The Effect Of Overexpression And Underexpression Of Beacon In Transgenic Mice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,540.00
Summary
Overweight and Obesity are very prevalent in our society. Obesity is the cause of many medical problems including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal lipids, sleep apnoea, arthritis and some cancers. The idea that individuals can freely choose whether they eat or not eat is only true in the short term. Recent work has clearly shown that the desire to eat (hunger) and the decision to stop eating (satiety) are determined by the net level of many chemicals (neurotransmitters) in an area ....Overweight and Obesity are very prevalent in our society. Obesity is the cause of many medical problems including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal lipids, sleep apnoea, arthritis and some cancers. The idea that individuals can freely choose whether they eat or not eat is only true in the short term. Recent work has clearly shown that the desire to eat (hunger) and the decision to stop eating (satiety) are determined by the net level of many chemicals (neurotransmitters) in an area of the brain called the hypothalamus. Malfunction in some of these neurotransmitters has been shown to cause severe obesity in both animals and humans. A clear understanding of how the hypothalamus regulates body weight may lead to treatments for both severe obesity and anorexia. This project deals with investigating the role of a new hypothalamic protein in body weight regulation. This protein called beacon was discovered by one of the chief investigators (GC) who has shown that when it is injected in the brain it causes rats to overeat and put on excess weight. The aim of this project is to produce mice in which the amount of beacon is increased in the brain and other mice who do not have beacon and then to study the impact onthe regulation of body weight.Read moreRead less
Is A Higher Intake Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Advantageous For Weight Loss?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,219.00
Summary
A 12 month dietary trial will be conducted to investigate whether a diet that is high in polyunsaturated fat (particularly long chain omega-3 fats found in fish oil) improves weight loss and metabolism, compared to a standard low fat weight-reducing diet. Other benefits of the diet, such as improvements in blood pressure, blood lipids and glucose, will be investigated. The findings will be used to refine dietary advice for weight loss and to develop food products enriched with fish oil.
MATERNAL UNDERNUTRITION, INFANT REFEEDING, ADIPOSITY AND DIABETES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$297,323.00
Summary
Malnutrition is a major health problem throughout the world and one of the priority areas for the WHO. Refeeding program guidelines have been established and implemented when children are assessed as being malnourished. Recent studies on the effect of these important programs throughout the world have suggested they may not have been as successful as wished. Indeed, even though many of the subjects are the urban poor, it has been found that many are developing diabetes in their twenties. This is ....Malnutrition is a major health problem throughout the world and one of the priority areas for the WHO. Refeeding program guidelines have been established and implemented when children are assessed as being malnourished. Recent studies on the effect of these important programs throughout the world have suggested they may not have been as successful as wished. Indeed, even though many of the subjects are the urban poor, it has been found that many are developing diabetes in their twenties. This is associated with an increase in abdominal fatness, out of proportion to the rest of the body's size and shape. The increase in diabetes in this group is most worrying and a major public health problem. It is not known whether the diabetes and abdominal fatness are caused by the refeeding programs or whether they are due to the fact that the body's metabolism was programmed during pregnancy. Perhaps the infants were malnourished whilst they were developing during pregnancy and metabolism was changed so they could store fat easily and not use glucose as readily in the rest of the body. This study is designed to show whether there are metabolic changes which predispose to diabetes and fatness present at birth in those who are malnourished or whether the refeeeding program designed to help them grow is the cause of these later problems.Read moreRead less
Predictors Of Cardiovascular Disease Mortality In The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,544.00
Summary
The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study was set up in the early 1990s to investigate prospectively the role of diet and other lifestyle factors in causing common chronic diseases including common cancers and cardiovascular disease. Between 1990 and 1994, 41,500 people, aged 40-69 were recruited into the MCCS. About 30% of the cohort are southern European migrants to Australia who were deliberately over-sampled to extend the range of dietary and lifestyle exposures. Migrants from southern Europe ....The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study was set up in the early 1990s to investigate prospectively the role of diet and other lifestyle factors in causing common chronic diseases including common cancers and cardiovascular disease. Between 1990 and 1994, 41,500 people, aged 40-69 were recruited into the MCCS. About 30% of the cohort are southern European migrants to Australia who were deliberately over-sampled to extend the range of dietary and lifestyle exposures. Migrants from southern Europe have an adverse risk factor profile in relation to obesity, body fat distribution, physical activity patterns, diabetes, smoking, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, yet their death rates from heart disease are 30-40% lower than the Australian average. A major objective of this study is to investigate the possibility that particular aspects of the diet and cuisine of migrants from southern Europe (olive oil as the major dietary fat, and high intakes of a variety of vegetables and fruit) protect against heart disease and stroke by providing high levels of a wide range of natural antioxidants. It represents the most comprehensive prospective study of diet and cardiovascular disease mortality ever conducted in Australia. A particularly powerful feature is the combination of detailed self-reported dietary intake, the very wide range of exposures to dietary factors implicated in CVD (as risk factors or protective agents), and the objective markers of dietary intake (biochemical markers of dietary intake patterns in blood collected at recruitment, body weight, body fat and body fat distribution). The data should provide a strong rationale for specific dietary recommendations as part of population-based strategies to reduce the incidence of premature mortality from heart disease and stroke in the Australian population.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Stress Response And Circadian Genes In The Link Between Excess Lipid And Muscle Insulin Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$579,000.00
Summary
