Temerty Faculty of Medicine
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Professor  |  Associate Chair, Undergraduate Education

Ahmed El-Sohemy

Department of Nutritional Sciences

PhD

Professor El-Sohemy

a.el.sohemy@utoronto.ca

(416) 946-5776

(416) 978-5882

Publications

Location
C. David Naylor Building
Address
Mailing Address: Medical Sciences Building, Room 5253, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5S 1A8
Research Interests
nutriegenomics, nutrigenetics, personalized nutrition, nutrition and athletic performance
Appointment Status
Primary
Accepting
Pending the availability of funding

Qualification

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health (1999-2000)
  • Summer Program, Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health (1999)
  • PhD, Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto (1999)
  • BSc (Hons.), Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto (1994)

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At a Glance

  • Dr. El-Sohemy's research program in nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics aims to understand how genetic and dietary factors interact to regulate various metabolic and biochemical pathways involved in the development of cardiometabolic disease as well as athletic performance

About Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy

Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy is a Full Professor at the University of Toronto and held a Canada Research Chair in Nutrigenomics. He earned his PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard. The goal of his research is to understand how genetic differences modify response to diet for optimal health and performance. Dr. El-Sohemy has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles, given over 350 invited talks and received a number of awards for excellence in research by the Canadian Nutrition Society and the American College of Nutrition. He is the founder of Nutrigenomix Inc.

Research Synopsis

The overall goal of Dr. El-Sohemy's research program in nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics is to identify biomarkers of dietary exposure and elucidate the genetic basis for variability in nutrient response and dietary preferences. His research program employs metabolomics, proteomics, and genomics to study the effects of diet on human health. This approach will help Dr. El-Sohemy and his team to understand how genetic and dietary factors interact to regulate various metabolic and biochemical pathways involved in the development of chronic diseases. His lab has also been studying the effects of disclosing genetic information on eating behaviours along with exploring attitudes and perceptions of genetic testing. Other research projects focus on micronutrient genomics, genetics of caffeine response, and genetic determinants of eating habits as well as athletic performance. 

Recent Awards and Distinctions (Selected)

NutraIngredients Award, Personalised Nutrition Initiative (2020)

NutraIngredients Award, Personalised Nutrition Initiative (2019)

Stanley Wallach Award, American College of Nutrition (2018)

Mark Bieber Professional Award, American College of Nutrition (2016)

National and International Committee Memberships (Current)

Science Advisory Council, American Nutrition Association (2020-present)

Nutritional Genomics Advisory Board, American Nutrition Association (2019-present)

Scientific Advisory Board, The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (2011-present)

Scientific Advisory Board, Nutrigenomix Inc. (2011-present)

Recent Publications

  1. Rastegar Panah, M., Lo, K., Jarvi, K., and El-Sohemy, A. (2024) Biomarkers of iron are associated with anterior pituitary produced reproductive hormones in men with infertility. Nutrients. 16(2): 290.
  2. Jamnik, J. Mahdavi, S. and El-Sohemy, A. (2024) Genetic Variants in the PKD1L2/BCO1 Region are Associated with β-Carotene, Lutein and Zeaxanthin: A Genome-Wide Association Study of Plasma Carotenoids. Nutr Res 132: 164-179.
  3. Zeitoun, T., and El-Sohemy, A. (2023) Using Mendelian randomization to study the role of iron in health and disease. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 24(17), 13458.
  4. Mahdavi, S., Palatini, P. and El-Sohemy, A. (2023) Coffee, CYP1A2 Genotype and risk of kidney dysfunction. JAMA Network Open 6(1):e2247868.
  5. Rastegar Panah, M., Tahir, I., Garcia-Bailo, B., Lo, K., Jarvi, K., and El-Sohemy, A. (2023) Ascorbic acid is associated with favourable hormonal profiles among infertile males. Frontiers in Reproductive Health 5:1143579.
  6. Zeitoun, T., and El-Sohemy, A. (2023) Associations between dietary vitamin C, serum ascorbic acid and GSTT1 genotype, with premenstrual symptoms. J. Am. Nutr. Assoc. 4(6):525-533.
  7. Aiello, JJ, Nagelkirk, P.R., Sackett, J.R., Fitzgerald, L.F., Hargens, T.A., Saunders, M.J., El-Sohemy, A., and Womack, C.J. (2022) The influence of the CYP1A2-163 C>A polymorphism on the hemostatic response to exercise following caffeine supplementation. J. Sport. Med. Phys. Fit. 63(3):471-477.
  8. Mahdavi, S., Jenkins, D.J.A., and El-Sohemy, A. (2022) Genetic variation in 9p21, dietary patterns and insulin sensitivity. Front. Genetics 13:988873.
  9. Garcia-Bailo, B. and El-Sohemy, A. (2021) Recent advances and current controversies in genetic testing for personalized nutrition. Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care 24(4):289-295.
  10. Bush CL, Blumberg JB, El-Sohemy A, Minich DM, Ordovás JM, Reed DG, Behm VAY. (2020) Toward the definition of personalized nutrition: A proposal by the American Nutrition Association. J Am Coll Nutr. Jan;39(1):5-15.

In the News

Gene that affects iron metabolism linked to improved performance in athletes, U of T study finds. U of T News. March 24, 2021.

Do DNA-based diets work? TODAY. June 18, 2020.

Current Lab Members

Matineh Rastegar Panah – PhD student

Tara Zeitoun – PhD student