Nutritional Sciences University of Toronto Nutritional Sciences

Wendy E. Ward, B.Arts&Sci.(Hons), M.Sc., Ph.D.

Associate Professor,
Canada Research Chair in Bone and Muscle Development
Brock University
500 Glenridge Avenue
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
L2S 3A1
Tel: (905) 688 5550 x3024
Fax: (905) 688 8364
E-mail: wward@brocku.ca 		Ward

Research

Osteoporosis, characterized by a low bone mineral density, is a silent disease that ultimately results in fragility fractures. Fragility fractures lead to significant morbidity and mortality among North Americans. With the rapidly aging population, it is estimated that 1 in 2 adults will be at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures by the year 2020, and bone health will continue to worsen as the population ages. The overwhelming statistics that identify unacceptable morbidity and mortality due to poor bone health emphasize the urgent need to develop interventions to combat osteoporosis. Prevention rather than treatment strategies may be more promising and effective at reducing the risk of fragility fracture during aging.

The overall goal of my research program is to investigate the role of food components in the regulation of bone metabolism with the long-term goal of developing nutritional strategies that prevent bone loss, preserve bone structure, and ultimately reduce the risk of fragility fractures (i.e. osteoporosis).

Current projects include investigating: i) how early exposure to soy isoflavones programs bone metabolism; ii) the mechanisms of dietary estrogens (i.e. flaxseed lignans, soy isoflavones), fatty acids and drugs, alone and in combination, on bone metabolism in states of estrogen withdrawal; and iii) the effects of inflammation during early life on later bone health.

Selected recent publications, grouped by topic:

i. Programming of bone by soy isoflavones and estrogens

  1. Kaludjerovic J, Ward WE. Neonatal exposure to daidzein, genistein or the combination modulates bone development in female CD-1 mice. Journal of Nutrition. 139(3):467-473, 2009.
  2. Kaludjerovic J, Ward WE. Diethylstilbesterol has gender-specific effects on weight gain and bone development in mice. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. 71:1032-1042, 2008.
  3. Ward WE, Piekarz A. Effect of prenatal exposure to isoflavones on bone metabolism in mice at adulthood. Pediatric Research. 61(4):438-443, 2007.
  4. Piekarz A, Ward WE. Effect of neonatal exposure to genistein on bone metabolism in mice at adulthood. Pediatric Research. 61(1):48-53, 2007.

ii. Food synergy, food-drug synergy and bone health

  1. Sacco SM, Jiang JM, Reza-Lopez S, Thompson LU, Ma DWL, Ward WE. Flaxseed does not antagonize the effect of ultra-low dose estrogen therapy on bone mineral density and biomechanical strength in ovariectomized rats. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. 2009; in press.
  2. Sacco SM, Jiang JM, Reza-Lopez S, Thompson LU, Ma DWL, Ward WE. Flaxseed combined with low dose estrogen therapy preserves in ovariectomized rats. Menopause. 2009;16(3):545-554.
  3. Ward WE, Fonseca D. Synergy of soy isoflavones and fish oil: effects on bone tissue post-ovariectomy in mice. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. 51:824-831, 2007.
  4. Breitman PL, Fonseca D, Ward WE. Combination of soy protein and high dietary calcium on bone biomechanics and bone mineral density in ovariectomized rats. Menopause. 12(4):428-435, 2005.

iii. Inflammation and bone health

  1. Cohen SL, Moore AM, Ward WE. Flaxseed oil and inflammation-associated bone abnormalities in interleukin-10 knockout mice. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 16(6):368-374, 2005.
  2. Cohen SL, Moore AM, Ward WE. Interleukin-10 knockout mouse: a model for studying bone metabolism during intestinal inflammation. Inflammatory Bowel Disease. 10(5):557-563, 2004.

iv. Methodological considerations when using rodent models to study bone

  1. Jiang J, Sacco SM, Ward WE. Ovariectomy-induced hyperphagia does not modulate bone mineral or bone strength in rats. Journal of Nutrition. 138(11):2106-2110, 2008.
  2. Ward WE, Piekarz A, Fonseca D. Bone mass, bone strength, and their relationship in developing CD-1 mice. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 85(2):274-279, 2007.
  3. Ward WE, Kim S, Chan D, Fonseca D. Serum equol, bone mass and biomechanical bone strength differs among four strains of mice. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 16(12):743-749, 2005.

Edited books:

  1. Optimizing Women’s Health Through Nutrition, L.U. Thompson, W.E. Ward (eds), CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL. 2007, pp.454
  2. Food-Drug Synergy and Safety, L.U. Thompson, W.E. Ward (eds), CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL. 2005. pp. 488.

Selected invited reviews: 

  1. Ward WE, Prevention of bone fragility: the role of diet. International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. 20(4):30-32, 2009.
  2. Kaludjerovic J, Ward WE. Soy isoflavones: modulators of bone development? AgroFOOD Industry High-Tech. 20(4):30-32, 2009

Selected book chapters:

  1. Ward WE, Kaludjerovic J, Lau B, Sacco SM. In: Functional foods and bone health: where are we at? In: Functional food product development. E. Charter, J. Smith (eds). Wiley-Blackwell, Malden, MA. 2009; in press.
  2. Ward WE. Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. In: Optimizing women’s health through nutrition. L.U. Thompson, W.E. Ward (eds). CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, p. 265-278, 2007.
  3. Fritz PC and Ward WE. Oral health. In: Optimizing women’s health through nutrition. L.U. Thompson, W.E. Ward (eds). CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, p. 409-421, 2007.
  4. Ward WE. Herbal preparations and nutritional supplements. In. Principles of Medical Pharmacology, 7th Edition. H. Kalant, D. Grant, J. Mitchell (eds). Elsevier Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, p. 868-877, 2007.
  5. Ward WE. Vitamins and other micronutrients. In. Principles of Medical Pharmacology, 7th Edition. H. Kalant, D. Grant, J. Mitchell (eds). Elsevier Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, p. 841-867, 2007.
  6. Ward WE. Synergy of soy, flaxseed, calcium and hormone replacement therapy in osteoporosis. In. Food-Drug Synergy and Safety. L.U. Thompson, W.E. Ward (eds). CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL. p. 235-253, 2005.