About dr. K.A.C. (Kirsten) Berk, phD
Introduction
I'm working as a registered dietitian and post-doc researcher in the field of nutrition and diabetes, at the department Dietetics, Internal Medicine. As a dietitian specialized in diabetes, I was chairwoman of the Diabetes and Nutrition Organization (member of the Dutch Diabetes Federation) for several years. In my PhD research project I've focused on the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on maintenance of weight loss after a very low-calorie diet in adults with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, I studied the effect of this diet intervention on cardiovascular risk factors like endothelial function markers, Lp(a), sLR11.
Current projects
Currently I'm supervising and working on multiple reserach projects:
- The efficiency of a combination of face-to-face and e-health nutritional care for people with type 2 diabetes.
- The long-term effects of intermittent fasting en very low-calorie diet in patients with type 2 diabetes.
- The FLAVA trial, aimed at studying the effect of monomeric and oligomeric flavanols on microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.
- Ketogenic diet in patients with liver adenomas.
- The effect of diet on Lp(a), fatty acids and bile acids.
- The effect of seaweed on metabolic outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Field(s) of expertise
Obesity
Nutrition (metabolic fasting, very low-calorie diet, ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting)
e-health
Cardiovascular risk
Education and career
Education
2020 Leadership in science (leidinggeven n de wetenschap)
2018 Global Food Venture program of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT-food): 6 month-program in Entrepreneurship for PhD and post-docs. At the Technical University Munich (June 2018), Technion Israel Institute of Technology Haifa (July 2018), UC Davis and Silicon Valley (October 2018), KU Leuven University (mentorship whole program).
2018 Medical biological scientific researcher nutritional sciences (SMBWO)
2010-2017 PhD education program (46 ECTS) Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)
Thesis: ‘Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance in Type 2 Diabetes’
https://reader.ogc.nl/03d2c905-aa8a-46aa-808a-9449b4932f25.epub/
1999-2003 BSc Nutrition and Dietetics, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Graduated: 3 juli 2003, cum laude
Current positions
2017-present Post-doc researcher department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC
2007-present Dietitian diabetes team, department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC
Previous positions
2003-2007 Dietitian out-patient clinic Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center
2002-2003 Research assistent SUNSET-trial, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam
Publications
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1. |
Berk KAC, van der Voorn B, van Rossum EFC. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2021 Apr 15;165:D5284. PMID: 33914421 Dutch. |
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Eucaloric Very-Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet in Acromegaly Treatment. Coopmans EC, Berk KAC, El-Sayed N, Neggers SJCMM, van der Lely AJ. N Engl J Med. 2020 May 28;382(22):2161-2162. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1915808. PMID: 32459928 No abstract available. |
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3. |
Rashid M, Verhoeven AJM, Mulder MT, Timman R, van Beek-Nieuwland Y, Athumani AA, Zandbergen AAM, van der Wiel HE, Sijbrands EJG, Berk KA. Trials. 2018 Jul 16;19(1):379. doi: 10.1186/s13063-018-2762-9. PMID: 30012185 Free PMC article. |
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4. |
Berk KA, Buijks HIM, Verhoeven AJM, Mulder MT, Özcan B, van 't Spijker A, Timman R, Busschbach JJ, Sijbrands EJ. Diabetologia. 2018 Apr;61(4):790-799. doi: 10.1007/s00125-017-4531-9. Epub 2018 Jan 9. PMID: 29318342 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial. |
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5. |
Berk KA, Oudshoorn TP, Verhoeven AJM, Mulder MT, Roks AJM, Dik WA, Timman R, Sijbrands EJG. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2016 Oct;15:101-106. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2016.06.011. Epub 2016 Jul 25. PMID: 28531772 |
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6. |
