Research Papers By Dr. Akmal Khan and co-workers

Education/Training:

Got PhD in Nutrition from Queen Elizabeth College/ King's College, University of London (U.K). Post-doctoral research Fellow (Denmark). Post-graduation (M.Sc) with honours in Nutrition (UAF). Graduation (Vet Med.) with distinction in Parasitology (PU). INTSOY course on the soyabean processing for food uses from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.

Experience:

•  Over 40 years of national/ international experience of postgraduate teaching, research and research management, as Professor of Nutrition in the Department of Community Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as Chairman, Department of Nutrition (UAF), as Eminent Educationist and Researcher (HEC) / Visiting Professor of Nutrition in the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad and in the Department of Home and Health Sciences, Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad, as Director (Central Research Laboratories), as Chief Scientific Officer/Program Leader, (Food Quality and Nutrition), Deputy Director General and acting Director General( Promoting Research and Development) at NARC, Islamabad, as Member (AS) in PARC, Coordinating Research at National/International level and as Director (M & E ), Tawana Pakistan Project (School Feeding), Ministry of Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education Islamabad.

•  Nutrition Consultant to United Nation-UNICEF (Pakistan) & FAO (Sudan, Bangkok), King Khalid University Hospital, (Riyadh) , Gulf Catering Company, School Feeding Program, (Jeddah) and Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Muscat), and Visiting Scientist to International Research Centers/Universities in England, Sudan, USA, Canada, Austria, India, Mexico, Syria, Holland, Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark and FAO Headquarters, Italy.

Achievements:

Some notable achievements include generating new knowledge, developing new methods, new products, establishing institutions (research labs, nutrition department and planning unit).

1:  Studied mechanism of biological adaptation (changes in protein and energy metabolism) of the body to restricted food intake, this explains how adult human beings appear to maintain health on dietary intakes well below the requirements in developing countries, sucrose induction of hepatic hyperplasia as indicated by an increase in total DNA content ( Nature, 1972), sucrose at a level of 25% of the carbohydrate in the diet produced better growth and protein utilization in the body. A level of 11% of the total dietary calories from fat was adequate to meet the requirement of essential fatty acids. Relative constancy of urinary creatinine and urochrome in human subjects, available lysine and blood catalase (developed new method) as indices of dietary protein quality. Developed weaning/supplementary foods for children, milk from chickpeas (developed new product) for treating persistant diarrhea in children and desirable dietary patterns for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Developed guidelines for planning nutritionally adequate meals for primary school girls. Dietary carbohydrates affecting biological utilization of protein. Protein quality by in-vitro method. Improved the protein quality of cereals based diet by supplementing with different pulses, soy flour, potatoes, fish and leaf protein concentrate similar to meat or milk containing diets. Screening of germplasm/lines for nutritional quality and consumer acceptance to assist plant breeders for developing new varieties. Production environment, storage and processing affecting nutritional quality of cereals, pulses and oil seeds. Evaluated nutritional adequacy of National and Northern Areas diets, breakfast cereals, diets/meals, home­made and commercial baby foods used in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Denmark. The quality of food protein was related to the proportion of amino acids as well as the digestibility of the protein. Improved storage life of wheat flour by using polythene packaging material. Developed more bread from less wheat flour. Higher content of dietary fiber and tannin in the diet had a negative effect on the protein digestibility. Healthy diet ensures a healthy heart (Preventing coronary heart disease by diet & life style). Dietary counseling lowered levels of fasting blood glucose and glycoslated hemoglobin in diabetic type-11 patients. Studied the metabolic effect of hony, dates, glucose, sucrose and starch on plasma lipids, insulin and glucose

2:  Conducted food and nutrition surveys in schools (Essex) and hospital (Epping) in England, and in Northern Areas of Pakistan, evaluated the impact of agricultural development in the world largest mechanized Agri-farm on the diet and nutrition in Gezira (Sudan) and impact of school feeding on enrollment and height and weight of primary school girls in Gwadar (Pakistan). Diet and nutrition situation in Pakistan. Future agriculture plans for nutritional adequacy in Pakistan. Civic pollution effecting the quality of water and fish in Soan River.Detected pesticide residue (injurious to health) in Tobacco agro-environment in Swabi.A survey on food and nutrition infrastructure in Pakistan funded by UN-FAO Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand.

3:  As Research Manager, established Central Research Laboratories at NARC, Human Nutrition Department (UAF), Nutrition Planning Unit (Sudan), Food Quality Research Labs (Sultenate of Oman), development of Agriculture Research Plan (1988-2000), Child Survival Project, Ministry of Health Islamabad, research linkages with the international research centers, developed research monitoring and evaluation system and recommended dietary allowances for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

4:  Dr. Khan's Food and Nutrition Research Lab at NARC, Islamabad (1983-91) was one of the best ten Food Labs of the World, selected for International advisory services vide International Food Laboratory Newsletter (Research Publication). Uppsala, Sweden.7:2, April 1991.

5:  Awarded CENTO Fellowship for higher studies (PhD) in England, and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) Research Fellowship for Post-doc research studies in Denmark, medal on World Food Day by FAO (United Nations) and University Grants Commission (Pakistan) and selected as Eminent Educationist and Researcher by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. Regarded as an authority on nutrition and is known as Baba-e-Nutrition in Pakistan.

6:  Elected Fellow Royal Society of Health, (London), Member Institute of Biology (London), Member Institute of Food Technologist, (USA), Member Editorial Board, Nutrition Reports International, USA, Advisor to International Food Laboratory Newsletter, Uppsala, Sweden. Member of Reviewers Panel, Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal (WHO). Member Expert Board on Nutrition, Pakistan Medical Research Council, Member of Working Group on nutrition planning and development, Ministry of Planning and Member Nutritional Sectional Committee, Pakistan Standards Institution. Member of Academic Council and Selection Board, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.

7:  Presented Pakistan/country paper on various international scientific forums in Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines and USA. Organized training, workshops and seminars and created nutritional awareness through print and electronic media.

8:  Highly regarded as a Teacher and a Research Guide, supervised 26 post-graduates for their M.Sc. M.Phil and Ph.D. degrees.

9:  Published 143 research papers/publications in local & foreign journals of International repute, technical reports for the International Agencies of the United Nations, Research Manual, “Enzymes in Biochemical Research” and a review on the achievements of Nutritional Goals (1990-2000), set at 1990 World Summit on child's rights. The goals remain unmet & rights unrealized in Pakistan. Malnutrition due to deficiencies of Iron, Vitamin A & Iodine costs Pakistan Rs. 200 billion (5% of GDP) every year in lost lives, disability & productivity. Iodine deficiency alone costs the country Rs.1.6 billion (3.3% of GDP) every year in lost adult productivity. An Overview of Tawana Pakistan Project (Aug- 2002- June-05); a school feeding programme designed by MOWD, SW and SE, Islamabad to cover 5,30,000 rural girls (5-12 years) in 5300 government primary schools of 29 high poverty districts of Pakistan for a period of 54 months at a cost of Rs. 3.6 billion. The impact assesment of school feeding programme on the nutritional status of girls, school enrollment, dropout rate, awareness of community in Nutrition including utilization of funds, bottlenecks/issues, lessons learnt and proposed the changes in the design of the project including an alternate nutrition package at the end of 36 months.

10. The research work has been cited in the important international publications including FAO (United Nations). All publications are available at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) website. Visit Vision for healthier Pakistan, a motto of department of Home and Health Sciences of the University.