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ZONG Geng

Ph.D.

Professor, Principal Investigator

Laboratory of Nutrition and Population Health

Email: zonggeng@sinh.ac.cn

Tel: 86-21-54920590

Research Areas: 

  1. The application of nutrient biomarkers in epidemiological studies 

  2. Diet and lifestyle risk factors of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in cohort studies 

  3. Persistent organic pollutants in relation to obesity and type 2 diabetes risk 

  4. Dietary intervention on cardiometabolic risk factors 

 

Brief Biography:  

Dr. Zong received his PhD from Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2013, and returned to Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health (SINH), CAS as a principle investigator in 2018. In between, he completed postdoctoral training as a Marie Curie Research Fellow under European Union Framework 7 and then at Department Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His research has covered the impacts of diet, lifestyle, and environmental risk factors of cardiometabolic disorders in clinical trials and multiple cohorts globally. Dr. Zong has over 40 publications in peer-reviewed journals including the British Medical Journal, Circulation, PLoS Medicine, Diabetes Care, Environmental Health Perspectives, and Am J Clin Nutr. His work has attracted great public attention in major medias like CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Huffington Post, Time, Fox, Telegraph and Daily Mail, and earns him several national and international awards in nutrition and cardiometabolic health research, including the “Scott Grundy Fellowship Award for Excellence in Metabolism Research” and the “Trudy Bush Fellowship for Cardiovascular Disease Research in Women’s Health” by American Heart Association. Dr. Zong’s future work aims to understanding the major risk factors of cardiometabolic disorders for Chinese specifically, and imposing great public health impacts in this country and globally. 

 

Selected Publications: (*Senior author / Corresponding author, #Equal contribution)

