Docosahexaenic Acid (DHA) From Dairy. How Dietary Omega-3 Fats From Dairy Can Increase DHA Levels To Improve
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$427,887.00
Summary
A high level of the omega-3 fat DHA in the blood is related to good health and has benefits on neural development in breastfed infants. Infant formulas have been enriched with preformed DHA but are expensive and may be environmentally unsustainable. Dairy contains DPA, a direct precursor of DHA. I aim to identify DPA-rich dairy sources, produce a safe and inexpensive nutritional powder and validate its efficacy in an animal model and a human infant clinical trial. Based on research outcomes, thi ....A high level of the omega-3 fat DHA in the blood is related to good health and has benefits on neural development in breastfed infants. Infant formulas have been enriched with preformed DHA but are expensive and may be environmentally unsustainable. Dairy contains DPA, a direct precursor of DHA. I aim to identify DPA-rich dairy sources, produce a safe and inexpensive nutritional powder and validate its efficacy in an animal model and a human infant clinical trial. Based on research outcomes, this powder will be safe and inexpensive and have the potential to be marketed as a Infant Formula Supplement.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Trial Of DHA In Pregnancy To Prevent Postnatal Depressive Symptoms And Enhance Neurodevelopment In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,649,000.00
Summary
Postnatal depression strikes 12-17% of women in the year after giving birth. Postnatal depression can result in emotional, behavioural and developmental problems in children. Although there are many complex psychological and social factors involved, supplementing the diet with an omega-3 fat called DHA has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of depression. Enriching diets with DHA has also been associated with improvements in visual and neural abilities of young infants. Normally, DHA is obtain ....Postnatal depression strikes 12-17% of women in the year after giving birth. Postnatal depression can result in emotional, behavioural and developmental problems in children. Although there are many complex psychological and social factors involved, supplementing the diet with an omega-3 fat called DHA has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of depression. Enriching diets with DHA has also been associated with improvements in visual and neural abilities of young infants. Normally, DHA is obtained through the mother's diet and is then passed onto the developing baby whilst in the womb. However, the amount of DHA that is delivered to the baby in pregnancy is high, and in most cases is far higher than most Australian mothers get in their diets. In this study we will test whether supplementing the diets of pregnant women with DHA results in women suffering less depressive symptoms and children with better development scores. If our study is successful, it will result in a simple and effective way to prevent postnatal depression and improve the developmental outcome of the children.Read moreRead less
DHA For The Improvement Of Neurodevelopmental Outcome In Preterm Infants: The DINO Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,875.00
Summary
The incidence of neurological problems that occur in children born prematurely is higher than for those born at term. The earlier that a baby is born, the greater chance it has of having some developmental delay and general inability to cope at school. This has implications for the child, the families and the health system. One of the many dietary factors implicated in the development of neural abilities in premature infants is an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA. This compound is present in breast ....The incidence of neurological problems that occur in children born prematurely is higher than for those born at term. The earlier that a baby is born, the greater chance it has of having some developmental delay and general inability to cope at school. This has implications for the child, the families and the health system. One of the many dietary factors implicated in the development of neural abilities in premature infants is an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA. This compound is present in breast milk and most preterm formulas and is found in high concentrations in the brain and retina. In the last third of pregnancy the developing baby would normally accumulate DHA at a rapid rate. So it seems reasonable to assume that a baby outside the mother, that is born premature, would also need to accumulate DHA at this same rate. The problem is that none of the milks currently given to premature infants have DHA in high enough concentration to supply this amount of DHA to the baby. For example, breast milk and preterm formulas contain only a third of the DHA required. In order to provide this amount for the premature infant, breast milk containing DHA at about 1% of the total fat is required. Fortunately the level of DHA in breast milk can be increased to this level by supplementing the mothers diet with fish or olis like tuna oil. This study hopes to show that premature babies who receive DHA in amounts similar to that supplied in the womb will develop better than babies who receive low amounts of DHA.Read moreRead less
Testing The Effect Of Long-chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids On Cognitive Ageing In The Elderly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$738,908.00
Summary
The ageing profile of our population holds challenges for society, with some of the major impact due to loss of independence and quality of life in older people, arising from decline in cognitive functioning. Evidence suggests a benefit of Omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive functioning in older people but claims that Omega-3 slows cognitive decline have not been adequately tested. This study tests the effect of Omega-3 supplementation on cognition in healthy older people, over an 18-month period.