Nigerian researcher, Odediran, expands research on Environmental Toxins, Heart Disease

A Nigerian researcher, Augustina Oyeronke Odediran, is gaining international recognition for her groundbreaking work on the link between environmental toxins and cardiovascular disease.

Odediran, who hails from Ile-Ife, Osun State, studied Food Science and Technology at Obafemi Awolowo University before moving to the United States for postgraduate studies.

“Growing up in Nigeria, I witnessed the rising burden of cardiovascular diseases alongside rapid industrialisation, poor diets, and environmental challenges

“My goal has always been to understand how our environment affects the heart and to find preventive solutions,” she told newsmen in an interview.

Unlike traditional studies that examine pollutants in isolation, Odediran’s research considers multiple pollutants simultaneously, in combination with lifestyle and dietary patterns. Her preliminary study, which drew on data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), revealed that anti-inflammatory diets may help reduce the harmful effects of toxic exposures on the cardiovascular system.

She explained further that: “What initially drew me to this research was the realisation that we were looking at only part of the picture.

“During my master’s, we focused mainly on diet as the cause of disease progression. But I became curious about how environment and diet interact together. That curiosity has guided my work ever since.”

Her findings, already published in high-ranking peer-reviewed journals, have earned her international recognition, including the coveted Editor’s Choice award, an honour reserved for research of exceptional merit. She has also presented her work at global conferences, winning travel awards and departmental commendations along the way.

According to Odediran, “While many environmental health studies focus on single pollutants, my work mirrors the reality of how people are exposed daily—through food, water, air, and lifestyle.”

For Odediran, the mission remains clear: “The essence of my work is not just advancing science, but providing hope. If we can show how diet and environment interact to affect heart health, then individuals and governments alike can take informed steps to save lives.”