Assistant Professor
Dr Mahpara Safdar
PhD in Human Nutrition. Have more than 19 years of teaching experience at university level. Distinguished record of publications in academic journals of National and International repute.
Commitment to help students to develop their full potential in edification. Strong philosophy of teaching, and knowledge of many different methods to motivate students to develop their expertise in specific areas.
Dedicated partner to university programs and outreach events that help to promote learning and support to the community.
051-9575524; Ext: 5524
mahpara.jadoon@aiou.edu.pk

Education

Max. Qualifications:  PhD

Field of Specialization:  Human Nutrition

Experience

More than 19 years of teaching experience at university level.

Publications

  1. Azmat, F., Safdar, M., Ahmad, H., Khan, M. R. J., Abid, J., Naseer, M. S., ...&Suleria, H. A. R. (2024). Phytochemical profile, nutritional composition of pomegranate peel and peel extract as a potential source of nutraceutical: A comprehensive review. Food Science & Nutrition, 12(2), 661-674.
  2. Azmat, Faiza, MahparaSafdar, Hajra Ahmad, Muhammad Rizwan Jamil Khan, JunaidAbid, Muhammad SadiqNaseer, Saurabh Aggarwal et al. "Phytochemical profile, nutritional composition of pomegranate peel and peel extract as a potential source of nutraceutical: A comprehensive review." Food Science & Nutrition (2024).
  3. Bibi, Zainab, MahparaSafdar and Rezzan Khan, (2023) “Comparative Effect of Protein Dosage on Nitrogen Balance and Health outcomes in Critically Ill Patients” Submitted to Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Manuscript ID: JHND-22-12-0789-OA.
  4. Tanveer, Saba, Ali Saad R. Alsubaie, Rezzan Khan, Hajra Ahmed, MahparaSafdar, ZainabBiBi, SadafYousaf et al. "Nutritional Counseling Improves the Nutritional Status, Liver Function, and Serum Electrolytes of Patients with Liver Transplantation." OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine 8, no. 4 (2023): 1-16.
  5. Bibi, Zainab, MahparaSafdar and Rezzan Khan, (2022) “Nutritional Risk Assessment of Critically Ill Patients based on NUTRIC Score at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad.” Submitted to Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association. Approved after peer review. Manuscript ID: JPMA-2022-7219.
  6. Alam, I., Ullah, R., Jan, A., Sehar, B., Khalil, A.A.K., Naqeeb, H., Ali, E.A., Wahab, Q.M.F., Safdar, M., Ali, A. and Zaman, M.H., (2022). Improvement in cardio-metabolic health and immune signatures in old individuals using daily chores (Salat) as an intervention: A randomized crossover study in a little-studied population. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, p.1009055.
  7. TilBahadurBasnet; Srijana G C; Rajesh Basnet; Sadia Fatima; MahparaSafdar; BismillahSehar; Ali Saad R Alsubaie; FalakZeb, (2022) “Interaction between Gut Microbiota Metabolites and Dietary Components in Lipid Metabolism and Metabolic Diseases” Submitted to Journal of Access Microbiology. Under review. Manuscript ID: ACMI-D-21-00230R6.
  8. Safdar, Mahpara, Hafiz Muhammad Tufail, Kiran Fatima, and AmnaMahmood. "Assessment of Dental Caries among adults of different Socioeconomic groups." Pakistan Journal of Medical & Health Sciences 16, no. 03 (2022): 196-199.
  9. Nasrullah, ParkhaRiaz, BismillahSehar, MahparaSafdar, Sadia Fatima, FalakZeb, Jahan Shah, Atif Ali Khan, Bilal Ahmed, Ali Saad R. Alsubaie, and Muhammad Haidar Zaman. "Effect of Ajwa date pits powder (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on body composition, lipid profile and blood pressure in patients with hyperlipidemia: A randomized clinical trial." Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine (2022). Ahead of print
  10. Alam, Iftikhar, RiazUllah, Attaullah Jan, BismillahSehar, Atif Ali Khan Khalil, HumaNaqeeb, Essam A. Ali, Wahab, Muhammad Farooq Qazi, MahparaSafdar,Abid Ali, Muhammad HaidarZaman and Zeb, Falak. "Improvement in cardio-metabolic health and immune signatures in old individuals using daily chores (Salat) as an intervention: A randomized crossover study in a little-studied population." (2022). Frontiers in Public Health, 10 (1009055).
  11. Bibi, Zainab, Muhammad Tariq Saeed, Mahpara Safdar, Rezzan Khan, AnamZehra, SyedaNimra Naqvi, MadihaGhazanfar, Omair Ali Shan, ZubairHussain, and Mir Muhammad Nasir Qayyum. "Nutritional assessment of Covid-19 patients admitted in intensive care units in Pakistan.” Pure and Applied Biology. Vol. 12, Issue 1, pp1-10." (2022).
  12. Zahra SyedaMahvish, Ravi ParkashJha, MahparaSafdar, Muhammad Zubair Khalid, Waseem Khalid, and ModassarRanjha (2022) “Trends in the Burden of Eating Disorders in Pakistan over the Past Three Decades: A Joinpoint Regression Analysis” Annals of Indian Psychiatry, DOI: 10.4103/aip.aip_8_22
