Dr. Mohammed Moghadasian
– Pathology Research

Dr. Mohammed Moghadasian
Principal Investigator, Pathology Research Laboratory
Canadian Centre for Agri-food Research in Health and Medicine

In Detail

Dr. Mohammed Moghadasian is interested in the therapeutic potential of phytosterols and other functional foods and nutraceuticals. His primary research emphasis will be to examine the efficacy of phytosterols on experimental models of cardiovascular disease (CVD). He is interested in the combined effects of phytosterols and n-3 fatty acids found in flaxseed. He is also interested in examining the interactions between phytosterols drugs commonly used in cardiovascular patients. He is also developing heart transplant models to test the efficacy of dietary agents on graft function.

It is widely accepted that different types of fatty acids elicit specific physiological and biochemical responses in the body. Currently, Canadians are consuming a diet high in n-6 fatty acids and low in n-3 fatty acids, which could be contributing to the increased incidence of CVD and cancer. Many studies have suggested that consumption of adequate amounts of dietary n-3 fatty acids may decrease risk of CVD. N-3 fatty acids from either fish oil or flaxseed oil may reduce cardiovascular risk through several mechanisms including reductions in circulating lipid levels, alleviating the state of inflammation, and improving heart beat rhythms.

Specific oils low in n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratio may reduce cardiovascular risks

This study aims to demonstrate the cardiovascular benefit from diets low in ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids. Humans need both n-6 and n-3 fatty acids for normal body function and development. Major sources of n-3 fatty acids are fish oil and flaxseed oil, while most of vegetable oils are rich in n-6 fatty acids. Human studies have shown an increased risk of CVD in subjects who consume high amounts of dietary n-6 fatty acids and low amounts of n-3 fatty acids. Therefore, current recommendations suggest increasing intake of foods rich in n-3 fatty acids such as fish and flaxseed oil. With this regard, we are investigating overall cardiovascular benefits of diets supplemented with special oils low in n-6 and high in n-3 fatty acids in experimental animals.

Plant derived substances may benefit transplant patients

Dr. Moghadasian’s research team has extended their research activities to investigate whether dietary agents such as flaxseed oil or plant sterols may reduce toxicity and increase efficacy of commonly used drugs in heart transplant subjects. One of these drugs is cyclosporine which can increase blood lipid levels and adversely affect graft function over time. Current research activities in Dr. Moghadasian’s laboratory investigate how plant sterols or flaxseed oil may interact with cyclosporine in rats after heart transplant procedures.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Mohammed Moghadasian
Email. mmoghadasian@sbrc.ca

Top

Moghadasian MH. Advances in increasing n-3 fatty acid consumption. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutri 2008 (in press)

Othman R, Suh M, Fischer G Riediger N, Le K, Azordegan N, Jassal D, Moghadasian MH. A comparison of the effects of fish oil and flaxseed oil on post-transplant complication in an allograft cardiac model in rats. Am J Physiol epub ahead Jan 25, 2008

Xu Z, Le K, Moghadasian MH. Long-term treatment with dietary phytosterols alters hepatic gene expression in apo E-KO mice. J Nutri Biochem 2007 (in press)

Riediger N, Moghadasian MH. Patterns of fruit and vegetable consumption and the influence of sex, age and socio-demographic factors among Canadian elderly. J Am Coll Nutr 2007 (in press)

Ree M, Riediger N, Moghadasian MH. Factors influencing food choices among Canadians. Eur J Clin Nutr 2007;epub August 7

Abdullah M, Xu Z, Pierce G, Moghadasian MH. Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) in Combination with Telmisartan Reduces Cardiovascular Risks in Rats. Lipids 2007;42:855-864

Riediger N, Shooshtari S, Moghadasian MH. Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk factors for low consumption among Canadian adolescents. Am J Diet Assoc 2007;107:1511-1518

Dupasquier, Chantal M.C., Elena Dibrov, Annette L. Kostenuk, Kaitlin G.Y. Lee, Helen K. Alexander, Behzad Kh. Yeganeh, Moghadasian MH and Grant N. Pierce. Dietary Flaxseed Inhibits Atherosclerosis In The Ldl Receptor Deficient Mouse In Part Through Anti-Proliferative And Anti-Inflammatory Actions. Am J Physiol 2007;293:H2394-H2402

Xu Z, Fitz E, Riediger N, Moghadasian MH. Dietary octacosanol significantly reduces plasma triglyceride levels without affecting atherosclerotic lesion development in apo E-KO mice. Nutr Res 2007;27;212;217

Xu Z, Riediger N, Innis S, Moghadasian MH. Fish oil significantly alters plasma fatty acid profile, but not atherogenesis in apo E-KO mice. Eur J Nutr 2007;46:103-110

Dupasquier CM, Weber AM, Ander BP, Rampersad PP, Steigerwald S, Wigle JT, Mitchell RW, Kroeger EA, Gilchrist JS, Moghadasian MH, Lukas A, Pierce GN. Effects of dietary flaxseed on vascular contractile function and atherosclerosis during prolonged hypercholesterolemia in rabbits. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2006;291:H2987-96.

Moghadasian MH. Dietary phytosterols reduce probucol-induced atherogenesis in apo E-KO mice. Atherosclerosis 2006;188:28-34.

