Dr. Whiting, a member of Faculty since 1988, completed postdoctoral training (Medicine - Renal Physiology) at the University of British Columbia and previously taught at MountSaint Vincent University in Halifax . She is a member of Dietitians of Canada, the Canadian Society for Nutritional Sciences, the American Society for Nutrition and the American Public Health Association. She is a consultant to the Scientific Advisory Board for Osteoporosis Canada and is on the Steering Committee of Canada's Community Health Measures Survey. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Child Hunger and Education Program in Saskatoon .
For over 30 years she has conducted research on diet influences on bone health, specifically effects of protein, soft drinks, and calcium on children’s bone growth. She has also investigated the effectiveness and use of nutrient supplements, acid-base effects on bone, and, in the past decade, the vitamin D status of Canadians. She has taught for over 25 years in nutrition programs and has supervised over 20 graduate students in Masters and PhD programs, and was given the University of Saskatchewan ’s Distinguished Supervisor award in 2009.
Internationally she has undertaken many activities related to the DRIs, and sits on the International Institute for Bone Health and Nutrition. Locally, she is on the Boards of CHEP Good Food and Station 20 West, both being community-based organizations devoted to solving food insecurity.
Teaching Responsibilities
Undergraduate courses Advanced Nutrition: Micronutrients and Nutritional Assessment (co-teaches); team teaches the graduate course Advances in Human Nutrition Research.
Research Interests
Dietary assessment and nutritional epidemiology; dietary effects on calcium metabolism; nutrition and osteoporosis; access to healthy food; dietary need in long-term care; bioavailability and safety of nutritional supplements. Current research is supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation.
No longer taking graduate students.
Recent Publications
Tolassa Wakayo Ushula; Abdullah Mamun; Darsy Darssan; William Y. S. Wang; Gail M Williams; Susan J Whiting; Jake M Najman (2022). Dietary patterns and the risk of abnormal blood lipids among young adults: A prospective cohort study. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 32(5):1165-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2022.01.030
Demmelash Mulualem, Dejene Hailu, Masresha Tessema, Susan J. Whiting (2022). Association of dietary calcium intake with dental, skeletal and non-skeletal fluorosis among women in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19(4): 2119. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042119
Tefera, Nahom, Mulualem, Demmelash, Baye, Kaleab, Tessema, Masresha, W/yoannes, Meseret, Yehualashet, Asrat, Whiting SJ (2022). Association between dietary fluoride and calcium intake of school-age children with symptoms of dental and skeletal fluorosis in Halaba, Southern Ethiopia. Frontiers in Oral Health (Special Issue on Fluorosis) 3, Article 853719. 10.3389/froh.2022.853719
Tolassa Wakayo Ushula; Abdullah Mamun; Darsy Darssan; William Y. S. Wang; Gail M Williams; Susan J Whiting; Jake M Najman (2022). Dietary patterns and the risks of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance among young adults: Evidence from a longitudinal study Clinical Nutrition. 41(7):1523-1531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2022.05.006
Calvo MS and Whiting SJ. Perspective: School Meal Programs Require Higher Vitamin D Fortification Levels in Milk Products and Plant-based Alternatives: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES 2001-18). Advances in Nutrition.
Abrahim, Saro; Tesema, Masresha; Ejeta , Eshetu ; Ahmed , Mahammed ; Defar , Atkure ; Hussen , Alemayehu ; Demoz , Getachew ; Degu , Eskinder; Aseratie , Mulugeta ; Merga , Belay ; Dillnessa , Enatenesh ; Regassa , Tegene ; Duguma, Dereje ; Whiting, Susan (2021). Median Duration and Factors That Influence the Duration of Symptom Resolution in COVID-19 Patients in Ethiopia: A Follow up Study Involving Symptomatic Cases", Lifestyle Medicine, 2(4) https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.46
Hawea, Salanieta; Singh, Pragya; Whiting, Susan (2021). Cultural determinants of fruits and vegetables consumption in indigenous (iTaukei) Fijian children age 6 months to 5 years old: A qualitative study of caregivers. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 33(6-7): 747-52. https://doi.org/10.1177/10105395211038458
Geda, N. R., Feng, C. X., Janzen, B., Lepnurm, R., Henry, C. J., & Whiting, S. J. (2021). Inequalities in adherence to the continuum of maternal and child health service utilization in Ethiopia. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 40:45 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-021-00271-w
Abdella S, Tessema M, Tasew G, Defar A, Deressa A, Regasa F, Teka F, Tigabu E, Nigussie D, Belachew T, Molla M, Deribew A, Abebe W, Yigzaw T, Nigatu T, Mitike G, Haile T, Taame H, Ahmed M, Nigatu F, Tolesa T, Wolka E, Amogne W, Laillou A, Amare M, Fufa Y, Argaw A, Waganew W, Azazh A, Worku A, Redae B, Sultan M, Walelegn M, Tefera M, Yifru S, Argaw R, Brehau N, Teklu S, Demoz G, Seman Y, Salasibew M, Ejeta E, Whiting SJ, Wolday D, Tollera G, Abate E, Duguma D. (2021). Prognostic factors and outcomes of COVID-19 cases in Ethiopia: multi-center cohort study protocol. BMC Infectious Diseases. 16;21(1):956. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06652-0
Zeinab Hosseini, Mehdi Rostami, Susan J. Whiting & Hassan Vatanparast (2021). Fast food dietary pattern is linked to higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in older Canadian adults. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. Article ID: 5712844, 10 pages. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5712844.
Cammer AL, Whiting SJ. (2021). The challenge of achieving vitamin D adequacy for residents living in long-term care. Public Health Nutrition. May 28:1-4. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898002100238X
Whiting SJ and Gibson, RS (2021). Calcium. In: Principles of Nutritional Assessment by RS Gibson. 3rd edition. Available on-line https://nutritionalassessment.org
Whiting SJ and Gibson, RS (2021). Vitamin D. In: Principles of Nutritional Assessment by RS Gibson. 3rd edition. Available on-line https://nutritionalassessment.org