Rekia Belahsen is Professor and Head of the Training and Research Unit on Nutrition and Food Sciences and
Director of the Lab. of Biotechnology, Biochemistry
and Nutrition at ChouaïbDoukkali University, Faculty of Sciences in El
Jadida (Morocco), since 1997.
Rekia Belahsen Graduated in Nutrition & Alimentation (France,
Dijon University); and PhD in Endocrinology & Nutrition at Laval University
(Québec, Canada). Expert evaluator for many national and international
organizations (European Commission, UNICEF, etc….). Principal investigator of
many funded projects (funded by: INSERM, IDRC, AECI, etc...).Several awards and numerous fellowships: the FAO Medal of Merit (Morocco)
in 2007, a grant from Islamic
Development Bank in 1998.
Rekia Belahsen is author of many publications and is involved as
reviewer and in the editorial for several journals. Executive member of many national, regional and international
organizations and groups like the Moroccan Society of Nutrition (SMN),
the Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS), Middle East and North
Africa Nutrition Association (MENANA), Association of Nutrition without
Frontiers (Nutricion sins Fronteras)
and the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) and President of Francophone Network for Nutritional Sciences in Africa
(RFSNA). She participated and organized several meetings (1st FANUS
meeting, Ouarzazate, Morocco in 2007; the International Workshop on Nutrition
transition and Population health, El Jadida Morocco in 2011, 7th
ANEC Conference, Marrakech, Morocco in 2016). Her main current research
subjects concern: nutrition transition, obesity,
community nutrition, Mediterranean diet, micronutrient deficiency, Food
composition, valorization of
traditional Mediterranean diet and diet sustainability.
- Belahsen R, Deshaies Y. Alpha-1 adrenergic blockade interacts with dietary carbohydrates on triacylglycerol metabolism in the rat. Journal of Nutrition 123: 520-528, 1993.
- Belahsen R, Deshaies Y. Involvement of insulinemia in the postprandial hypotriacylglycerolemia induced by prazosin in the rat. Metabolism. 42 (10) : 1301-1309, 1993.
- Deshaies Y, Belahsen R. Postprandial plasma triacylglycerols in rats under a-1 adrenergic blockade. American Journal of Physiology 264: E541-E547, 1993.
- Belahsen R, Deshaies Y. Modulation of lipoprotein lipase activity by the beta-2 adrenergic agonist clenbuterol. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 70: 1555-1562, 1992.
- Fréminet A, Mokhtar N, Belahsen R et Bottollier-Lemalaz. Comparaison de la réponse métabolique à l'hypoxie du rat et du cobaye. J Physiol. (Paris) 81, n°2, 23A, 1986.
- Chabir R., Khaldoun J., Bour A., Kadiri H., Belahsen R., Aguenaou H. et Mokhtar N. Profiles socio-démographique, clinique, biologique et nutritionnel d'une population de femmes marocaines, obèses, en âge de procréer, et issue de la même région. Diabetes & Metabolism Marakech, 24, supp1: p29, p104,1998.
- Mokhtar N. Belahsen R. and Aguenaou H. Heart disease prevalence in women of two moroccan communities. The canadian journal of cardiology, 13, sup. B, p58, 1997.
- Mokhtar N., Nasri I., Belahsen R., Chabir R. and Aguenaou H.. Vitamin A status in Morocco. The Sight and Life Newsletter, 3, 8-9, 1998.
- Belahsen R., Mziwira M., Feratat F. and Mokhtar N. The FASEB Journal. 12, 4, 1998.
- Benaich S., Guerouali A., Belahsen R., Mokhtar N., Aguenaou H. Effet du degré de mobilisation des reserves corporelles après le vêlage sur la fonction reproductive de la vache laitière en post-partum. Revue méd. Vét.,150, 5,441-446, 1999.
- S. Benaich, A. Guerouali, R. Belahsen, N. Mokhtar, H. Aguenaou. Effect of dietary crude proteins on reproductive function in postpartum dairy cow. Thérapie, 54:000-000 5, 1999.