Obesity and its associated conditions of heart disease, reduced insulin action, fatty liver and type 2 diabetes are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. The epidemic of these conditions appears to be due to an interaction between genetic background and changes in the environment such as reduced physical activity and increased availability and consumption of high energy food. The relationship between genes and environment is very complex but it seems clear that increased intake of high fat f ....Obesity and its associated conditions of heart disease, reduced insulin action, fatty liver and type 2 diabetes are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. The epidemic of these conditions appears to be due to an interaction between genetic background and changes in the environment such as reduced physical activity and increased availability and consumption of high energy food. The relationship between genes and environment is very complex but it seems clear that increased intake of high fat foods can cause body tissues to accumulate excess fat. This interferes with the way that the hormone insulin controls body glucose utilisation although how this happens has not been fully defined. This grant application will test two possible mechanisms that could help explain the link between increased dietary fat intake and decreased insulin action in muscle. Using microarrays to examine the activity of genes in normal and insulin resistant muscle, we have identified two groups of genes that may be involved in how fat causes insulin resistance. One group of genes is normally associated with stress and we will determine if fats control these genes directly or if fats increase other stress factors which increase the activity of these genes. We will then use novel gene therapy techniques to see if these genes cause insulin resistance in muscle of experimental animals. The second group of genes is related to the mechanisms which regulate daily cycles in the body such as sleep-wake cycles, blood pressure, and eating behaviour. We will examine the activity of these genes over a 24 hour period in muscle from normal animals and insulin resistant animals to determine if disruption of these gene cycles contributes to insulin resistance. We will then perform experiments to establish what processes these genes control. The successful outcome of this grant will determine if these groups of genes can be targeted to help treat lipid-induced insulin resistance in muscle.Read moreRead less
Effect Of Prenatal N-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids On Body Mass In Early Childhood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,462,626.00
Summary
In Australia more than 1 in 5 four year-olds are now classified as overweight. There is good evidence that omega-3 fats inhibit the early development of fat cells and thereby reduce the later accumulation of excess body fat. This will be the first human trial to examine whether an increased supply of low cost omega 3 fats in pregnancy can reduce fatness and the likelihood of developing type II diabetes in childhood.
Obesity, Self Image, Eating Behaviour, Nutriton And Activity In Australian Preadolescent School Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$167,328.00
Summary
Obesity in children is increasing, but there is a great deal of concern about whether education about diet and obesity will produce eating disorders. While there is a lot of information about the eating practices, body image worries and self esteem in teenagers, there is no information really available about what primary school children in this country know about eating, about whether they diet or not, where they get their information about dieting and about their self esteem and body image part ....Obesity in children is increasing, but there is a great deal of concern about whether education about diet and obesity will produce eating disorders. While there is a lot of information about the eating practices, body image worries and self esteem in teenagers, there is no information really available about what primary school children in this country know about eating, about whether they diet or not, where they get their information about dieting and about their self esteem and body image particularly if they are overweight or very thin. It is important to gather this information as it is in the teen years that problems about eating and body image really emerge. These concerns must be starting in primary school children, This study aims to gather this information and more from 2442 primary school children across NSW. This information will enable proper education programs about eating, body image and obesity to be developed so no harm is caused by trying to reduce obesity. This study will also gather important information about how many children are obese or have eating disorders and will see what part their physical activity plays in their weight and the way they go about controlling it. To have healthy adults in the next generation, with less obesity and eating problems, it is important to gather information about nutrition and eating beliefs, dieting, body image and self esteem in children now.Read moreRead less
Perth Aboriginal Breast Feeding Study: Reasons For Not Breast Feeding And For The Early Cessation Of Breast Feeding.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$207,237.00
Summary
Perth Aboriginal Breast Feeding Study : Reasons for not Breast Feeding and for the Early Cessation of Breast Feeding. Breastfeeding has many advantages for the nutrition and health of infants and mothers. Recent research has shown the importance of longitudinal studies of breast feeding and the importance of family support systems, especially the attitude of the baby's father. In urban Aboriginal families the rate of breast feeding is lower and the duration is shorter than for those living in ru ....Perth Aboriginal Breast Feeding Study : Reasons for not Breast Feeding and for the Early Cessation of Breast Feeding. Breastfeeding has many advantages for the nutrition and health of infants and mothers. Recent research has shown the importance of longitudinal studies of breast feeding and the importance of family support systems, especially the attitude of the baby's father. In urban Aboriginal families the rate of breast feeding is lower and the duration is shorter than for those living in rural areas. There have been no longitudinal studies exploring the factors involved in the initiation and the continuation of breast feeding by Aboriginal women. A sample of 440 Aboriginal women will be recruited from Perth maternity hospitals. After an initial interview the women will be followed up at monthly intervals to find out their progress with breast feeding. In addition a number of focus group discussions will explore attitudes of Aboriginal women and men to breast feeding. The outcome of the studies will be information to feed back to the community through Aboriginal organisations. It will provide the basis for specifically targeted health promotion programs to maintain and to improve breast feeding rates in the Aboriginal community.Read moreRead less
Long-term Follow-up Of Children Born Preterm Who Received High Dose DHA: The DINO Trial Follow-up.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$725,972.00
Summary
Children born prematurely are more likely to need help at school and to repeat a grade. One of the factors that may be responsible for the poor development of children who were premature may be the lack of an omega-3 fatty acid, called DHA. We have done a study in which feeds of premature infants were supplemented with DHA at a level equivalent to what a baby would recieve in the womb. We now want to see if these children have improved development at school age.
Transcriptional Regulation Of Gene Expression: Dietary Sialic Acid Interaction In Brain Cognitive Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$46,646.00
Summary
In 2004, 8.2% of Australian live births were preterm with poor long-term cognitive outcomes. Sialic acid (SA), a key component of both human milk oligosaccharides and neural tissues, plays a role in neuronal development. This study will examine the mechanisms of how dietary SA or active learning interacts with genes during brain development. It will benefit the neonatal care of all children, particularly those born premature and ultimately, the quality of life of many Australians.