  13. Schmidt, Wolf‐Peter, IrfanHaider, MusaratHussain, Mahpara Safdar, Farooq Mustafa, Terrill Massey, Gerald Angelo et al. "The effect of improving solid waste collection on waste disposal behaviour and exposure to environmental risk factors in urban low‐income communities in Pakistan." Tropical Medicine & International Health 27, no. 7 (2022): 606-618.
  14. Zeb, Falak, Xiaoyue Wu, Sanyia Fatima, Muhammad HaidarZaman, Shahbaz Ali Khan, MahparaSafdar, IftikharAlam, and Qing Feng. "Time-restricted feeding regulates molecular mechanisms with involvement of circadian rhythm to prevent metabolic diseases." Nutrition 89 (2021): 111244.
  15. Aslam, Maria, Sidra Khalid, ZainabSharmeen, TabeenIrfan, KinzaSeher, and MahparaSafdar. "The effect of nutrition education on nutritional status of tuberculosis patients." Biomed. J. Sci. Tech. Res 33, no. 3 (2021): 25781-25785.
  16. Ahmad, Hajra, SeeminKashif, AsmaAfreen, Mahpara Safdar, and Zaheer Ahmed. "Comparative effect of Fenugreek and Cinnamon on management of newly diagnosed cases of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus." Food Science and Technology 42 (2021).
  17. Nasir, A., Bullo, M. M. H., Ahmed, Z., Imtiaz, A., Yaqoob, E., Safdar, M., ...&Yaqoob, S. (2022). Nutrigenomics: Epigenetics and cancer prevention: A comprehensive review. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 60(8), 1375-1387.
  18. Zeb, F., Safdar, M., Fatima, S., Khan, S., Alam, S., Muhammad, M., Syed, A., Habib, F. and Shakoor, H. (2018). Supplementation of garlic and coriander seed powder: Impact on body mass index, lipid profile and blood pressure of hyperlipidemic patients. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 31(5) 1935-1941.
  19. Syed, A., Zeb, F., Khan, S., Safdar, M.,Alam, I., Shahzad, M., Akbar, F., Qing, F., Wu, X. and Munir, M (2018). Exploration of Eating Disorders, Nutritional and Health Status Based on Eating Attitude Test-26 amongst University Adolescent Girls. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 6(7), 464-470
  20. Shakoor, M. A., Khan, I. A., Ahmed, H., Safdar, M., Ahmed, Z., &Afreen, A. (2018). Prevalence of Worm Infection in Relation to Body Mass Index in Children of 5-10 Yrs of Age in Tehsil Narowal, Pakistan. Universal Journal of Public Health. 6(1) 7-13.
  21. Safdar, M., Paracha, P. I., Khan, A., Khan, S., Ali, H., & Aziz, A. (2016). Effect of Cinnamon on Renal Functions and Cell Structure of Kidney in Rats. Pakistan Journal of Life & Social Sciences, 14(3).: 151-157.
  22. Fazal, S., Khan, A., Zeb, F., Khan, S., Safdar, M., …and Khan, N. (2017) Nutritional Status Assessment of Children with Nutritional Rickets Under Five Years at District Headquarter Hospital, Upper Dir- Pakistan. Journal of Nutrition and Health Sciences, 4(2), 203-210
  23. Tabussum, Alam Khan, IftikharAlam, Niamatullah, Saleem Khan, Imran Khan, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Zaffar, Kalsoom Qureshi, MahparaSafdar and Zia-ud-Din (2013). Determination of glycemic indices and glycemic loads of various types of cereal foods.ARPN J. AgriBiol Sci. 8(6): 493-497
  24. ShumailaGul and MahparaSafdar (2009). Proximate composition and mineral analysis of cinnamon. Pak. J. Nutr. 8(9): 1456-1460.
  25. MahparaSafdar, Alam Khan and Habibullah (2006). Effect of jaman fruit extract on serum glucose and lipid profile in type 2 diabetic individuals. Pak. J. Nutr. 5(6): 573-576. 
  26. Alam Khan, MahparaSafdar, Mohammad Muzaffar Ali Khan Khattak, Khan Nawaz Khattak and Richard A. Anderson (2003) Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 26(12), 3215-3218, USA
  27. MahparaSafdar, Alam Khan, Muhammad Muzaffar Ali Khan Khattak and Mohammad Siddique (2004) Effect of Various Doses of Cinnamon on Blood Glucose in Diabetic Individuals. Pak. J. Nutr. 3 (5): 268-272.
  28. Aien Khan Afridi, Mohammad Siddique, MahparaSafdar and Alam Khan (2004) Prevention and Treatment of Obesity - An Overview. Pak. J. Nutr.  3 (5): 310-317
  29. Aien Khan Afridi, MahparaSafdar, Muhammad Muzaffar Ali Khan Khattak and Alam Khan, (2003) Health risks of overweight and obesity- An overview.Pak. J. Nutr. 2(6): 350- 360.
  30. Alam Khan, MahparaSafdar and Mohammad Muzaffar Ali Khan (2003). Effect of various doses of cinnamon on lipid profile in diabetic individuals. Pak. J. Nutrition 2(5): 312-319.
  31. MahparaSafdar and Alam Khan (2003) Incidence, epidemiology and prevention of cancer, and management of cancer patients-An overview. J. Med. Sciences 3(5-6): 429-456.
  32. Alam Khan,Aien Khan Afridi and MahparaSafdar (2003) Prevalence of obesity in the employees of universities, health and research institutions of Peshawar.Pak. J. Nutr. 2(3): 182-188.
  33. Alam Khan and Mahpara Safdar (2003)Role of diet, nutrients, spices and natural products in diabetes mellitus. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 2(1): 1-12