- Nasri I., Aguenaou H., Belahsen R. et Mokhtar N. Evaluation de la déficience en vitamine A d’une population de femmes du Maroc. Médecine et Nutrition. 35: 6, 245-257, 2000
- Belahsen R. Mziwira M., Fertat F., Zee J. and T-O'Brien H.. Iron status in women from an agricultural region of Morocco. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism. 45 (Suppl 1): 8, 2001.
- El Ayachi M., Mziwira M., Belahsen R. Lairon D. Lipid profile and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a population of women of Morocco. SAJCN. 2 vol. 15 (supplement) july 2002.
- Bahbouhi I., Belahsen R.. Mineral characterization of table salt in Morocco. SAJCN. 2 vol. 15 (supplement) july 2002.
- Rekia Belahsen, Mohamed Mziwira and Fatima Fertat. Anthropometry of women of childbearing age in Morocco: body composition and prevalence of overweight and obesity. Public Health Nutrition: 7(4), 523–530, 28 October 2003.
- A. Chaoui, M. Faid and R. Belahsen. Effect of natural starters used for sourdough bread in Morocco on phytate biodegradation. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal Volume 9, Nos 1/2 ,January 2003, 141-147.
- Belahsen R, M. Rguibi. Influence of the Time Spent Drinking Tea on Obesity and Nutrient Intake of a Group of Saharan Women in South of Morocco. Ann Nutr Metab 2003;47:319–666.
- Mohamed Rguibi and Rekia Belahsen. Overweight and obesity among urban Sahraoui women of south Morocco. Ethn Dis.2004;14(4):542–547..
- Mohamed Rguibi and Rekia Belahsen. Metabolic syndrome among Moroccan Sahraoui adult women: its prevalence and characteristics. American Journal of Human Biology 16:598–601 (2004)
- Rekia Belahsen and Imane Bahbouhi. Interaction between iron, iodine and zinc status in a regiona sample of Moroccan women. The Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine. 2004; Volume 17, Issue 4 , Pages 181 – 272.
- Rguibi Mohamed, Belahsen Rekia. État nutritionnel des femmes Sahraouies du sud du Maroc. 2ème Atelier international / 2nd International Workshop, Voies alimentaires d’amélioration des situations nutritionnelles. Food-based approaches for a healthy nutrition; Ouagadougou, 23-28 / 11 / 2003.
- Chaoui A., Faid M. et Belahsen R. Biotechnological Phytates Biodegradation in Wheat Flour. Premier congres national de biochimie, Société marocaine de Biochimie, Casablanca, 09-11 Mai 2002.
- N. Hamidallah, B. Boulanouar R. Belahsen, J.-L. Bister & R. Paquay. Effets de la nutrition sur l’entrée en activité ovarienne et comportementale et sur les performances de reproduction précoce de l’agnelle Sardi. Tropicultura, 2006, 24, 2, 95-100.
- El ayachi M, Mziwira M, Vincent S, Defoort C, Portugal H, Lairon D and Belahsen R. Lipoprotein profile and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in urban Moroccan women. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (2005) 59, 1379–1386.
- Mohamed Rguibi, Rekia Belahsen. Fattening practices among Moroccan Sahraoui women. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2006, Vol. 12, N°. 5.
- M. Rguibi and R. Belahsen. Traditional practices related to obesity in Moroccan Sahraoui women. Traditional Mediterranean Diet: Past, Present & Future, 1st International Conference 21-23 April 2004/Athens, Greece. Editors: C. Philipson, K. Konstantinidis, pp223-227 ; 2005.
- Rekia Belahsen, Odilia I Bermudez, Mziwira Mohamed, Fertat Fatima, P.K. Newby and Katherine L Tucker. Obesity and related metabolic disorders are prevalent in Moroccan women of child-bearing age. Int J Diabetes & Metabolism (2005) 13: 159-166.
