2 diabetes with the inclusion of eggs in their diets? A randomized, controlled, crossover trial. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2017 Jul 13;5(1):e000411. 

• Njike VY, Hamburg N, Kellogg M, Annapureddy A, Vita J. Dose and Response to Cocoa (DARC): a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Clinical Trials and Regulatory Science in Cardiology. 2016 Nov-Dec; 23-24:9–15.

• Njike VY, Ayettey RG, Rajebi H, Treu JA, Katz DL. Egg ingestion in adults with type 2 diabetes: effects on glycemic control, anthropometry, and diet quality - A randomized, controlled, crossover trial. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2016 Dec 22;4(1):e000281.

• Patel AA, Lopez NV, Lawless HT, Njike V, Beleche M, L Katz D. Reducing calories, fat, saturated fat, and sodium in restaurant menu items: Effects on consumer acceptance. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2016 Dec;24(12):2497-2508.

• Njike VY, Yarandi N, Petraro P, Ayettey RG, Treu JA, Katz DL. Inclusion of walnut in the diets of adults at risk for type 2 diabetes and their dietary pattern changes: a randomized, controlled, cross-over trial. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2016 Oct 19;4(1):e000293.

• Njike VY, Smith TM, Shuval O, Shuval K, Edshteyn I, Kalantari V, Yaroch AL.  Snack food, satiety, and weight. Adv Nutr. 2016 Sep 15;7(5):866-78. Review.

• Njike VY, Ayettey R, Petraro P, Treu JA, Katz DL. Walnut ingestion in adults at risk for diabetes: effects on body composition, diet quality, and cardiac risk measures. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2015 Oct 19;3(1):e000115.

• Treu JA, Doughty K, Reynolds JS, Njike VY, Katz DL. Advancing School and Community Engagement Now for Disease Prevention (ASCEND). Am J Health Promot. 2017 Mar;31(2):143-152.

• Doughty KN, Njike VY, Katz DL. Effects of a cognitive-behavioral therapy-based immersion obesity treatment program for adolescents on weight, fitness, and cardiovascular risk factors: a pilot study. Child Obes. 2015 Apr;11(2):215-8

• Malik AH, Akram Y, Shetty S, Malik SS, Yanchou Njike V. Impact of sugar-sweetened beverages on blood pressure. Am J Cardiol. 2014 May 1;113(9):1574-80.

• Katz DL, Gnanaraj J, Treu JA, Ma Y, Kavak Y, Njike VY. Effects of egg ingestion on endothelial function in adults with coronary artery disease: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. Am Heart J. 2015 Jan;169(1):162-9.

• Nguyen BT, Shuval K, Njike VY, Katz DL. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and dietary quality among US adults: findings from a nationally representative survey. Mayo Clin Proc. 2014 Sep;89(9):1211-9

• Katz DL, Treu JA, Ayettey RG, Kavak Y, Katz CS, Njike V. Testing the effectiveness of an abbreviated version of the Nutrition Detectives program. Prev Chronic Dis. 2014 Apr 10;11:E57.

• Sarrel PM, Njike VY, Vinante V, Katz DL. The mortality toll of estrogen avoidance: an analysis of excess deaths among hysterectomized women aged 50 to 59 years. Am J Public Health. 2013 Sep;103(9):1583-8.

• Reynolds JS, Treu JA, Njike V, Walker J, Smith E, Katz DL. The validation of a food label literacy questionnaire for elementary school children. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2012 May-Jun;44(3):262-6.

• Katz DL, Davidhi A, Ma Y, Kavak Y, Bifulco L, Njike VY. Effects of walnuts on endothelial function in overweight adults with visceral obesity: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. J Am Coll Nutr. 2012;31(6):415–423.

• Mandawat A, Curtis JP, Mandawat A, Njike VY, Lampert R. Safety of pacemaker implantation in nonagenarians: an analysis of the healthcare cost and utilization project-nationwide inpatient sample. Circulation. 2013 Apr 9;127(14):1453-65, 1465e1-2.

