Areas of Research Interest

• Nutritional epidemiology with emphasis on nutrition-related non-communicable diseases
• Global Health and Sustainable Development Goals Nutrition, culture and health status of at risk population, particularly immigrants, refugees, mad Indigenous people.
• Public health nutrition and community-based health promotion

Current Research

• Evaluating the impact of socio-economic and cultural factors on food insecurity in immigrants and refugees both nationally and internationally before and during COVID 19 pandemic.
• Nutrition and health among Indigenous communities in Canada, Central America and Africa before and during COVID 19 pandemic.
• Dietary intakes of Canadians and risk of obesity and chronic conditions.
• Evaluating the effect of nutrition and physical activity on bone and blood lipid profiles among Canadians.
• Immigrant and refugee health and nutrition.
• Vitamin D and autoimmune diseases
• Evaluating the impact of menu planning resources and the cultural adaptation of “Healthy Start/Départ Santé” to improve nutrition, physical activity, and physical literacy in early learning facilities.
• Calcium and vitamin D of Canadians in association with osteoporosis and CVD.
• “Eat Healthy, Play Healthy” initiative to promote healthy food environments in recreational facilities. 

Current Courses

• NUTR 350.3- Public Health and Community Nutrition
• NUTR 898.3- Special Topics on Nutrition and Chronic Conditions
• PUBH 898.3-Advanced Health Promotion

Book Chapters

Keshavarz, P., Jandaghi, P., Shafiee, M., Islam N. and Vatanparast, H. (2020). Maternal vitamin D status among different ethnic groups and its potential contribution to adverse pregnancy and child outcomes [Online First], IntechOpen, doi: 10.5772/intechopen.90766.

Lawlor, M.R., Weaver, C.M., Craig, B.A., Whiting, S.J., Baxter-Jones, A.D.G., Vatanparast, H., & McCabe, G.P. (2018). Peak BMC growth and calcium requirements for children. In Weaver, C.M., Bischoff-Ferrari, H., Daly, R.M., & Wong, M.-S. (Eds.), Nutritional Influences on Bone Health: 10th International Symposium (pp. 37-44). Springer Nature: Cham, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98464-3

Vatanparast, H., Nisbet, C., & Patil, R. (2017). Food security and nutritional health of newcomer children. Handbook of Famine, Starvation, and Nutrient Deprivation. Springer International Publishing.

Whiting, S.J., Vatanparast, H., & Calvo, M.S. (2017). Current understanding of vitamin D metabolism, nutrition status, and role in disease prevention. In A.M. Coulston, C.J. Boushey, M.G. Ferruzzi and L.M. Delahanty. (Ed.), Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease (pp. 937-963), London EC2Y 5AS, United Kingdom Academic press.

Selected Papers in Refereed Journals

Mengesha, H.G., Vatanparast, H., Feng, C. et al. Modeling the predictors of stunting in Ethiopia: analysis of 2016 Ethiopian demographic health survey data (EDHS). BMC Nutr 6, 52 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-020-00378-z

Vatanparast H*, Islam N, Shafiee M, Ramdath DD. Increasing Plant-Based Meat Alternatives and Decreasing Red and Processed Meat in the Diet Differentially Affect the Diet Quality and Nutrient Intakes of Canadians. Nutrients. 2020 Jul 9;12(7):2034. doi: 10.3390/nu12072034

Everitt, T., Engler-Stringer, R., Martin, W. & Vatanparast, H. (2020). Comparing diet quality of school meals versus food brought from home. Can J Diet Pract Res, doi: 10.3148/cjdpr-2020-013

Leis A, Ward S, Vatanparast H, Humbert ML, Chow AF, Muhajarine N, Engler-Stringer R, Bélanger M. Effectiveness of the Healthy Start-Départ Santé approach on physical activity, healthy eating and fundamental movement skills of preschoolers attending childcare centres: a randomized controlled trial.BMC Public Health. 2020 Apr 19;20(1):523. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-08621-9

Mazidi M, Ofori-Asenso R, George ES, Vatanparast H. Association Between Nutrient Patterns and Hypertension Among Adults in the United States: A Population-Based Survey. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev. 2020 Apr;27(2):133-138. doi: 10.1007/s40292-020-00364-3. Epub 2020 Mar 18.

