Meghan Spears

Serving as a professor in the Health and Exercise Science major, Meghan specializes in nutrition, sports nutrition, and exercise science. During her doctoral work at Montana State University, her research focused on the intersection of nutrition and metabolic health using metabolomic analysis. Outside of work, Meghan enjoys running, Peloton strength classes, and bowling.

PhD in Exercise and Nutrition Sciences – Montana State University
Dissertation: Insights into Metabolic Health Using Metabolomics

B.Sc in Kinesiology – Washington State University

Research Publications: Spears, M.L., Gurney, S.C., Miles, M.P. (2026) Polyphenols, Gut Microbiota, and Exercise Triad Supports Performance. Journal of Nutrition. In press.

Chamberlin, M.L., Spears, M.L., Cooper, G., Miller, Z.T., Bothner, B., Walk, S.T., Yeoman, C.J., Miles, M.P. (2026). Impact of the gut microbiome on health impacts of Haskap berries: study protocol for a randomized control trial. Trials., 27, 451, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-026-09759-4

Spears, M.L., Bailey, M., Peterson, B., Lince, C., Bothner, B., Miller, Z., Miles, M.P. (2026). Metabolites of haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) berry consumption: a non-randomized pilot study. In review.

Spears, M.L., Chamberlin, M.L., Cooper, G., Sather, B., Wilson, S.M.G., Bothner, B., Miles, M.P. (2026). Metabolic Syndrome Distinguished by Fecal Metabolites: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, in review.

Spears, M.L., Cooper, G., Sather, B., Peterson, E., Boles, J.A., Bothner, B., Miles, M.P. (2025). Postprandial Amino Acids and Health Markers from Organic Grass-Fed and Conventional Beef in Healthy Participants – A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial. CyTA – Journal of Food, 23(1), https://doi.org/10.1080/19476337.2025.2554230

Spears, M.L. & Cooper, G., Sather, B., Bailey, M., Bothner, B., & Miles, M.P. (2024). Comparative Impact of Organic Grass-Fed and Conventional Cattle-Feeding Systems on Beef and Human Postprandial Metabolomics – A Randomized Clinical Trial. Metabolites. 14(10), 533, https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14100533

Educational Publications: Spears, M. L. & Miles, M. P. Chapter 24: Exercise and Immunity, Clinical Exercise Physiology (6th ed.), Human Kinetics.