• Perlman AI, Ali A, Njike VY, Hom D, Davidi A, et al. Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized dose-finding trial. PLoS One. 2012;7(2): e30248.

• Davidi A, Reynolds J, Njike VY, Ma Y, Doughty K, Katz DL. The effect of the addition of daily fruit & nut bars to diet on weight, and cardiac risk profile, in overweight adults. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2011 Dec;24(6):543-51.

• Ali A, Yazaki Y, Njike VY, Ma Y, Katz DL. Effect of fruit and vegetable concentrates on endothelial function in metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Nutr J. 2011 Jun 29;10(1):72.

• Katz DL, Murimi M, Gonzalez A, Njike V, Green LW. From controlled trial to community adoption: the Multisite Translational Community Trial. Am J Public Health. 2011 Aug;101(8):e17-27.

• Hackam DG, Shojania KG, Spence JD, Alter DA, Beanlands RS, Dresser GK, Goela A, Davies AH, Badano LP, Poldermans D, Boersma E, Njike VY. Influence of noninvasive cardiovascular imaging in primary prevention: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Arch Intern Med. 2011 Mar 14.

• Katz DL, Doughty K, Njike V, Treu JA, Reynolds J, Walker J, Smith E, Katz C. A cost comparison of more and less nutritious food choices in US supermarkets. Public Health Nutr. 2011 Feb;28:1-7.

• Katz DL, Katz CS, Treu JA, Reynolds J, Njike V, Walker J, Smith E, Michael J. Teaching healthful food choices to elementary school students and their parents: the Nutrition Detectives™ program. J Sch Health. 2011 Jan;81(1):21-8.

• Njike V, Faridi Z, Dutta S, Gonzalez-Simon AL, Katz DL. Daily egg consumption in hyperlipidemic adults--effects on endothelial function and cardiovascular risk. Nutr J. 2010 Jul 2;9:28.

• Katz DL, Cushman D, Reynolds J, Njike V, Treu JA, Walker J, Smith E, Katz C.  Putting physical activity where it fits in the school day: preliminary results of the ABC (Activity Bursts in the Classroom) for Fitness program. Prev Chronic Dis. 2010 Jul;7(4):A82.

• Yazaki Y, Faridi Z, Ma Y, Ali A, Northrup V, Njike VY, Liberti L, Katz DL. A pilot study of chromium picolinate for weight loss. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Mar;16(3):291-9.

• Katz DL, Njike VY, Rhee LQ, Reingold A, Ayoob KT. Performance characteristics of NuVal and the Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQI). Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Apr;91(4):1102S-1108S.

• Njike VY, Faridi Z, Shuval K, Dutta S, Kay CD, West SG, Kris-Etherton PM, Katz DL. Effects of sugar-sweetened and sugar-free cocoa on endothelial function in overweight adults. Int J Cardiol. 2011 May 19;149(1):83-8.

• Katz DL, Njike VY, Faridi Z, Rhee LQ, Reeves RS, Jenkins DJ, Ayoob KT. The stratification of foods on the basis of overall nutritional quality: the Overall Nutritional Quality Index. Am J Health Promot. 2009 Nov-Dec;24(2):133-43.

• Ma Y, Njike VY, Millet J, Dutta S, Doughty K, Treu JA, Katz DL.. Effects of walnut consumption on endothelial function in type 2 diabetic subjects: a randomized controlled crossover trial. Diabetes Care. 2010 Feb;33(2):227-32.

• Wall HK, Ballard J, Troped P, Njike VY, Katz DL. Impact of home-based, supervised exercise on congestive heart failure.  Int J Cardiol. 2010 Nov 19;145(2):267-70.

• Faridi Z, Shuval K, Njike VY, Katz JA, Jennings G, Williams M, Katz DL; PREDICT Project Working Group. Partners reducing effects of diabetes (PREDICT): a diabetes prevention physical activity and dietary intervention through African-American churches. Health Educ Res. 2010 Apr;25(2):306-15.

• Ali A, Njike VY, Northrup V, Sabina AB, Williams AL, Liberti LS, Perlman AI, Adelson H, Katz DL. Intravenous micronutrient therapy (Myers' Cocktail) for fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Mar;15(3):247-57.