Mehdizadeh A, Vatanparast H, Khadem-Rezaiyan M, Norouzy A, Abasalti Z, Rajabzadeh M, Nematy M.Validity and Reliability of the Persian Version of Nutrition Screening Tool for Every Preschooler (NutriSTEP®) in Iranian Preschool Children.J Pediatr Nurs. 2020 May-Jun;52:e90-e95. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2020.01.011. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

Yaghoubi, M., Mansell, K., Vatanparast, H. H., Zeng, W., Javanbakht, M., & Farag, M. (2020). Patient level micro simulation model for evaluating the future potential cost effectiveness of pharmacy based interventions in the control and management of diabetes related complications in Canada. medRxiv.

*Vatanparast, H., Islam, N., Patil, R. P., Shafiee, M., & Whiting, S. J. (2020). Calcium Intake from Food and Supplemental Sources Decreased in the Canadian Population from 2004 to 2015. The Journal of Nutrition, nxz318, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxz318

Yaghoubi M, Mansell K, Vatanparast H, Steeves M, Zeng W, Farag M. Prevalence of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes-Related Complications and Their Association With Determinants Identified in Canada's Survey on Living With Chronic Diseases-Diabetes Component. Can J Diabetes. 2020 Jun;44(4):304-311.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2019.09.001.

Mehdizadeh A, Nematy M, Vatanparast H, Khadem-Rezaiyan M, Emadzadeh M.Impact of Parent Engagement in Childhood Obesity Prevention Interventions on Anthropometric Indices among Preschool Children: A Systematic Review. Child Obes. 2020 Jan;16(1):3-19. doi: 10.1089/chi.2019.0103. E

*Vatanparast, H., Islam, N., Shafiee, M., & Whiting, S. Vitamin D intake from supplemental sources but not from food sources has increased in the Canadian population over time. The Journal of Nutrition. doi: nxz291

Barbour-Tuck, E.N., Erlandson, M.C., Sherar, L.B., Eisenmann, J.C., Muhajarine, N., Foulds, H., Vatanparast, H., Nisbet, C., Kontulainen, S., & *Baxter-Jones, A.D.G. (2019). Relationship between trajectories of trunk fat development in emerging adulthood and cardiometabolic risk at 36 years of age. Obesity, doi: 10.1002/oby.22576.

Hosseini, S.H., Jones, J.M., & *Vatanparast, H. (2019). Association between grain intake, nutrient intake, and diet quality of Canadians: Evidence from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition 2015. Nutrients, 11(8), doi: 10.3390/nu11081937.

Lane, G., Nisbet, C., & *Vatanparast, H. (2019). Dietary habits of newcomer children in Canada. Public Health Nutrition, 7, doi: 10.1017/S1368980019001964. 

Lane, G., Nisbet, C., & *Vatanparast, H. (2019). Food insecurity and nutritional risk among Canadian newcomer children in Saskatchewan. Nutrients, 11(8), doi: 10.3390/nu11081744.

*Vatanparast, H., Islam, N., Prakash Patil, R., Shamloo, A., Keshavarz, P., Smith, J., & Whiting, S. (2019). Consumption of yogurt in Canada and its contribution to nutrient intake and diet quality among Canadians. Nutrients, 11(6), doi:10.3390/nu11061203

*Vatanparast, H., Islam, N., Prakash Patil, R., Shafiee, M., Smith, J., & Whiting, S. (2019). Snack Consumption Patterns among Canadians. Nutrients, 11(5), doi:10.3390/nu11051152

Omer, A., Mulualem, D., Classen, H., *Vatanparast, H., & Whiting, S. J. (2019). Promotion of Egg and Eggshell Powder Consumption on the Nutritional Status of Young Children in Ethiopia. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition Research, 1(1.1004).

Hosseini, Z., Whiting, S. J., & *Vatanparast, H. (2019). Type 2 diabetes prevalence among Canadian adults—dietary habits and sociodemographic risk factors. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 44(10), 1099-1104. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2018-0567.