- M. Rguibi and R. Belahsen. Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Undiagnosed Diabetes among Adult Moroccan Sahraoui Women. Public Health Nutrition. Public Health Nutrition: (2006); 9(6), 722–727.
- Belagnaoui S. and R. Belahsen. Nutrient intake and food consumption among Pregnant women from an agricultural region of Morocco. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. February / March 2006; 57(1/2): 19-27
- El ayachi, M Mziwira, D Lairon, R Belahsen. Food consumption in an agricultural community of Morocco: Comparison with the traditional mediterranean diet. Proceeding of the 18th International Congress of Nutrition. Nutrition Safari for Innovative Solutions. Editors: HH Vorster, R Blaauw, MA Dhansay, PMN Kuzwayo, L Moeng and E Wentzel-Viljoen. 19-23 September 2005, ICC, Durban, South Africa. ISBN Number:3-8055-4015-0
- M. Rguibi and R. Belahsen. Body image perception and sociocultural influences on attitudes toward obesity among Moroccan Sahraoui women. Body Image 3 (2006) 395–400.
- Asmaa Chaoui, Mohamed Faid and Rekia Belahsen. Making Bread with Sourdough Improves Iron Bioavailability from Reconstituted Fortified Wheat Flour in Mice. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 20: 2006, 217-220.
- Mohamed Rguibi and Rekia Belahsen. High blood pressure in urban Moroccan sahraoui women. Journal of Hypertension 2007;(25)7:1363-1368.
- M. Rguibi and R. Belahsen. Prevalence of obesity in Morocco. Obesity reviews (2007) 8, 11–13
- Belgnaoui and R. Belahsen. Anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy in an agricultural region of Morocco: effects of dietary intake and iron supplementation. Research Journal of biological Sciences (2007); 2 (2): 118-126.
- Rguibi Mohamed; Rekia Belahsen. Dietary practices changes may increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases in Moroccan Sahraoui ethnic group. Ann Nutr Metab 2007;51(suppl 1):1–422
- Rekia Belahsen and Mohamed Rguibi. Population health and Mediterranean diet in southern Mediterranean countries. Public Health Nutrition: (2006); 9(8A), 1130–1135.
- El ayachi, M Mziwira, D Lairon, R Belahsen. Prevalence of parameter indicators of obesity and its relationship with metabolic syndrome in urban Moroccan women. American Journal of Human Biology (2008) ; 20 (4), Pages 484 – 486
- Belahsen Rekia. Double Burden of Malnutrition: Transition from undernutrition to obesity. Ann Nutr Metab 2007;51(suppl 1):11–12.
- Tola Atinmo, Parvin Mirmiran, Oyediran E Oyewole, Rekia Belahsen, Lluís Serra-Majem. Breaking the poverty/malnutrition cycle in Africa and the Middle East. Nutrition Reviews: (2009) Vol. 67(Suppl. 1): (p S40-S46).
- Belahsen, R.; Mziwira, M.; Elayachi, M.; Lairon, D. Fruit and vegetable consumption is inversely associated with blood pressure in Moroccan women. Ann Nutr Metab 2009;55(suppl 1):284–307.
- Belahsen R. Risk factors and nutritional considerations with Hypertension. Arab Health magazine (2009). 3: 24-27.
- Diabetes in Asia Study Group (DAS G)-Doha conference, 26- 27 March, 2010.
- Task force Report on: Implications of high food prices for global nutrition: case of Morocco (ICN, Bangkok 2009).
- Mohamed Mziwira, Mohammed El Ayachi, Denis Lairon, Rekia Belahsen. High blood pressure in urban Moroccan women from an agricultural region. Mediterr J Nutr Metab (2011) 4:111-116.