  1. Hu Y#, Zong G#, Liu G, Wang M, Pan A, Willett WC, Hu FB, Sun Q. Smoking Cessation, Weight Change, Type 2 Diabetes, and Mortality. New England Journal of Medicine 2018;379(7),623-632.
  2. Xu L#, Liu Y#, Zhao Q, Du H, Gao Y, Bai M, Lv J, Guo Y, Li L, Sun L, Lin X, Chen Z, Chen Y*, Zong G*. Urinary element profiles and associations with cardiometabolic diseases: A cross-sectional study across ten areas in China. Environ Res 2022 Apr 1;205:112535.
  3. Han H#, Cao Y#, Feng C, Zheng Y, Dhana K, Zhu S, Shang C, Yuan C, Zong G*. Association of a Healthy Lifestyle With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study in UK Biobank. Diabetes Care 2022 Feb 1;45(2):319-329.
  4. Feng C, Cao Y, Su Y, Cai H, Shu XO, Zheng W, Yu D, Zong G*. Association between Tea Consumption and Hypertension Risk among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults. J Nutr 2021 Dec 3;151(12):3773-3780.
  5. Niu Z#, Wu Q#, Sun L, Qi Q, Zheng H, Li H, Zeng R*, Lin X*, Zong G*. Circulating Glycerolipids, Fatty Liver Index, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study Among Chinese. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021 Jun 16;106(7):2010-2020.
  6. Jiao J, Liu G, Shin HJ, Hu FB, Rimm EB, Rexrode KM, Manson JE, Zong G*, Sun Q. Dietary fats and mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes: analysis in two population based cohort studies. BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 2019;366,l4009. *Senior author
  7. Zong G#, Liu G#, Willett WC, Wanders AJ, Alssema M, Zock PL, Hu FB , Sun, Q. Associations Between Linoleic Acid Intake and Incident Type 2 Diabetes Among US Men and Women. Diabetes care 2019;42(8):1406-1413.
  8. Guasch-Ferre M#, Zong G#, Willett WC, Zock P, Wanders AJ, Hu FB, Sun Q. Associations of Monounsaturated Fatty Acids from Plant and Animal Sources with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality in Two US Prospective Cohort Studies. Circulation Research 2019;124(8):1266-1275.
  9. Zong G*, Li Y, Sampson L, Dougherty LW, Willett WC, Wanders AJ, Alssema M, Zock PL, Hu FB, Sun Q. Monounsaturated fats from plant and animal sources in relation to risk of coronary heart disease among U.S. men and women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2018;107(3),445-453.
  10. Zong G, Valvi D, Coull B, G en T, Grandjean P, Hu FB, Sun Q. Persistent Organic Pollutants and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Investigation among U.S. Women. Environment International 2018;114:334-342.
  11. Sun Q#, Zong G#, Valvi D, Nielsen F, Coull B, Grandjean P. Plasma Concentrations of Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Investigation among U.S. Women. Environmental Health Perspectives 2018;126(3):037001.
  12. Zong G#, Lebwohl B#, Hu FB, Sampson L, Dougherty LW, Willett WC, Chan AT, Sun Q. Gluten intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in three large prospective cohort studies of US men and women. Diabetologia 2018;61(10):2164-2173.
  13. Zong G, Li Y, Wanders AJ, Alssema M, Zock PL, Willet WC, Hu FB, Sun Q. Intake of individual saturated fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease in US men and women: two prospective longitudinal cohort studies. BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 2016; 355:i5796.
  14. Zong G, Gao A, Hu FB, Sun Q. Whole grain intake and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Circulation 2016;133(24),2370-2380.
  15. Zong G, Eisenberg DM, Hu FB, Sun Q. Consumption of meals prepared at home and risk of type 2 diabetes: two prospective cohort studies among U.S. men and women. PLoS Medicine 2016;13(7):e1002052.
  16. Zong G, Grandjean P, Wang X, Sun Q. Lactation history, serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants, and maternal risk of diabetes. Environmental Research 2016;150:282-288.
  17. Zong G, Holtfreter B, Scott AE, V lzke H, Petersmann A, Dietrich T, Newson RS, Kocher T. Serum vitamin B12 is inversely associated with periodontal progression and risk of tooth loss: a prospective cohort study. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2016;43(1): 2-9.
  18. Zong G, Zhang Z, Yang Q, Wu H, Hu FB, Sun Q. Total and regional adiposity measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and mortality in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2006. Obesity 2016;24(11):2414-2421.
  19. Zong G, Grandjean P, Wu H, Sun Q. Circulating persistent organic pollutants and body fat distribution: Evidence from NHANES 1999‐2004. Obesity 2015;23:1903-1910.
  20. Zong G, Scott AE, Griffiths HR, Zock PL, Dietrich T, Newson RS. Serum α-tocopherol has a nonlinear inverse association with periodontitis among U.S. adults. The Journal of Nutrition 2015;145:893-899.
  21. Zong G, Sun Q, Yu D, Zhu J, Sun L, Ye X, Li H, Jin Q, Zheng H, Hu FB, Lin X. Dairy consumption, type 2 diabetes, and changes in cardiometabolic traits: a prospective cohort study of middle-aged and older Chinese in Beijing and Shanghai. Diabetes Care 2014;37(1):56-63.
  22. Zong G, Zhu J, Sun L, Ye X, Lu L, Jin Q, Zheng H, Yu Z, Zhu Z, Li H, Lin X, Sun Q. Associations of erythrocyte fatty acids in the de novo lipogenesis pathway with risk of metabolic syndrome in a cohort study of middle-aged and older Chinese. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2013;98:319-326.