Mehramiz, M., Khayyatzadeh, S.S., Esmaily, H., Ghasemi, F., Sadeghi-Ardekani, K., Tayefi, M., Mirmousavi, S.J., Hanachi, P., Bahrami-Taghanaki, H., Eslami, S., Vatanparast, H., Ferns, G.A., *Ghayour-Mobarhan, M. & *Avan, A. (2019). Associations of vitamin D binding protein variants with the vitamin D-induced increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 29, 59-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2018.12.005

*Vatanparast, H., Islam, N., Prakash Patil, R., Shamloo, A., Keshavarz, P., Smith, J., Manh Chu, L., & Whiting, S. (2019). Consumption of Ready-to-Eat cereal in Canada and its contribution to nutrient intake and nutrient density among Canadians. Nutrients, 11(5), doi:10.3390/nu11051009

Khayyatzadeh, S.S., Mehramiz, M., Esmaeily, H., Mirmousavi, S.J., Khajavi, L., Salehkhani, F.N., Hanachi, P., Bahrami‐Taghanaki, H., Eslami, S., Vatanparast, H., Ferns, G.A., *Avan, A., & *Ghayour-Mobarhan, M. (2019). A variant in CYP2R1 predicts circulating vitamin D levels after supplementation with high‐dose of vitamin D in healthy adolescent girls. Journal of cellular physiology, 234(8), 13977-13983. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.28083

Lane, G., Nisbet, C., Whiting, S.J., & *Vatanparast, H. (2019). Canadian newcomer children’s bone health and vitamin D status. Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism. doi: dx.doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2018-0705

Khakpour, M., Iqbal, R., GhulamHussain, N., Engler-Stringer, R., Koç, M., Garcea, J., Farag, M., Henry, C., & *Vatanparast, H. (2019). Facilitators and barriers toward food security of Afghan refugees residing in Karachi, Pakistan. Ecology of Food and Nutrition. doi: 10.1080/03670244.2019.1598982

Hosseini, S.H., Papanikolaou, Y., Islam, N., Patil, R., Shamloo, A., & Vatanparast, H. (2019). Consumption Patterns of Grain-Based Foods among Adults in Canada: Evidence from Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition 2015. Nutrients, 11(4), doi:10.3390/nu11040784

Hosseini, S.H., Papanikolaou, Y., Islam, N., Patil, R., Shamloo, A., & Vatanparast, H. (2019). Consumption patterns of grain-based foods among children and adolescents in Canada: evidence from Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition 2015. Nutrients, 11(3), doi: 10.3390/nu11030623

Yaghoubi, M., Mansell, K., *Vatanparast, H., Steeves, M., Zeng, W., & Farag, M. (2019). Prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes-related complications and their association with determinants identified in Canada’s Survey on Living With Chronic Diseases-Diabetes Component. Canadian Journal of Diabetes. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2019.09.001

Hosseini, Z., Whiting, S.J., & *Vatanparast, H. (2019). Canadians’ dietary intake from 2007 to 2011 and across different sociodemographic/lifestyle factors using the Canadian Health Measures Survey cycles 1 and 2. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2831969

Mehdizadeh, A., Shafiee, M., Khadem-Rezaiyan, M., Sardar, M.A., Vatanparast, H., Rose, E., Rajabzadeh, M., & Nematy, M. (2018). Evidence for the validity of the Children’s Attraction to Physical Activity (CAPA) scale in Iranian preschool children. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2018.10.021

Lane, G., Farag, M., White, J., Nisbet, C., & *Vatanparast, H. (2018). Chronic health disparities among refugee and immigrant children in Canada. Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism. 43, 1043-1058. dx.doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2017-0407

*Mazidi, M., Vatanparast, H., Katsiki, N., & Banach, M. (2018). The impact of nuts consumption on glucose/insulin homeostasis and inflammation markers mediated by adiposity factors among American adults. Oncotarget, 9:31173-31186.