- Anna Bach-Faig, Elliot M Berry, Denis Lairon, Joan Reguant, Antonia Trichopoulou, Sandro Dernini, Xavier F Medina, Maurizio Battino, Rekia Belahsen, Gemma Miranda, Lluís Serra-Majem. Mediterranean diet pyramid today. Science and cultural updates. Public Health Nutrition: 14(12A), 2274–2284 .2011
- Youssef Dinar and Rekia Belahsen. Diabetes Mellitus in Morocco: Situation and Challenges of Diabetes Care. Journal of Scientific Research & Reports. 3(19): 2477-2485, 2014; Article no. JSRR.2014.19.001
- Belahsen R. Nutrition transition and food sustainability. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (2014), 73, 385–388. doi: 10.1017/S0029665114000135
- Belahsen R. Assessing Sustainable Diets in the Context of Sustainable. Food Systems. Perspectives from the Mediterranean Diet Case Study: A view from the Southern Mediterranean rim.
- Proceedings of an International Workshop. Assessing sustainable diets within the sustainability of food systems . Mediterranean diet, organic food: new challenges. 15–16 September 2014, CREA, Rome 2015. ISBN 978-92-5-108825-8 © FAO, 2015
- Mziwira Mohamed, El Ayachi Mohammed, Lairon Denis and Belahsen Rekia. Mediterranean Diet and Metabolic Syndrome in Adult Moroccan Women. IBIMA Publishing Journal of Research in Obesity 2015. DOI: 10.5171/2015.896400
- Tbatou M, Belahyan A, Belahsen R. Wild edible plants traditionally used in the countryside of El Jadida, coastal area in the center of Morocco. Life Sciences Leaflets 75: 28-48. 2016
- Tbatou M, Belahyan A, Belahsen R Wild edible plants traditionally used in thecountryside of El Jadida, coastal area in the center of Morocco. Life Sciences Leaflets . 2016. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/
- Ahajji A, Mziwira, Eladlouni C, Chafik A, Belahsen R. Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Elderly from an Agricultural Area of Morocco. MedCrave Advances in Obesity, Weight Management & Control. Volume 6 Issue 4 – 2017. 10.15406/aowmc.2017.06.00161
- Tbatou M, Kabil M, Belahyan A, Belahsen R. Dietary potential of some forgotten wild leafy vegetables from Morocco. International Food Research Journal 2017. http://www.ifrj.upm.edu.my/
- S Dernini, EM Berry, L Serra-Majem, C La Vecchia, R Capone, FX Medina, J Aranceta-Bartrina, R Belahsen, B Burlingame, G Calabrese, D Corella, LM Donini, D Lairon, A Meybeck, AG Pekcan, S Piscopo, A Yngve and A Trichopoulou. Med Diet 4.0: the Mediterranean diet with four sustainable benefits. Public Health Nutrition 2016.
- Rekia Belahsen, Manal Tbatou, Mohammed Elayachi, Salwa Belagnaoui, Mohamed Mziwira, Mohamed Rguibi, Kaoutar Naciri, Adil Kalili and Abdennacer El Ibrahimi. Women’s situation and food system sustainability in Morocco. © FAO, 2017. ISBN 978-92-5-109832-5
- Rekia Belahsen, Kaoutar Naciri, Abdennacer El Ibrahimi. Food security and women's roles in Moroccan Berber (Amazigh) society today. Matern Child Nutr. 2017;13(S3):e12562. DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12562
- Lorenzo M. Donini Sandro Dernini, Denis Lairon, Lluis Serra-Majem, Marie-Josèphe Amiot, Valeria del Balzo,Anna-Maria Giusti, Barbara Burlingame, Rekia Belahsen, Giuseppe Maiani, Angela Polito,Aida Turrini, Federica Intorre, Antonia Trichopoulou, and Elliot M. Berry. A Consensus Proposal for Nutritional Indicators to Assess the Sustainability of a Healthy Diet: The Mediterranean Diet as a Case Study. Front Nutr. 2016; 3: 37. 2016.