• Hartwig KA, Dunville RL, Kim MH, Levy B, Zaharek MM, Njike VY, Katz DL. Promoting Healthy People 2010 through small grants. Health Promot Pract. 2009 Jan;10(1):24-33.

• Katz DL, O’Connell M, Njike VY, Yeh M, Nawaz H. Strategies for the prevention and control of obesity in the school setting: systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J of Obesity. 2008:321780–1789.

• Faridi Z, Njike V, Ali A, Suparna, Katz DL. Acute dark chocolate and cocoa ingestion and endothelial function: a randomized controlled crossover trial Am J Clin Nutr.  2008 Jul;88(1):58-63.

• Katz DL, Shuval K, Comerford BP, Faridi Z, Njike VY. Impact of an educational intervention on internal medicine residents' physical activity counseling: The Pressure System Model. J Eval Clin Pract. 2008 Apr;14(2):294-9.

• Koch PE, Ryder HF, Dziura J, Njike V, Antaya RJ. Educating adolescents about acne vulgaris: a comparison of written handouts with audiovisual computerized presentations. Arch Dermatol. 2008 Feb;144(2):208-14.

• Katz DL, Marian A. Evans MA, Njike VY, Hoxley ML, Nawaz H, Comerford BP, Sarrel PM. Raloxifene, soy and endothelial function in postmenopausal women: a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Climacteric. 2007 Dec;10(6):500-7.

• Lederman J, Ballard J, Njike VY, Margolies L, Katz DL. Information given to postmenopausal women on coronary computed tomography may influence cardiac risk reduction efforts. J Clin Epidemiol. 2007 Apr; 60(4):389-96.

• Evans M, Njike VY, Hoxley M, Pearson M, Katz DL.  Effect of soy isoflavone protein and soy lecithin on endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women.  Menopause.  2007 Jan-Feb; 14(1):141-9.

• Perlman A, Alyse Sabina A, Williams A, Njike VN, Katz DL. Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med. 2006 Dec 11; 166(22):2533-8.

• O’Connell M, Comerford B, Wall H, Yanchou-Njike V, Faridi Z, Katz DL.  Impediment profiling for smoking cessation: application in the worksite. Am J Health Promot. 2006 Nov-Dec; 21(2):97-100.

• Nawaz H, Comerford BP, Njike VY, Dhond AJ, Martin Plavec M, Katz DL. Repeated serum lipid measurements during the peri-hospitalization period. Am J Cardiol. 2006 Nov 15; 98(10):1379-82.

• Jacobs J, Williams A, Girard C, Njike VY, Katz D.  Homeopathy for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder- a pilot randomized-controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2005 Oct; 11(5):799-806.

• Katz DL, O’Connell M, Yeh M, Nawaz H, Njike V, Anderson LM, Cory S, Dietz W. Public health strategies for preventing and controlling overweight and obesity in school and worksite settings. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 2005 Oct 7; 54(RR10):1-12.

• Williams AL, Selwyn PA, Liberti L, Molde S, Njike VY, McCorkle R, Zelterman D, Katz DL. A randomized controlled trial of meditation and massage effects on quality of life in people with late-stage disease: a pilot study. J Palliat Med. 2005 Oct;8(5):939-52.

• Katz DL, Evans M, Nawaz H, Njike VY, Chan W, Comerford B, Hoxley M. Egg consumption & endothelial function in healthy adults:  A randomized controlled crossover trial. Int J Cardiol. 2005 Mar;99(1):65-70.

• Katz DL, Evans MA, Chan W, Nawaz H, Comerford BP, Hoxley ML, Njike VY, Sarrel PM. Oats, antioxidants and endothelial function in overweight, dyslipidemic adults. J Am Coll Nutr. 2004 Oct;23(5):397-403.

• Martin CL, Njike VY, and Katz DL. Back-up antibiotic prescriptions could reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in rhinosinusitis. J Clin Epidemiol. 2004 Apr; 57(4):429-34.