Dehnavi, Z., Razmpour, F., Naseri, M.B., Nematy, M., Alamdaran, S.A., Vatanparast, H.A., Abbasi, B. & Ganji, A. (2018). Fatty Liver Index (FLI) in Predicting Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Hepatitis Monthly, 18(2). doi: 10.5812/hepatmon.63227

Mehdizadeh, A., Nematy, M., Khadem-Rezaiyan, M., Ghayour-Mobarhan, M., Sardar, M. A., Leis, A., Humbert, L., Bélanger, M., & Vatanparast, H. (2018). A Customized Intervention Program Aiming to Improve Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Among Preschool Children: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Iran Healthy Start Study). JMIR research protocols, 7(12), e11329. doi: 10.2196/11329

Mirhosseini, N., Vatanparast, H., Mazidi, M., & *Kimball, S.M. (2018). Vitamin D supplementation, glycemic control and insulin resistance in prediabetics: A meta-analysis. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2(7) 687-709. doi: 10.1210/js.2017-00472

Omer, A., Mulualem, D., Classen, H., Vatanparast, H., & *Whiting, S.J. (2018). A community poultry intervention to promote egg and eggshell powder consumption by young children in Halaba Special Woreda, SNNPR, Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural Science, 10(5), 1. doi:10.5539/jas.v10n5p1

Shafiee, M., Ahmadnezhad, M., Tayefi, M., Arekhi, S., Vatanparast, H., Esmaeili, H., Moohebati, M., Ferns, G.A., & Mokhber, N. (2018). Depression and anxiety symptoms are associated with prooxidant-antioxidant balance: A population-based study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 238, 491-498.

Mazidi, M., Kengne, A.P., & Vatanparast, H. (2018). Association of dietary patterns of American adults with bone mineral density and fracture. Public Health Nutrition. doi: 10.1017/S1368980018000939

Finch, S.L., Rosenberg, A.M., & Vatanparast, H. (2018). Vitamin D and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Pediatric Rheumatology, 16. doi: 10.1186/s12969-018-0250-0.

Vatanparast, H., Shahabi, F., Bahramian, A., Javadi, A. & Miller, R. (2018). The role of electrostatic repulsion on increasing surface activity of anionic surfactants in the presence of hydrophilic silica nanoparticles. Scientific Reports, 8. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-25493-7

Lane, F., Farag, M., White, J., Nisbet, C., & Vatanparast, H. (2018). Chronic health disparities among refugee and immigrant children in Canada. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0407

Mazidi, M. & Vatanparast, H. (2018). Serum trans-fatty acids level are positively associated with lower food security among american adults. Nutrition & Diabetes, 8(17).

Ward, S., Froehlich Chow, A., Humbert, M.L., Bélanger, M., Muhajarine, N., Vatanparast, H., & Leis, A. (2018). Promoting physical activity, healthy eating and gross motor skills development among preschoolers attending childcare centers: Process evaluation of the Healthy Start-Départ Santé intervention using the RE-AIM framework. Evaluation and Program Planning, 68, 90-98.

Movassagh, E.Z., Baxter-Jones, A.D.G., Kontulainen, S., Whiting, S., Szafron, M., & Vatanparast, H. (2018). Vegetarian-style dietary pattern during adolescence has long-term positive impact on bone from adolescence to young adulthood: a longitudinal study. Nutrition Journal, 17(36): 1-10.

Khayyatzadeh, S.S., Vatanparast, H., Avan, A., Bagherniya, M., Bahrami, A., Kiani, M.A., Bahrami-Taghanaki, H., Ferns, G.A., & Ghayour-Mobarhan, M. (2017). Serum transaminase concentrations and the presence of irritable bowel syndrome are associated with serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations in adolescent girls who are overweight and obese. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, 71, 234-241.

Mirhosseini, N., Vatanparast, H., & Kimball, S.M. (2017). The association between serum 25(OH)D status and blood pressure in participants of a community-based program taking vitamin D supplements. Nutrients, 9(11), 1244. doi:10.3390/nu9111244

Ward, S., Belanger, M., Donovan, D., Vatanparast, H., Engler-Stringer, R., Leis, A., & Carrier, N. (2017). Lunch is ready…but not healthy: An analysis of lunches served in childcare centres in two Canadian provinces. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 108(4), e342-e347. doi: 10.17269/cjph.108.5688

Mazidi, M., Rezaie, P., & Vatanparast, H. (2018). Impact of vitamin D supplementation on C-reactive protein; a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Nutrition, 4(1).

Olauson, C., Engler-Stringer, R., Vatanparast, H., & Hanoski, R. (2017). Student food insecurity: Examining barriers to higher education at the University of Saskatchewan. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 13(1), 19-27.

