2022 INDUCTEE David J.A. Jenkins, DM DPhil DSc Diabetes, Digestion, Health and Medical Education & Training, Heart & Vessels

Born:

July 20, 1942

(London, England)

Education:

DSc, Merton College, Oxford University (1988)
DM, Oxford University (1976)
DPhil, Oxford University (1975)
BM BCh, Oxford University (1971)

Awards & Honours:

2020: Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS-SCN) Fellow Distinction

2019: Honourary Patron of Dietitians of Canada

See All Awards

Awards & Honours:

2020: Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS-SCN) Fellow Distinction

2019: Honourary Patron of Dietitians of Canada

2018: Health Research Foundation (HRF) Medal of Honour

2018: Faculty of Medicine Teaching Excellence Award

2018: Faculty of Medicine Graduate Teaching Award

2017: Robert H. Herman Award of the American Society for Nutrition

2014: Bloomberg Manulife Prize for the Promotion of Active Health

2013: W.O. Atwater Award, U.S. Department of Agriculture and American Society for Nutrition

2013: Award for Excellence in Research, International Nut and Dried Fruit Council, Barcelona

2013: Appointed Officer of the Order of Canada

2012: The Fitzgerald Academy DOCH II (Medical Students Year 2) Teaching Award

2012: Honorary Memberships of the Grains for Health Foundation, Minneapolis, MN

2012: Award for Outstanding Contributions - Italian Nutraceutical Society

2011:W. T. Aikins Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in Medicine, University of Toronto

2010: Khush Jeejeebhoy Award of the Canadian Nutrition Society

2010: Elected Master of the American College of Nutrition

2009: Elected University Professor, University of Toronto

2008: Elected Fellow, American Society of Nutrition

2007: Benjamin Spock Award, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Washington DC

2006: Clinical Research Health Award presented by Sun Life / WarrenShepell

2003: Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Canada

2001: Danone Nutrition Award (Canada) for Contributions to Nutritional Research and Education

2000: Dietary Fiber Research Award of the International Fiber Research Meeting, Dublin

1998: McHenry Award, Canadian Society of Nutritional JemkinSciences

1997: Elected Fellow, Royal College of Physicians, London, UK

1996: Vahouny Medal, 5th International Conference on Dietary Fiber in Washington, DC

1985: Goldsmith Award for Clinical Research of the American College of Nutrition

1983: Borden Award, Canadian Society of Nutritional Sciences

His glycemic index has decreased the incidence of diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular disease mortality worldwide

Invented the glycemic index to classify carbohydrates and their effects on blood glucose levels, associated with the incidence of diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular disease mortality

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” says an age-old adage. We now understand more than ever the vital importance of nutrition for health and well-being. Nutritional guidance can sometimes seem confusing and contradictory, but Dr. Jenkins and his associates have demonstrated that carbohydrate digestion rates have significant health benefits and more slowly digested low glycemic index carbohydrate foods are best. These findings together with his work on cholesterol lowering foods have stimulated research and influenced dietary guidelines for disease treatment worldwide. We encounter the glycemic index in every trip to the grocery store in Canada when we find products intended to support a low glycemic diet, designed to help reduce the incidence of diabetes, strokes, and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Jenkins’ work represents the triumph of diet as part of preventative health care. Among his many honours and appointments, Dr. Jenkins is a Professor in the Departments of Nutritional Sciences and of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, a Scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, and Staff Physician at St. Michael’s Hospital.

Key Facts

The results of his 5-continent study of high glycemic diets in New England Journal of Medicine examined one of the largest and most geographically diverse populations, confirming that consumption of high amounts of poor-quality carbohydrates is an issue worldwide

Co-chaired International Carbohydrate Quality Consortium (ICQC), whose 27 members include academic scientists and representatives from 14 countries in Oceania, Asia, Europe and North America

Developed the Portfolio Diet, a therapeutic vegan diet emphasizing foods associated with cholesterol lowering, including viscous fibre, soy protein, plant sterols, and nuts

Professional timeline

Impact on lives today

The importance of nutrition as a determinant of health has long been recognized, but reliable empirical guides are a more recent achievement. Dr. Jenkins’ research into the health benefits of low glycemic carbohydrate foods led to the development of the Glycemic Index, which is now available to everyone on food packaging to help support low glycemic diets, helping to reduce the incidence of diabetes, strokes, and cardiovascular diseases, a major advance in preventative medicine worldwide.

2024

June 17, 2022
David Jenkins inducted in the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Ottawa, Ontario
2021
David Jenkins publishes “Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, and Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality” in the New England Journal of Medicine
Diabetes, Digestion, Heart & Vessels
Of particular importance globally because previous large studies focused on high income Western countries with little information from non-Western countries with low or middle incomes, the study fills a significant gap and confirms that consumption of high amounts of poor-quality carbohydrates is an issue worldwide.
November 20, 2018
Receives the Health Research Foundation Medal of Honour for contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the health Science and/or the improvement of the therapeutics health care

Since 1945, the Medal of Honour has recognized remarkable individuals whose research or contributions to public policies in Canada have achieved international recognition.
November 13, 2018
Awarded the Rundle-Lister Lectureship in Transformative Nutritional Medical Education based on outstanding contributions to the field of therapeutic nutrition research and translation of this work to clinical practice
2013
Co-chairs International Carbohydrate Quality Consortium, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to summarizing and disseminating the science around dietary carbohydrate and health
Leadership in Organizational Development
Its 27 members include academic scientists and representatives from not-for-profit organizations, spanning 14 countries in Oceania, Asia, Europe and North America
2003
David Jenkins develops the Portfolio Diet, a therapeutic vegan diet emphasizing a portfolio of foods associated with the lowering of cholesterol
Evidence-based Medicine & Clinical Trials, Digestion, Heart & Vessels
This diet, including viscous fiber, soy protein, plant sterols, and nuts, is low in saturated fat and high in fibre. Researchers have found it has a comparable blood cholesterol effect to statin treatment.
2000
David Jenkins is appointed the Canada Research Chair in Metabolism and Nutrition at the University of Toronto
Leadership in Organizational Development, Health and Medical Education & Training
The Canada Research Chairs Program is central to a national strategy aimed at making Canada one of the world's top countries in research and development. It invests approximately $311 million per year to attract and retain a diverse group of world-class researchers, to reinforce academic research and training excellence in Canadian postsecondary institutions.
1995 - 2012
International Editor of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition
1981
David Jenkins and colleagues introduce concept of glycemic index (GI)
Diabetes, Heart & Vessels, Blood
With the goal of improving diets for people with diabetes, the "Glycemic index of foods: a physiological basis for carbohydrate exchange" ranks the impact of a variety of carbohydrates on blood glucose levels. This ranking system lays the groundwork for the research of many other scientists around the globe.