Laura Chiavaroli

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Other Academic Appointments

Affiliate Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital

At a Glance

• Dr. Chiavaroli’s current research focus is on developing tools and strategies to translate clinical practice guidelines on dietary patterns and Canadian Food Policy, including strategies to change food environments and health service delivery models.
• Her team works to collaborate closely with stakeholders and integrate practices to address equity, diversity and inclusivity throughout.

About Dr. Laura Chiavaroli

Dr. Laura Chiavaroli recently joined the Department of Nutritional Sciences as an Assistant Professor. She completed her MSc and PhD in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto and Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital with Dr. David Jenkins where she conducted multidisciplinary randomized controlled trials on dietary patterns for diabetes and cardiovascular risk management. She completed her first post-doctoral fellowship training at the University of Parma, Italy, where she developed course content on trial methodology and explored variables affecting glycemic response. She then received a Mitacs Elevate scholarship for a post-doctoral fellowship with Dr. John Sievenpiper at the Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto where she expanded her skillset to include nutritional epidemiology, specifically in the conduct of large systematic reviews and meta-analyses, as well as analyses of national survey data using the Canadian Community Health Survey. In the last few years of her post-doctoral fellowship, she expanded her experience in knowledge translation strategies, including patient- and physician-facing resource development and web-based mobile app development. Dr. Chiavaroli has a great interest in education and mentorship and is active in outreach activities mentorship programs.

Research Synopsis

Dr. Chiavaroli’s current research focus is on developing tools and strategies to translate clinical practice guidelines on dietary patterns and Canadian Food Policy, including strategies to change food environments and health service delivery models, to assess uptake, adherence and effectiveness for the prevention and management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Her work includes strong collaboration with stakeholders, particularly those at high cardiovascular risk, and practices to address equity, diversity and inclusivity throughout.

Recent Awards and Distinctions (Selected) 

American Society for Nutrition Foundation, National Scientific Achievement Award: Mead Johnson Award (2024)

Li Ka Shing Trainee Award, St. Michael's Hospital (2019)

Recent Publications

1. Chiavaroli L, Cheung A, Ayoub-Charette S, Ahmed A, Lee D, Au-Yeung R, Qi X, Back S, McGlynn N, Ha V, Lai E, Khan TA, Blanco Mejia S, Zurbau A, Choo VL, de Souza RJ, Wolever TMS, Leiter LA, Kendall CWC, Jenkins DJA, Sievenpiper JL. Important food sources of fructose-containing sugars and adiposity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled feeding trials. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.01.023
2. Ayoub-Charette S, McGlynn ND, Lee D, Khan TA, Blanco Mejia S, Chiavaroli L,  Kavanagh ME, Seider M, Taibi A, Chen CT, Ahmed A, Asbury R, Erlich M, Chen YT,  Malik VS, Bazinet RP, Ramdath D, Logue C, Hanley AJ, Kendall CWC, Leiter LA, Comelli E, Sievenpiper JL. Rationale, design and participants baseline characteristics of a crossover randomized controlled trial of the effect of replacing SSBs with NSBs versus water on glucose tolerance and gut microbiome: Strategies To OPpose SUGARS with Non-nutritive sweeteners Or Water (STOP Sugars NOW) trial. Nutrients;15(5),1238. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051238
3. Chen V, Khan TA, Chiavaroli L, Ahmed A, Lee D, Kendall CWC, Sievenpiper JL. Relation of fruit juice with adiposity and diabetes depends on how fruit juice is defined: A re-analysis of the EFSA Draft Scientific opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level for dietary sugars. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2023 Feb 3. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-023-01258-y 
4. Nguyen M, Jarvis S, Tinajero MG, Yu J, Chiavaroli L, Blanco Mejia S, Khan TA, Tobias DK, Willett WC, Hu FB, Hanley AJ, Birken CS, Sievenpiper JL, Malik VS. Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and weight gain in children and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2022 Jan 23;117(1):160-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2022.11.008
5. Massara P, Zurbau A, Glenn AJ, Chiavaroli L, Khan TA, Viguiliouk E, Blanco Mejia S, Comelli EM, Schwab U, Risérus U, Uusitupa M, Aas AM, Hermansen K, Thorsdottir I, Rahelić D, Kahleová H, Salas-Salvadó J, Kendall CWC, Sievenpiper JL. Nordic dietary patterns and cardiometabolic outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials. Diabetologia. 2022 Dec;65(12):2011-2031. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-022-05760-z
6. Jenkins DJA, Chiavaroli L, Mirrahimi A, Mitchell S, Faulkner D, Sahye-Pudaruth S, Paquette M, Coveney J, Olowoyeye O, Patel D, Pichika SC, Bashyam B, Maraj T, Gillett C, de Souza RJ, Augustin LS, Blanco Mejia S, Nishi SK, Leiter LA, Josse RG, McKeown-Eyssen GE, Berger AB, Connelly PW, Srichaikul K, Kendall CWC, Sievenpiper JL, Moody AR. Glycemic Index versus Wheat Fiber on Arterial Wall Damage in Diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care. 2022;45(12):2862–2870. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc22-1028
7. Chen V, Zurbau A, Ahmed A, Au-Yeung F, Khan TA, Chiavaroli L, Blanco Mejia S, Leiter LA, Jenkins DJA, Kendall CWC, Sievenpiper JL. Effect of oats and oat ß-glucan on glycemic control in diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care 2022;10:e002784. https://doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2022-002784
8. Qi X, Chiavaroli L, Lee D, Ayoub-Charette S, Khan TA, Au-Yeung F, Ahmed A, Cheung A, Liu Q, Blanco Mejia S, Choo VL, de Souza RJ, Wolever TMS, Leiter LA, Kendall CWC, Jenkins DJA, Sievenpiper JL. Effect of Important Food Sources of Fructose-Containing Sugars on Inflammatory Biomarkers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Feeding Trials. Nutrients. 2022 Sep 26;14(19):3986. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14193986.
9. Lee D, Chiavaroli L, Ayoub-Charette S, Khan TA, Zurbau A, Au-Yeung F, Cheung A, Liu Q, Qi XY, Ahmed A, Choo VL, Blanco Mejia S, Malik VS, El-Sohemy A, de Souza RJ, Wolever TMS, Leiter LA, Kendall CWC, Jenkins DJA, Sievenpiper JL. Important Food Sources of Fructose-Containing Sugars and Non- Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2022, 14(14), 2846; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14142846.
10. Chiavaroli L, Wang Y(F), Ahmed M, Ng A(P), DiAngelo C, Marsden S, Sievenpiper JL. Intakes of nutrients and food categories in Canadian children and adolescents across levels of sugars intake: Cross-sectional analyses of the Canadian Community Health Survey 2015 Public Use Microdata File. Nutrients. 2022, 47(4):415-428. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1139/apnm-2021-0517   

In the News

University of Toronto study showed those on low-glycemic diet lost weight without trying, Toronto Star. Jan 3, 2022

Low-glycemic diet reduces cardiometabolic risks for people with diabetes: U of T study, U of T News. Aug 12, 2021

U of T students, researchers brainstorm ways to advance UN Sustainable Development Goals, U of T News. Feb 2, 2021

Current Lab Members

Songhee Back - MSc student