OTHERS:

  • Published Book: FalakZeb and Mahpara Safdar (2017) “Nutrition Therapy for Common Ailments” ISBN: 978-3-330-08265-6, LAP LAMBERT Academic publishing, Germany
  • Submitted a thesis on “Effect of cinnamon on morphology and physiology of pancreas, liver and kidney in rats” for PhD Degree.
  • Submitted a thesis on “Effect of various doses of cinnamons on blood glucose and lipid profile in diabetic individuals” for M.Sc. (Hons.) Degree.
  • Submitted a special problem on “Effect of jaman fruit extract on serum glucose and lipid profile in type 2 diabetic individuals” for M.Sc. (Hons.) Degree.
  • Submitted a special problem on “Prevalence of obesity in employees of different schools and colleges of Abbottabad.” for B.Sc. (Hons.) Degree.

Project, Research Interests

Projects (National/International)

S. No

Project Title

Role

Funding Agency

National/ International

Year

1

The effect of solid waste collection on environmental risk factors of infectious disease transmission – Protocol for a controlled before and after study in poor urban settlements in Islamabad, Pakistan 

Academic Collaborator

Tearfund UK

International

2017

2

Transforming Food Systems: Healthy and Indigenous Nutrition Package for Undernourished Population

PI

PSF

National

2024

3

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research Interest

Nutrition and the treatment of diseases (especially the chronic conditions as Obesity, Diabetes, Cancer etc.)

Therapeutic products development

Nutrition Reduction

HONORS/AWARDS/GRANTS

  • 2023: Research Incentive award on the recommendation of Research Advancement Committee (RAC) of AIOU.
  • 2007-2008: Visited Purdue University USA via International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP), funded by Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan to enhance research capabilities.
  • 2005-2007: PhD Indigenous Fellowship Award (HEC, Pakistan) for pursuing PhD program.
  • 2003: Gold Medal, for obtaining first position in M.Sc. (Hons) in faculty of Nutrition Science, KP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
  • 1999-2000: “Academic Distinction Certificate” awarded by KP Agricultural University by virtue of being Position Holder in the class in B.Sc. (Hons)-IV.

1992: “Certificate of Merit” awarded by Education Department, Abbottabad for securing 2nd position among female students of Abbottabad District.

Future Plans

Collaborations with different departments for research projects,

Postdoctoral fellowship,

Devising new higher degree programs,

Presentations at nutrition awareness forums

Program Coordination

  1. MSc Public Nutrition
  2. PGD in Public Health and Nutrition
  3. PGD in Clinical Nutrition

Program details

     a.  MSc Public Nutrition

Two years masters’ programs are phasing out, as per HEC directives

  1. PGD in Public Health and Nutrition

AIOU website

  1. PGD in Clinical Nutrition

In approval phase

About

The Allama Iqbal Open University was established in May, 1974, with the main objectives of providing educational opportunities to masses and to those who cannot leave their homes and jobs. During all these past years, the University has more than fulfilled this promise.