Recipients

Gradual loss of bone tissue is a normal consequence of aging. However, postmenopausal women are prone to additional bone loss primarily due to the decline of estrogen. This factor places one out of every four women over the age of 50 at risk of osteoporosis. Because the number of postmenopausal women in Canada continues to grow, the burden of health care costs attributed to osteoporosis climbs. That is why Vatanparast is using his Research Fellowship to conduct research into the potential benefits of regular physical activity and soy isoflavone on postmenopausal women. In addition, he investigates whether other components of women’s diets (i.e. fibre) help with the absorption and effectiveness of soy isoflavones. By comparing groups of women who regularly exercise and consume soy isoflavone with a high fiber diet to those that don’t, Vatanparast hopes to show how these factors can lower the incidence of osteoporosis among women over the age of 50 in Canada.

Vatanparast’s research aligns well with Saskatchewan’s Health Research Strategy by focusing on the health needs of specific populations, with emphasis on Aboriginal people and seniors.

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