- H. Liba, M. Mziwira, R. Belahsen. Obesity and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Morocco. Inflamm Intest Dis 2019;4:41–78. International Conference on Fatty Liver (ICFL), Berlin, June 27–29, 2019.
- Moustakim R., Mziwira M, El Ayachi M and Belahsen R. (2020). Assessment of nutritional status, dietary intake and adherence to dietary recommendations in hemodialysis patients. GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 3(2), 09-19.
- Barakat I, Chamlal H, El jamal S, Elayachi M, Belahsen R. Food Expenditure and Food Consumption before and during Ramadan in Moroccan Households ». Razzaque MS, éditeur. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. 8 déc 2020;2020:8849832.
- Barakat I, El Fane H, Daif H, El Ayachi M, Belahsen R. Eating out-of-home and associated nutritional status of an adult population from Rabat-Salé-Kenitra region of Morocco» International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition. Volume 5; Issue 4; 2020; Page No. 53-58. ISSN: 2455-4898.
- Barakat I, Chamlal H, Barkat K, Chaoui A, Laraqui A, Himmi B, Elayachi M, Belahsen R. « Validation of the Questionnaire Used in theTransnational Study on Lifestyles Adopted in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic »Ijsrm.Human, 2020; Vol. 15 (3): 108-119.
- Barakat I, Kalili A, Moustakim R, Elouafi R, El Mahri N, Belahsen R, et. al. « Food Consumption Trends and Associated Factors in an Agricultural Community in Morocco » ; 2020 - 1(6) OAJBS.ID.000160.
- Aboukhalaf, A., et al., Screening of the antimicrobial activity of some extracts of edible wildplants in Morocco. Functional Foods in Health and Disease, 2020. 10(6): p. 265-273.DOI: 10.31989/ffhd.v10i6.718
- Liba Habiba, Mziwira Mohamed and Belahsen Rekia. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Morocco: The situation, the determinants and the challenges for health care. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2020, 06(01), 207–217
- Liba Habiba and Belahsen Rekia. “Nutritional Recommendations: An Approach for the Management of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Associated with Obesity in the Era of the Coronavirus”. Nutrition and Food Toxicology 4.1 (2020): 08-12
- El-Jamal S, Elfane H, Barakat I, Sahel K, Mziwira M, Fassouane A, Belahsen R. Association of socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics with the management and glycemic control in type 1 diabetic children from the province of El Jadida (Morocco). AIMS_Med_Sci-019. Mars 2021.
- Hamid Chamlal, Imane Barakat, Mohamed Mziwira, Mohammed El ayachi, Rekia Belahsen. Dietary Therapy in the Management of Gestational Diabetes: Case Report. Ijsrm.Human, 2020; Vol. 15 (3): 84-92.
- Hamid Chamlal, Mohamed Mziwira, Mohammed El ayachi, Rekia Belahsen. Prevalence of gestational diabetes and associated risk factors in the population of Safi Province in Morocco. Pan African Medical Journal. 2020;37:281. [doi: 10.11604/pamj.2020.37.281.21798]
- Moustakim R, El Ayachi M, Mziwira M, et al. Undiagnosed chronic kidney disease and its associated risk factors in an agricultural Moroccan adult’s population. Nephrol Ther, 2020,16 : 147-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nephro.2019.12.003
- Moustakim R, Mziwira M, El Ayachi M, et al. Assessment of nutritional status, dietary intake and adherence to dietary recommendations in hemodialysis patients. GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 2020, 3(2), 09-19.
- Lluís Serra-Majem, Laura Tomaino, Sandro Dernini, Elliot M. Berry, Denis Lairon, Joy Ngo de la Cruz, Anna Bach-Faig, Lorenzo M. Donini, Francesc-Xavier Medina, Rekia Belahsen, Suzanne Piscopo, Roberto Capone, Javier Aranceta-Bartrina, Carlo La Vecchia and Antonia Trichopoulou. Updating the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid towards Sustainability: Focus on Environmental Concerns. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 8758.
