Adam Metherel

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At a Glance

• Dr. Metherel leads a translational research program investigating the role of sex, genetics and dietary fatty acids on omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism, and its implications in health.

About Dr. Adam Metherel

Dr. Adam Metherel recently commenced his position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences in September 2021. He previously trained as a Mitacs Elevate Postdoctoral Fellow with Certo Labs Inc. and a Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate in the Department with Dr. Richard Bazinet, after completing his PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo with Dr. Ken Stark.

Research Synopsis

Dr. Metherel leads a NSERC, CIHR and CFI-funded translational research program studying the role of sex, diet and disease on omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthesis and metabolism. N-3 PUFAs include EPA and DHA consumed primarily from fish and seafood sources, and ALA, an essential fatty acid, consumed primarily from plants. Using pre-clinical rodent studies, his program has identified sex and dietary n-3 PUFA specific differences in liver n-3 PUFA synthesis and heart n-3 PUFA metabolism. He also has ongoing clinical projects investigating the role of sex and genotype on human n-3 PUFA synthesis rates from dietary ALA and EPA. Recent funding has the program exploring the impact of high-fat diets, n-3 PUFA supplementation and MASLD on liver and heart n-3 PUFA metabolism and atherosclerosis. Overall, Dr. Metherel’s findings have implications for more tailored n-3 PUFA dietary strategies based on sex, genotype and health status.

Recent Awards and Distinctions (Selected)

American Society for Nutrition Foundation, National Scientific Achievement Awards: E. L. R. Stokstad Award (2024)

Recent Publications

1. Liu J, Sahin C, Ahmad S, Magomedova L, Zhang M, Jia Z, Metherel AH, Orellana A, Poda G, Bazinet RP, Attisano L, Cummins CL, Peng H, Krause HM. The omega-3 hydroxy fatty acid 7(S)-HDHA is a high-affinity PPARα ligand that regulates brain neuronal morphology. Sci Signal. 2022 Jul 5;15(741):eabo1857. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.abo1857. Epub 2022 Jul 5. PMID: 35857636.
2. Videla LA, Hernandez-Rodas MC, Metherel AH, Valenzuela R. Influence of the nutritional status and oxidative stress in the desaturation and elongation of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Impact on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2022 Apr 22;181:102441. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2022.102441. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35537354.
3. Sylvestre DA, Otoki Y, Metherel AH, Bazinet RP, Slupsky CM, Taha AY. Effects of hypercapnia / ischemia and dissection on the rat brain metabolome. Neurochem Int. 2022 Jan 29:105294. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105294. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35104537.
4. Cisbani G, Koppel A, Metherel AH, Smith ME, Aji KN, Andreazza AC, Mizrahi R, Bazinet RP. Serum lipid analysis and isotopic enrichment is suggestive of greater lipogenesis in young long-term cannabis users: A secondary analysis of a case-control study. Lipids. 2022 Jan 24. doi: 10.1002/lipd.12336. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35075659.
5. Smith ME, Cisbani G, Metherel AH, Bazinet RP. The Majority of Brain Palmitic Acid is Maintained by Lipogenesis from Dietary Sugars and is Augmented in Mice fed Low Palmitic Acid Levels from Birth. J Neurochem. 2021 Nov 15. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15539. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34780089.
6. Caipo L, Sandoval A, Sepúlveda B, Fuentes E, Valenzuela R, Metherel AH, Romero N. Effect of Storage Conditions on the Quality of Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil and the Impact on the Composition of Flavor-Related Compounds (Phenols and Volatiles). Foods. 2021 Sep 13;10(9):2161. doi: 10.3390/foods10092161. PMID: 34574270; PMCID: PMC8466157.
7. Cisbani G, Metherel AH, Smith ME, Bazinet RP. Murine and human microglial cells are relatively enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid compared to the whole brain. Neurochem Int. 2021 Nov;150:105154. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105154. Epub 2021 Aug 10. PMID: 34384851.
8. Metherel AH, Rezaei K, Lacombe RJS, Bazinet RP. Plasma unesterified eicosapentaenoic acid is converted to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the liver and supplies the brain with DHA in the presence or absence of dietary DHA. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids. 2021 Aug;1866(8):158942. doi: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2021.158942. Epub 2021 Apr 9. PMID: 33845223.
9. Harris WS, Tintle NL, Manson JE, Metherel AH, Robinson JG. Effects of menopausal hormone therapy on erythrocyte n-3 and n-6 PUFA concentrations in the Women's Health Initiative randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Jun 1;113(6):1700-1706. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa443. PMID: 33710263; PMCID: PMC8168349.
10. Sivasubramaniyam T, Yang J, Pollock E, Chon J, Schroer SA, Li YZ, Metherel AH, Dodington DW, Bazinet RP, Woo M. Hepatic Igf1-Deficiency Protects Against Atherosclerosis in Female Mice. Endocrinology. 2021 May 1;162(5):bqab040. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqab040. PMID: 33647942.

Current Lab Members

Dandan Li - Postdoctoral Fellow

Amy Symington - PhD student

Ruxandra Rotarescu - PhD student

Narjes Mosavari - PhD student

Niko Ivosevic - MSc student