The area of interest is the molecular mechanisms of lipids, fatty acids and other nutrients in the pathogenesis of diet related metabolic complications. He is currently involved in the investigation of role of dietary factors in the alleviation of diabetic complication. So far most of the reports on secondary diabetic complications are on T1D model. The observations of which are difficult to interpret in human situation since >90 % of the diabetic population suffer from T2D. However, studies on animal models attempting to investigate the secondary complications of diabetes, particularly T2D induced cataract, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy etc are limited. Therefore, he along with the research group is involved in developing a suitable model of T2D and further to challenging the diabetes induced complication with suitable therapeutic interventions using dietary agents. He also involved in the understanding the mechanisms of the lipid derived molecules in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy a vision threatening complication which affects majority of the working population worldwide. Earlier, he has been engaged in investigating the molecular mechanism of different dietary fatty acids in the development of insulin resistance in animal models.

1. Effects of maternal n-3 and n-6 dietary fatty acids on morphology, fatty acid composition and gene expression in retina of rat offspring. T Mrudula, Ghafoorunissa, N Saravanan and G Bhanuprakash Reddy (Accepted in Journal of Nutrition and Food Science-2010)
2. Saravanan Natarajan, Haseeb Abdhul K, Ehtesham Nasreen Z, & Ghafoorunissa. Differential effects of dietary saturated and trans fatty acids on expression of genes associated with insulin sensitivity in rat adipose tissue. European Journal of Endocrinology 153: 159-165, 2005.
3. Saravanan Natarajan, Ahamed I & Ghafoorunissa. Dietary trans fatty acids alter diaphragm phospholipid fatty acid composition, triglyceride content and glucose transport in rats. British journal of Nutrition 93: 826-833, 2005.
4. Ibrahim A, Natarajan Saravanan & Ghafoorunissa. Dietary trans fatty acids alter adipocyte plasma membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition and insulin action in rats. Metabolism 54: 240-246, 2005.
5. Ghafoorunissa, Ibrahim A & Natarajan Saravanan. Substituting dietary linoleic acid with α linolenic acid improves insulin sensitivity in sucrose fed rats. BBA- Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids 1733: 67-75, 2005.
6. Meenkshisundaram Sreepriya, Natarajan Saravanan, Tiruvengadam Devaki & Mohammed Nayeem. Protective Effects of L-Arginine on Experimental Myocardial Injury Induced by βAdrenergic Stimulation in rats. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition 27: 19-26, 1999.
7. Anandan, Rangasamy Deeparekha, Natarajan Saravanan and Tiruvengadam Devaki. Protective effect of Picrorhiza Kurroa against HCl-ethanol induced ulceration in rats. Fitoterapia 70: 498-501, 1999.

1. G. B. Reddy and N. Saravanan. Nutrition and eye diseases in Textbook of Human Nutrition (eds: M.S. Bamji, K. Krishnaswamy & G. N. V. Brahmam) 3rd Edn, pp 418-430, Oxford & IBH, New Delhi.