Berk KA, Yahya R, Verhoeven AJM, Touw J, Leijten FP, van Rossum EF, Wester VL, Lips MA, Pijl H, Timman R, Erhart G, Kronenberg F, Roeters van Lennep JE, Sijbrands EJG, Mulder MT. Diabetologia. 2017 Jun;60(6):989-997. doi: 10.1007/s00125-017-4246-y. Epub 2017 Apr 6. PMID: 28386638 Free PMC article. |
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7. |
Berk KA, Vongpromek R, Jiang M, Schneider WJ, Timman R, Verhoeven AJ, Bujo H, Sijbrands EJ, Mulder MT. Atherosclerosis. 2016 Nov;254:67-72. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.09.066. Epub 2016 Sep 22. PMID: 27697674 |
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Predictors of Diet-Induced Weight Loss in Overweight Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. Berk KA, Mulder MT, Verhoeven AJ, van Wietmarschen H, Boessen R, Pellis LP, van T Spijker A, Timman R, Ozcan B, Sijbrands EJ. PLoS One. 2016 Aug 5;11(8):e0160774. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160774. eCollection 2016. PMID: 27494531 Free PMC article. |
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Berk KA, Buijks H, Ozcan B, Van't Spijker A, Busschbach JJ, Sijbrands EJ. BMC Public Health. 2012 Nov 23;12:1026. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-1026. PMID: 23176668 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial. |
Teaching activities
2019-present Supervision of PhD student ‘Efficiency of a blended care version of an effective diabetes diet’
2014-present Supervision Mardin Licona, current PhD project ’Use of monomeric and oligomeric flavanols in the dietary management of patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria’
2010-present Supervision of 3 master students Medicine, Psychology and 13 bachelor students Nutrition and Dietetics
Teaching activities
2019-present Development of e-learning module and skills education session ‘healthy nutrition and lifestyle counseling’ for medical master and lecturer
2018-present Development and coordinator of the medical minor ‘Nutriton and lifestyle in health and disease’
2017-present Lecturer in extracurricular course on nutrition and lifestyle
2012-present Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR):
Lecturer Ba.1.C ZO ‘overgewicht en obesitas’
Lecturer Ba.1.C course ‘kwaliteit van voeding’
Lecturer Ba.1.C course ‘Voedingshypes’
2020-present The Hague University of Applied Sciences: lecturer Nutrition and Dietetics 2009-present HAN University of Applied Sciences:
Lecturer post HBO course Nutrition and Diabetes
2012-2016 Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR):
Lecturer minor psychology
Coordinator course ‘psychotherapy in the hospital’
Other positions
2020-present member of the Dutch Health Council committees 'nutritional guideline for metabolic diseases' 2017-present
Member scientific editorial board ‘Voeding&Visie’ (NESPEN journal)
2017-present Erasmus MC Female Talent Class
2015-2018 Member ‘Nederlandse Internisten Vereniging (NIV)’ guideline committee:’richtlijn behandeling diabetes mellitus type 2’
2012-2015 Member PhD committee Coeur Research School
Member PhD committee Erasmus MC
2008-2012 Chairman Diabetes and Nutrition Organization (DNO), member of the Dutch Diabetes Federation
Scholarships, grants, and awards
Funding / Grants
Erasmus MC Mrace – Efficiency Research ‘Efficiency of a blended care version of an effective diabetes diet’
SoFoKleS Sociaal Fonds Kennis Sector ‘Gezond pres(en)teren: nudgingsacties in bedrijfsrestaurants Ersmus MC’
European Institute of Innovation and Technology - food Global Food Venture Program scholarship
Masquelliers’ OPC funding – ‘Use of monomeric and oligomeric flavanols in the dietary management of patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria (FLAVA trial)’
Diabetes Research Foundation: ‘Innovatiesubsidie voor het implementeren van een effectief VLCD voor mensen met diabetes’ (2013-30-1684)
Erasmus MC Zorgonderzoek – ‘Group cognitive behavioural therapy and weight regain after diet in type 2 diabetes’ (Zorg-2008-8303)
2021-2024 NWO/ZonMW - program paramedical research agenda 'Dietetics building the future' (co-applicant)
2021-2023 Stichting Achmea Gezondheidszorg - 'Innovative lifestyle interventions for people with type 2 diabetes'
2020-2021 NWO - Take-off 1 feasibility research 'U-diet'
Awards:
European Institute of Innovation and Technology – Global Food Venture Award 2018
Travelgrant of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes: Annual Meeting in Lisbon 2017
Poster prize ‘effect of weight reduction on Lipoprotein(a) levels in obese persons with and without type 2 diabetes’, European Atherosclerosis Society Congress, Innsbruck 2016