  23. Zong G, Ye X, Sun L, Li H, Yu Z, Hu FB, Sun Q, Lin X. Associations of erythrocyte palmitoleic acid with adipokines, inflammatory markers, and the metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older Chinese. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2012;96:970-976.
  24. Sun L#, Zong G#, Pan A, Ye X, Li H, Yu Z, Zhao Y, Zou S, Yu D, Jin Q, Hu FB, Lin X. Elevated plasma ferritin is associated with increased incidence of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults. The Journal of Nutrition 2013;143:1459-1465.
  25. Zong G, Demark-Wahnefried W, Wu H, Lin X. Effects of flaxseed supplementation on erythrocyte fatty acids and multiple cardiometabolic biomarkers among Chinese with risk factors of metabolic syndrome. European Journal of Nutrition 2013;52:1547-1551.
  26. Yuan C, Cao Y, Ascherio A, Okereke OI, Zong G, Grodstein F, Hofman A, Willett WC. Long-term diet quality and its change in relation to late-life subjective cognitive decline. Am J Clin Nutr 2022 Jan 11;115(1):232-243.
  27. Chen S, Zong G, Wu Q, Yun H, Niu Z, Zheng H, Zeng R, Sun L, Lin X. Associations of plasma glycerophospholipid profile with modifiable lifestyles and incident diabetes in middle-aged and older Chinese. Diabetologia 2022 Feb;65(2):315-328.
  28. Liang Y, Chen H, Liu Y, Hou X, Wei L, Bao Y, Yang C, Zong G, Wu J, Jia W. Association of MAFLD With Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease, and Cardiovascular Disease: A 4.6-Year Cohort Study in China. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022 Jan 1;107(1):88-97.
  29. Huo S, Sun L, Zong G, Shen X, Zheng H, Jin Q, Li H, Yin H, Lin X. Changes in Plasma Metabolome Profiles Following Oral Glucose Challenge among Adult Chinese. Nutrients 2021 Apr 27;13(5):1474.
  30. Sun L, Zong G, Li H, Lin X. Fatty acids and cardiometabolic health: a review of studies in Chinese populations. Eur J Clin Nutr 2021 Feb;75(2):253-266.
  31. Yun H, Sun L, Wu Q, Zong G, Qi Q, Li H, Zheng H, Zeng R, Liang L, Lin X. Associations among circulating sphingolipids, β-cell function, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes: A population-based cohort study in China. PLoS Med 2020 Dec 9;17(12):e1003451.
  32. Liu G, Hu Y, Zong G, Pan A, Manson JE, Rexrode KM, Rimm EB, Hu FB, Sun Q. Smoking cessation and weight change in relation to cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality in people with type 2 diabetes: a population-based cohort study. The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology 2020;8(2):125-133.
  33. Ma L, Liu G, Ding M, Zong G, Hu FB, Willett WC, Rimm EB, Manson JE, Sun Q. Isoflavone Intake and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in US Men and Women: Results From 3 Prospective Cohort Studies. Circulation 2020;141(14):1127-1137.
  34. Huo S, Sun L, Zong G, Song B, Zheng H, Jin Q, Li H, Lin X. Genetic susceptibility, dietary cholesterol intake and plasma cholesterol levels in a Chinese population. Journal of lipid research 2020;jlr.RA120001009. [Epub ahead of print]
  35. Wang F, Sun L, Zong G, Gao X, Zhang H, Xiong Q, Huo S, Niu Z, Sun Q, Zeng R, Lin X. Associations of Amino Acid and Acylcarnitine Profiles With Incident Hyperuricemia in Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Individuals. Arthritis care & research 2020;72(9):1305-1314.
  36. Sun L, Zong G, Li H, Lin X. Fatty acids and cardiometabolic health: a review of studies in Chinese populations. European journal of clinical nutrition 2020;10.1038/s41430-020-00709-0. [Epub ahead of print]
  37. Jackson JK, Zong G, MacDonald-Wicks LK, Patterson AJ, Willett WC, Rimm EB, Manson JE, McEvoy MA. Dietary nitrate consumption and risk of CHD in women from the Nurses’ Health Study. British Journal of Nutrition 2019;121(7):831-838.
  38. Ma Y, Sun L, Li J, Hu Y, Gan Z, Zong G, Zheng H, Jin Q, Li H, Hu FB, Zeng R, Sun Q, Lin X. Erythrocyte PUFAs, circulating acylcarnitines, and metabolic syndrome risk: a prospective study in Chinese. Journal of Lipid Research 2019,60(2):421-429.
  39. Shan Z, Li Y, Zong G, Guo Y, Li J, Manson JE, Hu FB, Willett WC, Schernhammer ES, Bhupathiraju SN. Rotating night shift work and adherence to unhealthy lifestyle in predicting risk of type 2 diabetes: results from two large US cohorts of female nurses. BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 2018;363:k4641.
  40. Liu G, Zong G, Wu K, Hu Y, Li Y, Willett WC, Eisenberg DM, Hu FB, Sun Q. Meat Cooking Methods and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Results From Three Prospective Cohort Studies. Diabetes Care 2018;41(5):1049-1060.
  41. Liu G, Dhana K, Furtado JD, Rood J, Zong G, Liang L, Qi L, Bray GA, DeJonge L, Coull B, Grandjean P, Sun Q. Perfluoroalkyl substances and changes in body weight and resting metabolic rate in response to weight-loss diets: A prospective study. PLoS Medicine 2018;15(2):e1002502.
  42. Noor N, Zong G, Seely EW, Weisskopf M, James-Todd T. Urinary cadmium concentrations and metabolic syndrome in US adults: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2014. Environment International 2018;121:349-356.