Yaghoubi, M., Mansell, K., Vatanparast, H., Steeves, M., Zeng, W., & Farag, M. (2017). Effects of pharmacy-based interventions on the control and management of diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 41(5), S26. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.08.076

Vatanparast, H., Whiting, S., Hossain, A., Mirhosseini, N., Merchant, A.T., & Szafron, M. (2017). National pattern of grain products consumption among Canadians in association with body weight status. BMC Nutrition, 3(1), 59.

Lane, V. Vatanparast, H. (2017). Inclusive or targeted health services for newcomers. Canadian Diversity: Refugee Pathways, 46-49.

Alrefai, D., Jones, J., El-Matary, W., Whiting, S., Aljebreen, A., Mirhosseini, N., & Vatanparast, H. (2017). The association of vitamin D status with disease activity in a cohort of Crohn’s Disease patients in Canada. Nutrients, 9(10), 1112. doi: 10.3390/nu9101112

Mazidi, M., Shivappa, N., Wirth, M.D., Hebert, J.R., Vatanparast, H., & Kengne, A.P. (2017). The association between dietary inflammatory properties and bone mineral density and risk of fracture in US adults. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2017.133.

Mirhosseini, N., Vatanparast, H., Mazidi, M., & Kimball, S.M. (2017). The effect of improved serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status on glycemic control in diabetic patients: a meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metababolism, 102(9), 3097-3110. doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-01024.

Mazidi, M., Kengne, A.P., & Vatanparast, H. (2017). Food security and leukocyte telomere length in adult Americans. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2017.

Surette, V., Ward, S., Morin, P., Vatanparast, H., & Bélanger, M. (2017). Food reluctance of preschool children attending daycare centers is associated with a lower body mass index. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 117(11), 1749-1756. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2017.07.007

Movassagh, E.Z., Baxter-Jones, A.D.G., Kontulainen, S., Whiting, S.J., & Vatanparast, H. (2017). Tracking dietary patterns over 20 years from childhood through adolescence into young adulthood: the Saskatchewan Pediatric Bone Mineral Accrual Study. Nutrients, 9(9), 990. doi: 10.3390/nu9090990.

Ward, S., Bélanger, M., Donovan, D., Vatanparast, H., Muhajarine, N., Engler-Stringer, R., Leis, A., Humbert, M.L., & Carrier, N. (2017). Association between childcare educators’ practices and preschoolers’ physical activity and dietary intake: a cross-sectional analysis. BMJ open, 7(5), e013657.

Mazidi, M., Karimi, E., Rezaie, P., & Vatanparast, H. (2017). The impact of vitamin D supplement intake on vascular endothelial function; a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Food & Nutrition Research, 61(1), 1273574. doi: 10.1080/16546629.2016.1273574

Mazidi, M., Gao, H.K., Vatanparast, H., & Kengne, A.P. (2017). Impact of the dietary fatty acid intake on C-reactive protein levels in US adults. Medicine, 96(7), e5736. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000005736

Movassagh, E.Z. & Vatanparast, H. (2017). Current evidence on the association of dietary patterns and bone health: a scoping review. Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal, 8(1), 1-16. doi: 10.3945/an.116.013326

Ward, S., Bélanger, M., Donovan, D., Boudreau, J., Vatanparast, H., Muhajarine, N., Leis, A., Humbert, M.L., & Carrier, N. (2017). “Monkey see, monkey do”: Peers’ behaviors predict preschoolers' physical activity and dietary intake in childcare centers. Preventive Medicine, 97, 33-39. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.01.001

Mazidi, M., Rezaie, P., Ferns, G.A., & Vatanparast, H. (2017). Impact of probiotic administration on serum C-reactive protein concentrations: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. Nutrients, 9(1), 20. doi: 10.3390/nu9010020

Movassagh, E.Z., Kontulainen, S., Baxter-Jones, A.D.G., Whiting, S., Szafron, M., Papadimitropoulos, M., & Vatanparast, H. (2017). Are milk and alternatives and fruit and vegetable intakes during adolescence associated with cortical and trabecular bone structure, density, and strength in adulthood? Osteoporosis International, 1-11.