Brief Biography

Stanley Zlotkin received his medical training at McMaster University and McGill and obtained a PhD in Nutrition at the University of Toronto. He has worked as a clinician-nutritionist and research scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children since 1980. He is currently a Professor in the Departments of Paediatrics and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto, a senior scientist in the Research Institute of The Hospital for Sick Children, Medical Director of Nutrition Support at The Hospital for Sick Children and Head of the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition at the Hospital. As well as being a consultant on nutritional issues to the Canadian Federal and Provincial Government, he is past Chairman of the Nutrition Committee of the Canadian Paediatric Society and past Chair of the Research Ethics Board of the Research Institute of The Hospital for Sick Children.

Stanley has active research in Canada (supported by Health Canada and the Centers for Disease Control), Ghana (supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research), Mongolia (supported by World Vision and the HJ Heinz Foundation) and China (supported by the HJ Heinz Foundation). He recently received the HJ Heinz Humanitarian Award for his international efforts related to micronutrient deficiencies.

Stanley received his medical training at McMaster University, Hamilton, and McGill University, Montreal, and obtained a PhD in Nutrition at the University of Toronto.

Research Interests

His research interests involve:
(i) examining mineral requirements and metabolism in premature and full-term infants, especially iron,
(ii) clinical trials to treat and prevent iron and vitamin A deficiency, and
(iii) establishing evidence-based nutrition public policy.

He has active research in Canada (supported by Health Canada and the CDC), Ghana (supported by the CIHR), Mongolia (supported by World Vision and the HJ Heinz Foundation) and India (supported by the CIHR).

Research Activities 

Fortification of infant food with iron to prevent iron-deficiency anaemia. Iron-deficiency anaemia is the most prevalent nutrient deficiency in the world today, affecting as many as 1.5 billion people. Groups at risk include women of child-bearing age, pregnant women, and rapidly growing infants, children, and adolescents. Infants with iron-deficiency anaemia may have nonreversible developmental delay. Using a food-fortification approach, my colleagues and I have initiated international collaborations to examine:

1. the effect of a double-fortified table salt (fortified with dextran-coated iodine and iron) and
2. microencapsulated ferrous fumarate sprinkles for weaning foods to prevent iron-deficiency anaemia in infants and young children.

Other research activities include investigations of iron bioavailability using stable isotope technology.

Achievements

September 2001 - received the HJ Heinz Humanitarian Award for his international efforts related to micronutrient deficiencies

Publications

Zlotkin SH. Clinical Nutrition: The role of nutrition in the prevention of iron deficiency anemia in infants, children and adolescents. Can Med Assoc Journal 168:59-62, 2003.

Schauer C, Zlotkin SH. “Home-fortification” with Micronutrient Sprinkles – A New Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of Nutritional Anemias. Paediatrics and Child Health 8: 87-90, 2003.

Zlotkin SH, Kojo Yeboah Antwi, Claudia Schauer, George Yeung. Use of microencapsulated ferrous fumarate sprinkles to prevent recurrence of anemia in infants and young children at high risk. Bull World Health Organization 81:108-115, 2003.

Zlotkin S, Arthur P, Kojo Yeboah Antwi, Claudia Schauer, George Yeung Piekarz A. Randomized controlled trial of multi versus single-micronutrient supplementation for treatment of anemic infants. J Nutr 133:1075-1080; 2003

Liyanage C, Zlotkin SH. Bioavailability of iron from micro-encapsulated iron sprinkle supplement. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 23:2; p133-137, 2002.

Zlotkin SH, Arthur P, Antwi KY, Yeung G. Treatment of anemia with microencapsulated ferrous fumarate plus ascorbic acid supplied as 'sprinkles' added to complementary (weaning) foods. Am J Clin Nutr 74: 791-795. 2001

Zlotkin SH, Arthur P, Antwi KY, Yeung G. Randomized controlled trial of single versus three-times daily ferrous sulfate drops for treatment of anemia. Pediatrics 108:613-616, 2001

Benoit D, Wang EEL, Zlotkin SH. Characteristics and outcomes of children with enterostomy feeding tubes: A study of 325 children. Paediatr Child Health 6:3, 132-137, 2001.

Weinstein M, Babyn P, Zlotkin SH. An Orange a Day Keeps the Doctor Away: Scurvy in the Year 2000. Pediatrics 108:3; 1-5, 2001.

Anderson GH, Zlotkin SH. Developing and Implementing Food-Based Dietary Guidance for Fat in the Diet of Children. Am J Clin Nutr 72(suppl):1404S-9S; 2000.

Yeung GS, Zlotkin SH. Efficacy of Meat and Iron-Fortified Commercial Cereal to Prevent Iron Depletion in Cow Milk-fed Infants Six to 12 Months of Age: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Can J Public Health 91:263-267; 2000.

Benoit D, Wang EL, Zlotkin SH. Discontinuation of Enterostomy Tube Feeding by Behavioral Treatment in Early Childhood: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J. Pediatr 137:498-503; 2000.

Zlotkin SH. Research Priorities in Complementary Feeding: Canadian Recommendations. Pediatrics 106:1272S-73S; 2000.