Nutrition research is discovering the critical role nutrients play in staving off disease. Kevin Schalinske, a professor of food science and human nutrition, and specifically B vitamins, keep metabolic pathways functioning smoothly. When certain B vitamins are lacking, the pathways are disrupted and can lead to development of cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and birth defects. "The more we understand about how to keep these pathways from being disrupted, the better chance we have to intervene through diet or other approaches." Schalinske says.