Meet Dr. Layman
World-Renowned Metabolism Expert with 120+ Groundbreaking Studies
Extraordinary Accomplishments.
Proven Results.
Dr. Donald K. Layman is professor Emeritus in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
He is internationally recognized for his research about dietary protein and amino acids. He has extensive research focused on muscle development and in studies of metabolic regulation for obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
He is widely sought as a keynote speaker at professional meetings, medical conferences, and as a consultant to major food companies.
- Over 120-peer reviewed research publications
- 30 years as Professor of Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Head of the Department of Foods and Nutrition
- Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture
- Doctorate degree in nutrition and biochemistry
- Master’s degree in biochemistry
Dr. Layman's Areas of Research & Expertise
Protein & Muscle Health
How protein helps build, repair and maintain muscles, keeping you strong and healthy.
Metabolism & Energy
Understanding how your body turns food into energy and how you can boost metabolism for better wellness.
Weight Management
Exploring how a balanced diet and protein-rich foods help manage weight and improve fitness.
Long-Term Health
How good nutrition can protect your health, keep you energized, and prevent future diseases.
Dr. Layman's Recent Media Apperances
Dr. Donald K. Layman
Featured on numerous podcasts, medical conferences, and professional events, he shares insights on the science behind Metabolic. Explore his podcasts by clicking on the links to the right >
Peter Attia (also found above)
Dr. Layman’s Breakthrough Discovery: The Key to Lasting Weight Loss Starts with Your Metabolism.
AWARD-WINNING RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Dr. Layman’s groundbreaking discoveries have earned awards from the National Institutes of Health, the American Society of Nutrition, and others. His pioneering research has led to over 120 publications in the world’s most respected nutrition journals.
WORLD-CLASS NUTRITIONIST & BIOCHEMIST
Dr. Layman has dedicated his life to advancing our understanding of metabolism. With nearly two decades of clinical trails and expert advisement, his work revolutionized how we optimize macronutrient balance health.
TRUSTED ADVISOR TO CORPORATIONS, GOVERNMENT, MILITARY, AND YOU!
Dr. Laymans’s grounding breaking research has shaped nutrition guidelines for NASA, the military, nonprofits, and major corporations. Now his decades of expertise are available to you as your personal nutrition advisor.
How Does Your Metabolism Compare?
Discover how your metabolism measures up to others your age with Dr. Layman’s Metabolic Calculator!
Transform Your Metabolism With Dr. Layman's Metabolic Shake
Sample Publications from Dr. Layman's Research Studies
Carraro, F., W.H. Hartt, C.A. Stuart, D.K. Layman, F. Jahoor, and R.R. Wolfe. (1990) Whole body and plasma protein synthesis in exercise and recovery in human subjects. American Journal of Physiology 258:E821-E831.
Paul, G.L., J.T. Rokusek, G.L. Dykstra, R.A. Boileau, and D.K. Layman. (1996) Pre-exercise meal composition alters plasma large-neutral amino acid responses during exercise and recovery. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 64:778-786.
Layman, D.K., R.A. Boileau, D.J. Erickson, J.E. Painter, H. Shiue, C. Sather and D.D. Christou. (2003) A reduced ratio of carbohydrate to protein improves body composition and blood lipid profiles in adult women. Journal of Nutrition 133:411-417.
Layman, D.K., E. Evans, J.I. Baum, J.E. Seyler, D.J. Erickson & R.A. Boileau. (2005) Dietary protein and exercise have additive effects on body composition during weight loss in adult women. Journal of Nutrition 135: 1903-1910.
Layman, D.K., P. Clifton, M.C. Gannon, R.M. Krauss & F.Q. Nuttall. (2008) Protein in optimal health: heart disease and type 2 diabetes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 87:1571S.
Layman, D.K., E.M. Evans, P. Kris-Etherton, D. Erickson, J. Seyler, J. Weber, D. Bagshaw, A. Griel & T. Psota. (2009) Moderate protein diet produces sustained weight loss and long-term changes in body composition and blood lipids in obese adults. Journal of Nutrition 139:514-521.
Norton, L.E., D.K. Layman, T.G. Anthony, D.V. Brana, P. Bunpo & P.J. Garlick. (2009) The leucine content of a complete meal directs peak activation but not duration of skeletal muscle protein and mTOR signaling in rats. Journal of Nutrition 139:1103-1109.
Wilson, G.J., D.K. Layman, C.J. Moulton, L.E. Norton, T.G. Anthony, S.I. Rupassara & P.J. Garlick. (2011) Leucine or carbohydrate supplementation reduces AMPK and eEF2 phosphorylation and extends post-prandial muscle protein synthesis in rats. American Journal of Physiology 301:E1236-E1242.
Mamerow, M.M., J.A. Mettler, K.L. English, S.L. Casperson, E. Arentson-Lantz, M. Sheffield-Moore, D.K. Layman & D. Paddon-Jones. (2014) Dietary protein distribution positively influences 24-hour muscle protein synthesis in healthy adults. Journal of Nutrition 144(6):876-880.
Layman, D.K., T.G. Anthony, B.B. Rasmussen, S.H. Adams, C.J. Lynch, G.D. Brinkworth & T.A. Davis. (2015) Defining meal requirements for protein to optimize metabolic roles of amino acids. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 101(6): 1330S-1338S.
Layman, D.K. (2017) A protein-centric perspective for skeletal muscle metabolism and cardiometabolic health. Chapter 18. In: Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Health, 1st Edition. N. Bergeron, P. Siri-Tarino, G.A. Bray, R.M Krauss, Eds. CRC Press. Boca Raton. ISBN# 9781498704267, pp. 333-348.
Paddon-Jones, D., Layman, D.K. (2019) Branched-chain ketoacid ingestion: an alternative to efficiently increase skeletal muscle protein synthesis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. AJCN 110:799-800.
Phillips, SM., Paddon-Jones, D., Layman D.K. (2020) Optimizing adult protein intake during catabolic health conditions. Advances in Nutrition 11:S1058-S1069.
Martin, A., G Ecklu-Mensah, CWY Ha, G. Hendrick, DK Layman, J Glibert & S Devkota. (2021) Gut microbiota mediate the FGF21 adaptive stress response to chronic dietary protein restriction in mice. Nature Communications 12(3838):1-11.
Check Out Dr. Layman's Metabolism Blog Series
Dr. Donald K. Layman helps cut through the confusion and breaks down what metabolism means and introduces you to how you can optimize your metabolism.