Vijai Shukla

Dr. Vijai Shukla (born 23 March 1948) is an Indian-Danish food scientist, researcher and professor in lipidology, and a central figure in the study of essential fatty acids.

Subsequently, he received a post-doctoral UNESCO award[4] and did work first at the Charles University in Prague and then in 1975 at the Institute of Neurochemistry in Experimental Life Sciences in Copenhagen, and at the Federal Centre for Lipid Research in Münster, Germany.

[5] In 1979 he was appointed R&D manager by then Aarhus Oliefabrik (now AarhusKarlshamn), a leading company in the manufacture of vegetable oils and specialty fats.

[6] Shukla's research includes both the field of physical phenomena and the mechanisms of autoxidation, isolation of lipids, spectral phenomena related to lipids (e.g. pulsed Nuclear magnetic resonance), modern analytical methodology, and involvement of essential fatty acids in health and disease such as multiple sclerosis and Batten Disease where he has made significant scientific contributions.

In 1996 he received the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) Herbert Dutton Award for "significant contributions to analytical methodologies"[13] and was given the prestigious Stephen S. Chang Award in 2002 for "decisive accomplishments in research for the improvement or development of products related to lipids".

[14] Shukla has, apart from his engagement in basic science, also focused continuously on the translation of knowledge gained into industrial applications and commercial enterprise.

In 1996 he established a refinery in the Netherlands, and demonstrated that total oxidation can be arrested during processing, and resulting speciality fats of extremely fresh quality can be delivered to customers in the scale of 500-1000 tonnes per shipment.

[15] Another achievement is the encapsulation of high amounts of essential PUFA of fish or plant origin combined with natural antioxidant systems to be used as nutritional supplement and as additive in cosmetic formulations.

[20] Prior to his current position as adjunct professor to the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Shukla held the position as adjunct professor to the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign[21][22] for 10 years.

Recently, Shukla has developed a designer oil by the name of Nutridan,[23] containing high amounts of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids.

[citation needed] Shukla, V. K. S.; Clausen, J.: Linoleate and fatty acids pattern of serum lipids in Multiple Sclerosis.

Shukla, V. K. S.; Srivastava, K. C.: Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and serum lipid pattern: A comparison between Indian immigrants and Danes.

Shukla, V. K. S.; Bhattacharya, K.: Extending the shelf life of cosmetic products through novel stabilisation of exotic butters and oils, SÖFW-Journal Seifen, Öle, Fette, Wachse, 129, Jahrgang 9- 2003.

4 (April 2004) Shukla V. K. S.; Bhattacharya K.: Enhancing the Stability of Natural Oils and Butters with Rosemary Extracts.

Cosmetic Science Technology (2012) Shukla V. K. S.; Nielsen, S.: Enhancing the Value of Cosmeceuticals Through Internally Stabilised Spice Formulations.

Cosmetic Science Technology (2013) Shukla V. K. S.; Nielsen, S.: Studies in the Evaluation of Unconvenional Oils from Burkina Faso - Part One: Rich in Oleic Acid (C18:1 n-9).