  43. Ma L, Liu G, Zong G, Sampson L, Hu FB, Willett WC, Rimm EB, Manson JE, Rexrode KM, Sun Q. Intake of glucosinolates and risk of coronary heart disease in three large prospective cohorts of US men and women. Clinical Epidemiology 2018;10:749.
  44. Liu G, Li Y, Hu Y, Zong G, Li S, Rimm EB, Hu FB, Manson JE, Rexrode KM, Shin HJ, Sun Q. Influence of Lifestyle on Incident Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2018;71(25):2867-2876.
  45. Dhana K, Zong G, Yuan C, Schernhammer E, Zhang C, Wang X, Hu FB, Chavarro JE, Field AE, Sun Q. Lifestyle of women before pregnancy and the risk of offspring obesity during childhood through early adulthood. International Journal of Obesity 2018;42(7):1275-1284.
  46. Lebwohl B, Cao Y, Zong G, Hu FB, Green PHR, Neugut AI, Rimm EB, Sampson L, Dougherty LW, Giovannucci E, Willett WC, Sun Q, Chan AT. Long term gluten consumption in adults without celiac disease and risk of coronary heart disease: prospective cohort study. BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 2017;357:j1892.
  47. Liu G, Zong G, Hu FB, Willett WC, Eisenberg DM, Sun Q. Cooking Methods for Red Meats and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study of US Women. G. Diabetes Care 2017;40(8):1041-1049.
  48. Liu B, Lehmler HJ, Sun Y, Xu G, Liu Y, Zong G, Sun Q, Hu FB, Wallace RB. Bisphenol A substitutes and obesity in US adults: analysis of a population-based, cross-sectional study. The Lancet. Planetary Health 2017;1(3),e114-e122.
  49. Liu G, Zong G, Dhana K, Hu Y, Blount BC, Morel-Espinosa M, Sun Q. Exposure to perchlorate, nitrate and thiocyanate, and prevalence of diabetes mellitus. International Journal of Epidemiology 2017;46(6):1913-1923.
  50. Mao G, Nachman RM, Sun Q, Zhang X, Koehler K, Chen Z, Hong X, Wang G, Caruso D, Zong G, Pearson C, Ji H, Biswal S, Zuckerman B, Wills-Karp M, Wang X. Individual and Joint Effects of Early-Life Ambient Exposure and Maternal Prepregnancy Obesity on Childhood Overweight or Obesity. Environmental Health Perspectives 2017;125(6):067005.
  51. Liu G, Zong G, Doty RL, Sun Q. Prevalence and risk factors of taste and smell impairment in a nationwide representative sample of the U.S. population: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2016;6:e013246.
  52. Liu X, Sun Q, Sun L, Zong G, Lu L, Liu G, Rosner B, Ye X, Li H, Lin X. The development and validation of new equations for estimating body fat percentage among Chinese men and women. British Journal of Nutrition 2015;113:1365-1372.
  53. Liu G, Lu L, Sun Q, Ye X, Sun L, Liu X, Zong G, Jin Q, Li H, Lin X. Poor vitamin D status is prospectively associated with greater muscle mass loss in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals. Journal of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2014;114(10):1544-1551.
  54. Zhu J, Zong G, Lu L, Gan W, Ji L, Hu R, Ye X, Sun L, Loos RJ, Li H, Lin X. Association of genetic predisposition to obesity with type 2 diabetes risk in Han Chinese individuals. Diabetologia 2014;57:1830-1833.
  55. Ye X, Zong G, Liu X, Liu G, Gan W, Zhu J, Lu L, Sun L, Li H, Hu FB, Lin X. Development of a new risk score for incident type 2 diabetes using updated diagnostic criteria in middle-aged and older Chinese. PLoS One 2014;9(5):e97042.
  56. Sun L, Qi Q, Zong G, Ye X, Li H, Liu X, Zheng H, Hu FB, Liu Y, Lin X. Elevated plasma retinol-binding protein 4 is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults. The Journal of Nutrition 2014;144:722-728.
  57. Zhu J, Sun Q, Zong G, Si Y, Liu C, Qi Q, Ye X, Sun L, Sheng H, Li H, Lin X. Interaction between a common variant in FADS1 and erythrocyte polyunsaturated fatty acids on lipid profile in Chinese Hans. The Journal of Lipid Research 2013;54(5):1477-1483.
  58. Zhang G, Sun Q, Hu FB, Ye X, Yu Z, Zong G, Li H, Zhou Y, Lin X. Erythrocyte n-3 fatty acids and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older Chinese. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2012;97:E973-E977.
  59. Yu D, Sun Q, Ye X, Pan A, Zong G, Zhou Y, Li H, Hu F, Lin X. Erythrocyte trans fatty acids, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged and older Chinese individuals. Diabetologia 2012;55:2954-2962.
  60. Zhang G, Pan A, Zong G, Yu Z, Wu H, Chen X, Tang L, Feng Y, Zhou H, Chen X, Li H, Hong B, Malik VS, Willett WC, Spiegelman D, Hu FB, Lin X. Substituting white rice with brown rice for 16 weeks does not substantially affect metabolic risk factors in middle-aged Chinese men and women with diabetes or a high risk for diabetes. The Journal of Nutrition 2011;141:1685-1690.
  61. Sun L, Pan A, Yu Z, Li H, Shi A, Yu D, Zhang G, Zong G, Liu Y, Lin X. Snoring, inflammatory markers, adipokines and metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy Chinese. PLoS One 2011;6:e27515.
  62. Sun L, Hu FB, Yu Z, Li H, Liu H, Wang X, Yu D, Wu H, Zhang G, Zong G, Liu Y, Lin X. Lean body mass, interleukin 18, and metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy Chinese. PLoS One 2011;6:e18104.
  63. Wu H, Pan A, Yu Z, Qi Q, Lu L, Zhang G, Yu D, Zong G, Zhou Y, Chen X, Li H, Demark-Wahnefried W, Hu FB, Lin X. Lifestyle counseling and supplementation with flaxseed or walnuts influence the management of metabolic syndrome. The Journal of Nutrition 2010;140:1937-1942.