Nithya Neelakantan

High Impact

Associate Professor

UAMS

Also affiliated: American Academy of Ophthalmology (2011); National University of Singapore (2012–2024); Christian Medical College, Vellore (2006–2011); Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (2007); Aravind Eye Hospital (2011); Duke-NUS Medical School (2021); National University Health System (2014–2024); Arkansas Department of Health (2025)

28 h-index 57 pubs 3,129 cited

Research Areas

Biomedical Subjects

Links

ORCID Research Group

OverviewAI-generated summary

Nithya Neelakantan's research focuses on the complex interplay between diet, lifestyle, and chronic disease development, particularly in Asian populations. Her work involves meta-analyses and systematic reviews to synthesize existing evidence, as well as analyses of large cohort studies, such as the Singapore Chinese Health Study. She investigates the associations between various dietary patterns, including plant-based diets and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, and their impact on cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer risk.

Her publications also explore how changes in diet quality over time may influence cognitive function and how adherence to specific dietary guidelines, like the DASH diet, can mitigate risks associated with genetic predispositions. Neelakantan collaborates with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Her research has been recognized with a high-impact researcher designation, reflected in her h-index of 28 and over 3,000 citations across 57 publications.

Metrics

h-index: 28
Publications: 57
Citations: 3,129

Positions

Associate Professor publications 2024–2025

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Epidemiology ORCID
Associate Research Officer / Lecturer

Christian Medical College Vellore Department of Biostatistics ORCID
Senior Scientist

Biocon Ltd Research and Development ORCID
Postdoctoral Research Fellow publications 2012–2024

National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health ORCID
Lead Biostatistician

Aravind Eye Care System Research Division ORCID

Selected Publications

Quantifying Cancer Burden Attributable to Obesity: Highlighting the Disparities by Sex, Race, and Ethnicity in a Rural State with High Obesity and Cancer Burden. (2025)

PubMed OpenAlex
Abstract P3075: Diet quality and risk of hypertension in women cancer survivors (2025)

Circulation DOI OpenAlex
Characterisation of IgA Nephropathy in an Australian Cohort (2025)

International Journal of Nephrology 1 citation DOI OpenAlex
Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular Diseases in Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2024)

Advances in Nutrition 35 citations DOI OpenAlex