Moghadasian MH. Dietary phytosterols reduce cyclosporine induced hypercholesterolemia in apo E-KO mice. Transplantation 2006;81:207-213.
Nashed B, Yeganeh B, HayGlass K, Moghadasian MH. Anti-atherogenic properties of dietary phytosterols are associated with beneficial alterations in immune system in apo E-KO mice. J Nutr 2005;135:2438-2444.

Jolodar A, Hourihane S, Moghadasian MH. Dietary phytosterols alter gene expression in the intestine of apo E-KO mice. Nutr Res 2005;25:847-858

DeClercq V, Yeganeh B, Moshtaghi GR, Bahadori B, Moghadasian MH. Paradoxical effects of fenofibrate and niacin in apo E-KO mice. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2005;46:18-24.

Yeganeh B, Moshtaghi GR, DeClercq V, Moghadasian MH. Combination of dietary phytosterols with fenofibrate or niacin in apo E-KO mice: effects on plasma lipids and atherogenesis. J Nutr Biochem 2005;16:222-228

Wilson JMB, Petrik MS, Moghadasian MH, Shaw CA. Examining the role of apo E in neurodegenerative disorders using an environmentally-induced murine model of ALS-PDC. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2005;83:131-141

Green TJ, Moghadasian MH. Species related variations in lipoprotein metabolism: The impact of FERHDL on atherogenesis. Life Sci 2004;74:2441-2449.

Moghadasian MH. Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis: Clinical course, genotypes and metabolic backgrounds. Clin Exp Invest 2004;27:42-50.

Pritchard H, Li M, Zamfir D, Luckic T, Novak E, Moghadasian MH. Comparison of cholesterol-lowering efficacy and anti-atherogenic properties of hydrogenated versus non-hydrogenated (PhytrolTM) tall oil-derived phytosterols in apo E-deficient mice. Cardiovasc Drugs Therapy 2003;17:443-449.

Lai JCK, Tranfield E, Walker DC, Dyck J, Kerjner A, Loo S, English D, Wong D, Zacher N, McDonald PC, Nikbakht-Sangari M, Moghadasian MH, Wilson JE, McManus BM. Ultrastructural evidence of early endothelial damage in coronary arteries of rat cardiac allografts. J Heart Lung Transplant 2003;22:993-1004.

Lukic TT, Wassan KM, Zamfir D, Moghadasian MH, Pritchard H. Disodium ascorbyl phytostanyl phosphate reduces plasma cholesterol concentrations and atherosclerotic lesion formation in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Metabolism 2003;52:425-31.
Moghadasian MH. Statins and menopause. Drugs 2002;62:2421-2431

Moghadasian MH. A safety look at currently available statins. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2002;1:269-274.

Moghadasian MH, Frohlich JJ, Scudamore CH. Specificity of the commonly used enzymatic assay for cholesterol measurement. J Clin Pathol 2002;55:859-861.

2008

Centrum Foundation New Scientist Award of Canadian Society for Nutritional Sciences for Outstanding Research Recipient: Dr. Mohammed Moghadasian
NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award Recipients: Jessica Derksen, Amy Marshall and Tiffany Nicholson
NSERC Summer Research Project in Japan Recipient Canadian Natalie Riediger
Research Allocation Award Recipients: Rgia Othman, Natalie Riediger
Manitoba Graduate Scholarship Award: Nazila Azordegan

2007

NSERC Post Graduate Scholarship Extension Recipient: Natalie Riediger
NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award Recipient: Christy Lannoo

Winnipeg Free Press: Natalie Riediger

There is no funding to list at this time.

Histology Service Ad (May 27, 2011)

The Pathology Research Laboratory (PRL) is an exciting and dynamic workplace; there are many members within the lab with varying areas of expertise collaborating on cutting edge research. PRL is directed by Dr. Mohammed Moghadasian and employs 15 staff, including two post doctorate fellows, one medical pathologist, one laboratory technologist and several graduate and undergraduate students. This highly qualified international research team is the driving force of carrying out a number of notch-edge experiments from molecular biology to in vitro and in vivo screening tests. The lab is fully equipped with the state of –the-art equipment and instruments.

Members are encouraged to attend seminars and conferences to learn new advances in the field of Nutrition. We always try to attend the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for Nutritional Sciences (CSNS) and other relevant national and international meetings. Dr. Moghadasian gave the Centrum Foundation Lecture at this year’s CSNS Meeting in Toronto, where he received his Centrum Foundation new Scientist Award. Dr. Moghadasian is jointly hosting the 6th Annual Northern Lights Summer Conference through the Canadian Federation of Biological Sciences. It is being held at the University of Manitoba, June 17 – 20 with the theme entitled: Biology of Aging – New Answers to Old Questions. His symposium is entitled “Antioxidant, Atherosclerosis and Aging: AAA Alarm”.

We are not just a bunch of nerds! There is an active social life within at PRL. Monthly potlucks are a mainstay, and birthdays of lab members are always highlighted with a celebratory cake. Members also enjoy participation in many sporting and outdoor activities such as bocce ball, the SBRC annual golf tournament, volleyball, fishing, bowling and berry picking.